Author: vargocity

Hold Your Reindeer

To: the tree seller, the radio commercial with Deck the Halls in the background, to Starbucks, Macy’s, and Wallmart, K-mart, K-fed and BrandsMart…

It is not Christmas time yet. It is November 13th. It is before Thanksgiving. Put away the banners, the wire fences around rows of trees, the coffee cups donned with snowflakes. You are a little to early.

I am liking fall, Michigan is about to earn a berth in the national championship game, leaves have turned, the air is crisp. I am thoroughly enjoying my fall and I am not ready for the holidays, nor should I be. Christmas is coming earlier and earlier and I am not sure who gave the go ahead to set things in motion prior to Thanksgiving but I say “bah humbug” to that idea. People are setting up tree farms, selling cards, playing holiday jingles, and changing the color of everything that holds things you buy to read and green. If I see the Salvation Army bell-ringer out front somewhere tomorrow I might lose it. It’s all a little too early and I don’t like it.

Of particular obnoxious holiday spirit worth mention is Starbucks. Their slogan for the season is “on with the tradition.” I’m all for continuing the holiday tradition. I love the vacation, time with family, and gifts, but let’s keep it in December where it’s always been. And I can’t help but read the phrase and feel that Starbucks is claiming some credit for the holiday spirit. Starbucks did not start the tradition nor do they add to the tradition, or signal the beginning of the traditional tradition-celebrating season. All they did was make their cups red, play different music and add a delicious mint hot chocolate late to their menu. Stop claiming Winter, Christmas and the entire holiday season, Starbucks. We’ll still be in there buying your overpriced liquid drug; on with that tradition which hardly ever stops – whether it’s after Thanksgiving or not.

I saw this right after the post…

Iraq Briefing

Today I spent about an hour-and-a-half talking with a friend of mine from school who is a Fulbright scholar from Iraq, Thura. While I have spent numerous small group sessions with Thura discussing the generalities of global health policy today was the first time I had a chance to speak with him about his life, his nation and his opinions.

The experience was very enlightening, as well as overwhelming and disheartening. He told me a lot about the problems of daily life in Iraq, including tales of waiting for a routine 18 hours to buy gasoline for your car, undergoing interrogation for talking to foreigners, and a timely anecdote of participating in the referendum election under Saddam. He also gave me a lot of background on the historical conflicts, how the regime came to power and the perceptions of the Iraqi people pre-US and post-Saddam.

He spoke for a long time and I tried to comprehend half of the gravity of everything he described. He asked what I thought but I was having trouble saying something without feeling like it was completely naive, spoiled and out-of-touch. Without going into his personal life I can say that he has incredible opportunities that many people will never have. Yet even though he is thousands of miles from conflict and in an enriching environment and prestigious US university he still struggles to separate himself from the misfortune of his homeland. The amount of stress he must be under is frightening. I will continue to search for ways to understand parts of his situation, and think about how I could help him enjoy his experience here (though that is a sorry attempt to help).

Speakers in da House

This week brought about what many are calling a sea change in American politics with the Democrats taking the House of Representatives, AND THE SENATE!, and Donald Rumsfeld resigning. I am more excited about Donald Rumsfeld than about the House and Senate though maybe I shouldn’t be or maybe they are one in the same. People (a lot of people) have been asking for Rumie’s resignation for a long time now, and now they have it. But, is all this change in such a short time is reason for optimism or some skepticism?

I must admit that I am a bit apprehensive to start the celebration just yet. Now that the Dems are in and Rums-y-poo is out what next? Changes came about as a consequence of policies and endeavors that failed severely. Now it’s time to fix them or heed more change. It’s a huge task and though we heard a lot during the campaigns about getting Republicans OUT of office, now we need to hear about what Democrats in office is going to mean. I’m pulling for them to succeed, but I am also realistic about the gravity of the problems they face.

On a lighter note, Nancy Pelosi is going to be the first Madam Speaker of the House. In December I had the chance to visit my very good friends Paul and Hilary in San Francisco and got a behind the scenes look at how Nance goes about her business in the City by the Bay. Check me out behind the desk of the now-Speaker of the House.

next time you’re in Bozeman


You must check out this store. I recently found out that Bozeman, MT is home to my new favorite store, Vargo’s Jazz City & Books. I have never been to Montana but have wanted to go for some time. If for no other reason, to check out the nature, but know I have serious sights to see. Even if it was just Vargo’s Jazz City I would still be looking at flights to Bozeman. I hope they can send me a bumper sticker.

When I do finally make it out to Montana and set up my tent under that big sky you know I’ll be packin; some sweet Vargo Titanium.

.v.

Cultural Learnings for to Make Glorious Benefit

Over the weekend I saw the film, Borat…

I have taken away some things from this brash and brave comedy of Sasha Baron Cohen. He is fearless in his portrayal of completely fabricated characters. It seems akward to refer to him by anything other than the name of the character he is. He completely buys into his own lie and makes the people he interacts with buy into it as well. Ironically, the act he is putting on (devoid of all veracity) draws absolute honesty from those around him. Also, he enters every situation with total disregard for consequence. Perhaps this is a product of taking on the role of Borat, but it seems a more general quality of his brand of comedy. In any case, it illicits feelings from his ‘victims’ so real they are unexpected, especially on the silver screen. The people he meets say anything because they feel liberated from judgement and consequence as well. By taking sterotypes to an extreme he causes ‘normal’ folks to exibit the qualities that define stereotypes.

True, Cohen picks and chooses his meetings and leads people where he wants them to go, but maybe it all just shows how morally weak we are. Or are we too kind to disagree? He runs into both and those that disagree with him show extreme discomfort in the things he says but the correlate is much funnier on screen.

Of course this may all change now that the cat is out of the bag and people become more familiar with what the situation is.

.v.

Welcome

Welcome.

That was mostly for me but I extend it to anyone else reading this.

I have been posting for a bit here with some friends from Georgia Tech Planning School. If you have not read any of the posts, check it out when you have time.

I am starting this for myself so that anyone else interested in what’s going on with me (rather than what MARTA flaw we’re complaining about today) can get the scoop.

Please comment often.