Things may not be going swimmingly right now, as I am about to drown in the work before me. But I do smell like chlorine. It's amazing how that can linger on the skin and in hair.
Anyway, if someone with CPR certification would please stand by...
- theCallowQueen
- In the down-hill tumble of life, I'm okay with the scratches and bruises; it's the broken bones that I'm trying to avoid.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
bashing fox 4 news
Not that it's hard to find reason to criticize WDAF-TV, but I really didn't understand just how horrible the reporting is. Two recent Fox 4 stories were riddled with errors. I have two people close to me who knew the real facts involved. The inaccuracies in both these stories are so numerous that there is no element of news left. It's storytelling. It's filling news space—of which Fox 4 has a lot to fill.
And I know that the Fox 4 team is working on a tight budget. And I know that they have to spit out news lightning fast. But really, people, you need to actually check your facts. Just because one kid tells you something doesn't make it news. Did you ask anyone else what happened? Did you contact the company for an official response? Did you actually see the police report or talk to the government official? Did you bother to recheck your facts before running an update news piece. No? No. And it's the viewers who are being misled.
This morning I caught a piece where a Fox 4 reporter was standing outside some education building in Kansas City, Mo. Now this "on location" shoot gives the report an air of more credibility to the TV audience, it has nothing to do with her gathering the facts of the story. She had no actual reason to be standing there. She hadn't interviewed anyone on the school board about the new superintendent. She hadn't gone there to receive any information first hand. The news she reported came from no work on her part, or on the part of Fox 4. She merely reported "according to The Kansas City Star."
On the TV show, "How I Met Your Mother," there's a scene where two of the characters make fun of a morning show host who actually reads the morning paper to his audience. Maybe Fox 4 should actually think of doing this. Doing so may put their audience to sleep, but at least the fiction can return to its proper home: the stuff of dreams and nightmares.
And I know that the Fox 4 team is working on a tight budget. And I know that they have to spit out news lightning fast. But really, people, you need to actually check your facts. Just because one kid tells you something doesn't make it news. Did you ask anyone else what happened? Did you contact the company for an official response? Did you actually see the police report or talk to the government official? Did you bother to recheck your facts before running an update news piece. No? No. And it's the viewers who are being misled.
This morning I caught a piece where a Fox 4 reporter was standing outside some education building in Kansas City, Mo. Now this "on location" shoot gives the report an air of more credibility to the TV audience, it has nothing to do with her gathering the facts of the story. She had no actual reason to be standing there. She hadn't interviewed anyone on the school board about the new superintendent. She hadn't gone there to receive any information first hand. The news she reported came from no work on her part, or on the part of Fox 4. She merely reported "according to The Kansas City Star."
On the TV show, "How I Met Your Mother," there's a scene where two of the characters make fun of a morning show host who actually reads the morning paper to his audience. Maybe Fox 4 should actually think of doing this. Doing so may put their audience to sleep, but at least the fiction can return to its proper home: the stuff of dreams and nightmares.
Monday, June 26, 2006
up, down, all around
I wanted to make a post for you all. I wanted to give you a little glimpse into my busy life and offer an excuse as to my infrequent posting and the lengthening lapse of time between the time I see or talk with many of you.
But when I tried to do so, all my little activities seemed quite boring. Now if one is not busy, one looks lazy. And a lazy person who does nothing should be a boring person. But I think it's really the busy person who's boring because he or she is rushing through a sea of tasks, chores, and have-tos.
There's a saying about keeping always busy so that the devil will find you always engaged. But if the devil can't find an entry point into your life, neither will anyone else. When one becomes busy, the larger world becomes hidden.
I've been thinking about that drive to do more, accomplish more, achieve more lately. This morning I came across the following quote. Maybe this one struck me because kcprogrammer and I watched "Click" last night, bringing out thoughts about the family-work balance.
Side note: At first, I found the moral lesson of putting family first in "Click" kind of odd. This was an Adam Sandler comedy. Then I thought back to some of his other movies. Many of them share a common theme of a guy who's off track or who doesn't understand what his life needs or is missing. I'm still trying to decide if this disturbs me.
And it has me thinking about the "lessons" taught to us through other comedies. Maybe I'll wait to make my decision until I see what Jack Black tries teach me about life in "Nacho Libre."
But when I tried to do so, all my little activities seemed quite boring. Now if one is not busy, one looks lazy. And a lazy person who does nothing should be a boring person. But I think it's really the busy person who's boring because he or she is rushing through a sea of tasks, chores, and have-tos.
There's a saying about keeping always busy so that the devil will find you always engaged. But if the devil can't find an entry point into your life, neither will anyone else. When one becomes busy, the larger world becomes hidden.
I've been thinking about that drive to do more, accomplish more, achieve more lately. This morning I came across the following quote. Maybe this one struck me because kcprogrammer and I watched "Click" last night, bringing out thoughts about the family-work balance.
People are so busy dreaming the American Dream, fantasizing about what they could be or have a right to be, that they’re all asleep at the switch. Consequently we are living in the Age of Human Error.
—Florence King
Side note: At first, I found the moral lesson of putting family first in "Click" kind of odd. This was an Adam Sandler comedy. Then I thought back to some of his other movies. Many of them share a common theme of a guy who's off track or who doesn't understand what his life needs or is missing. I'm still trying to decide if this disturbs me.
And it has me thinking about the "lessons" taught to us through other comedies. Maybe I'll wait to make my decision until I see what Jack Black tries teach me about life in "Nacho Libre."
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
back from beantown
Well after the last post, I realized that some of you might think that something bad happened while I was away. No, the trip to Boston was good. I'm good. Most things in my life are good.
But there is always the thorn. Such a little thing a thorn. But such pain it can cause. Why is it that one flaw can draw one's attention away from the otherwise beautiful state of a thing?
I know my eye is drawn away from the good and to the problem spots. I know I waste my time worrying over the little bad and cheat myself of enjoying all the good.
OK, back to focusing on the good. The weather was fine in Boston last week. I roamed around the city, mostly on foot, and spent two days in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. And I ate lots of yummy food, though kcprogrammer and I agree that the baked beans really aren't deserving of their fame.
I'm working on a freelance project right now. But when I have some time, I'll post pictures from the trip.
But there is always the thorn. Such a little thing a thorn. But such pain it can cause. Why is it that one flaw can draw one's attention away from the otherwise beautiful state of a thing?
I know my eye is drawn away from the good and to the problem spots. I know I waste my time worrying over the little bad and cheat myself of enjoying all the good.
OK, back to focusing on the good. The weather was fine in Boston last week. I roamed around the city, mostly on foot, and spent two days in the Boston Museum of Fine Arts. And I ate lots of yummy food, though kcprogrammer and I agree that the baked beans really aren't deserving of their fame.
I'm working on a freelance project right now. But when I have some time, I'll post pictures from the trip.
quote
Life improves slowly and goes wrong fast, and only catastrophe is clearly visible.
—Edward Teller
Tuesday, June 06, 2006
drat, i wanted that
Official word: No house for me.
I wonder if I would be as disappointed had I found this out a month ago.
I wouldn't have spent the energy to investigate and measure.
I wouldn't have lost all that sleep.
I wouldn't have reworked my finances time and a gain, perfecting, balancing, aligning.
I wouldn't have traveled the up and down emotional roller coaster from the highs of being told that this is almost assured to happen to the many wrenches to the many versions of the plan.
I wouldn't have the knowledge and self-assurance.
Yes, I'm disappointed, but I feel more confident about myself. I realized that I could handle the responsibilities that come with owning a home.
Yes, I suspected that I could take on the challenge. But I've always allowed myself to hide behind any hint of immaturity to avoid facing my adulthood. This experience flooded my field of view with light, eliminating the looming shadows created by the remnants of irresponsibility and leaving few places for hiding.
And now I wonder why it was that I was hiding.
Through this process, I have better defined what I want for myself. It may take me longer than I'd like to get there. But with my newly acquired understanding of myself, I can now work on another needed personality trait: patience.
A quartet of quotes on disappointment:
I wonder if I would be as disappointed had I found this out a month ago.
I wouldn't have spent the energy to investigate and measure.
I wouldn't have lost all that sleep.
I wouldn't have reworked my finances time and a gain, perfecting, balancing, aligning.
I wouldn't have traveled the up and down emotional roller coaster from the highs of being told that this is almost assured to happen to the many wrenches to the many versions of the plan.
I wouldn't have the knowledge and self-assurance.
Yes, I'm disappointed, but I feel more confident about myself. I realized that I could handle the responsibilities that come with owning a home.
Yes, I suspected that I could take on the challenge. But I've always allowed myself to hide behind any hint of immaturity to avoid facing my adulthood. This experience flooded my field of view with light, eliminating the looming shadows created by the remnants of irresponsibility and leaving few places for hiding.
And now I wonder why it was that I was hiding.
Through this process, I have better defined what I want for myself. It may take me longer than I'd like to get there. But with my newly acquired understanding of myself, I can now work on another needed personality trait: patience.
A quartet of quotes on disappointment:
Hope tells a flattering tale,
Delusive, vain, and hollow.
Ah! let not hope prevail,
Lest disappointment follow
—Miss Wrother
Disappointment is a sort of bankruptcy—the bankruptcy of a soul that expends too much in hope and expectation.
—Eric Hoffer
Disappointment, when it involves neither shame nor loss, is as good as success; for it supplies as many images to the mind, and as many topics to the tongue.
—Samuel Johnson
Disappointment proves that expectations were mistaken.
—Mason Cooley
Monday, June 05, 2006
i'm not a pauper or a beggar
OK, I'm not sure what's going on with this house thing now. Apparently the realtor is telling my grandma that she could sell the house for $20k more than we were valuing the house at (including the needed repairs).
So, of course, everything that was in place is now out of place.
My grandma is one of those people who, when presented with one new piece of information, must go back and reconsider every other thought she's had on the issue. I can't judge her on this; I am pretty much the same way.
I would like for this to work. But if it doesn't, it doesn't. No expectations. I know my grandma will feel guilty if she decides to put the house for sale. There's even talk of her still giving me money toward buy another house.
I don't want it. I don't want guilt money. I'm not poor. I'm not in need. I have a good life. I buy what I need. I save as much as I can. And I'm doing just fine.
I love gifts and opportunities that are offered freely from the heart. I treasure them. I am thankful for them. But things given out of guilt (which I am guilty of doing) are false. And in taking them, one takes on the guilt. And while the intent is different, such gift giving presents many of the same problems as manipulative giving, which involves hidden emotional strings and commitments. I've fallen into the trap of accepting these before, not realizing them for what they were. This is a danger zone for relationships.
Now, in my (oh-so-unbiased) opinion, the realtor is bettering her estimate in an attempt to snag the deal. She could get almost $10k from the sell of the house. (Thanks for kcprogrammer for the math here. And he reminded me not to forget the $$ due to the buyer's realtor, which the seller usually pays for as well.) And the realtor knows that my grandma was considering selling the house to me, and so it's understandable that she'd be putting on the pressure to keep this from slipping through her fingers. How much would you do for a quick $10k?
So, of course, everything that was in place is now out of place.
My grandma is one of those people who, when presented with one new piece of information, must go back and reconsider every other thought she's had on the issue. I can't judge her on this; I am pretty much the same way.
I would like for this to work. But if it doesn't, it doesn't. No expectations. I know my grandma will feel guilty if she decides to put the house for sale. There's even talk of her still giving me money toward buy another house.
I don't want it. I don't want guilt money. I'm not poor. I'm not in need. I have a good life. I buy what I need. I save as much as I can. And I'm doing just fine.
I love gifts and opportunities that are offered freely from the heart. I treasure them. I am thankful for them. But things given out of guilt (which I am guilty of doing) are false. And in taking them, one takes on the guilt. And while the intent is different, such gift giving presents many of the same problems as manipulative giving, which involves hidden emotional strings and commitments. I've fallen into the trap of accepting these before, not realizing them for what they were. This is a danger zone for relationships.
Now, in my (oh-so-unbiased) opinion, the realtor is bettering her estimate in an attempt to snag the deal. She could get almost $10k from the sell of the house. (Thanks for kcprogrammer for the math here. And he reminded me not to forget the $$ due to the buyer's realtor, which the seller usually pays for as well.) And the realtor knows that my grandma was considering selling the house to me, and so it's understandable that she'd be putting on the pressure to keep this from slipping through her fingers. How much would you do for a quick $10k?
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