Early Connection

There are some kids that I was friends with very early in my life.  By early, I mean kindergarten or first grade or so, but not much beyond.

I remember attending the birthday of one of my friends in the basement of his house, where his mother sang "I knew an old lady who swallowed a fly - I don't why she smallowed a fly - perhaps she'll die."  I think they moved to Texas shortly thereafter.  I don't remember much - or even anything- about the boy himself.   I think he's in a class picture I have from nursery school.  I guess I must have thought His mom was cool.  If I knew what cool was.  

Crossroads

After nearly a decade of crisis after crisis in this country, beginning with 9-11, we're at a crossroads. The current financial disaster still feels distant - but there's chilling agreement across the political abyss that our economy is  headed for disaster without dramatic action.  Even with the  action, which requires the government spending perhaps a trillion dollars, the final impact on all of our lives remains uncertain.

What seems more certain, however, is that we are living through a critical moment in history - a convergence of events and political energy probably unequalled since 1968.   In some uncanny ways, 1968 and 2008 share a crisis atmosphere.  An unpopular war.  An unpopular President.  A sense of polarization in society.  And, finally, a visionary call for change.   In 2008, we have a chance for what kids would call a "do-over."  

Maybe this time, we'll get it right.

Stuff I'm Stuffing My Brain With

I tend to read (and listen to audiobooks) in clusters - that is, I simultaneous read and listen to two or three books at a time.  

This time around, I'm enjoy three books that are directly related to ongoing interests of mine.

In my car, I'm listening to an audiobook of "The Last Campaign: Robert F. Kennedy and 82 Days That Inspired America," a recent book tracing the violently abbreviated Presidential campaign of RFK.  It's actually surpisingly relevant 40 years later, considering all of the issues we're facing today - it also reveals the beginning of an evolution in race relations in this country that has culminated with Barack Obama's candidacy.  Some of Obama's campaign style, in fact, is inspired by Robert Kennedy.

Yes, I'm also reading actual books!  

"The Real Oliver Twist - Robert Blincoe: A Life That Illuminates A Violent Age" is an historical biography of a workhouse child turned human rights activist whose story may have inspired Charles Dickens to write Oliver Twist.  The truth about workhouse children - the ill-treated young  slaves that drove the industrial revolution - is even more brutal then Dickens portrayed in his book, which was meant as social commentary.

Finally, I'm reading "Devil May Care," the newest James Bond novel.  Author Sabastian Folkes is the latest in a succession of estate-approved authors to adapt Ian Fleming's immortal British Spy.

All in all, it's a good selection this time around.  Something for every occassion, as it were....

PIrate Princess

My friends Kim Turney and Lynette Privatsky are in the midst of launching their new web series, "The Perils of the Pirate Princess." It's a lively, entertaining, engaging - and addictive new take on web entertainment! Take a look at PiratePrincessProductions.com

Web entertainment is still in its infancy - there's no set formula on how to make it work (read: to make money), but there's a lot of opportunity for independent artists to make an impact - this is something that feeds the public's appetite for pirates.  It's niche marketing - watch and see what happens! 

And while you're there, go to " The Scuttlebutt" - the site forum - and tell 'em Captain Bligh sent you!

I finally know who I am.

http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/01/18/zac-efron-richard-samuels/

How I Waste Time

Here are the top websites I use most frequently, in no particular order:

The "Latest Polls" page of Real Clear Politics lists, day by day, the latest local and national polls related to the Presidential election.  It's almost a masochistic exercise - the polls move up and down slowly, and we have almost two months to go - but, I'm addicted.

Facebook - Yes, I am one of the 100,000,000 million with a Facebook.  It's all about social networking - but that's a term changes as the sites evolve.  What's it do for me? I dunno!  

Linked In - This is a site that's more of a business-oriented networking site - it's more about professionals keeping up with each other.  I visit here less often, but its useful to keep track of my professional colleagues.

I also check CNN.com on a regular basis - and I look at the New York Times daily - on my Iphone.  That's a whole different category.  I also check in with Apple.com - the site that supports my computers, Iphone and Ipod - and helps explain how they all work together.  

Finally - yes, I admit it - I like to browse YouTube - I like to think of it as America's Funniest Home Videos - unleashed!  Plus, I can also get it on my Iphone!

I'm Back!

I've decided to resume this incredible blog once again.  I just can't seem to get all my thoughts into the status line in Facebook!