Entertainment: The Allure of Being an A-Hole

While contained in an otherwise solid, well-done guy movie, the Baldwin scene near the beginning of "Glengarry Glen Ross" is such a cinematic tour de force that it has become one of my favorite all-time movie scenes. (For those of you unfamiliar with the scene, please see my Entertainment link "Coffee is for closers only").

------------------------------ I am particularly mesmerized by this scene due to the intense, visceral and ultimately conflicting emotions it provokes. Initially, there is no question that Baldwin's character is a despicable guy. Who goes around putting people down or otherwise berating them by boasting about the expensive car he drives ($80,000 BMW) or how much he made last year ($970,000)? Does he really equate one's worth as a person with possession of material goods or their yearly income? Clearly yes, he does (notwithstanding the point that his speech is, at least in part, a motivational tool). ---------------------------------------------- The initial, visceral reaction to this scene is the easy part to analyze, however. More complicated is a subtle but gnawing, slightly unsettling feeling one gets upon reflection: I would kind of like to be that guy. Not only for the nice car and expensive suit, but just to be able, without a trace of emotion or empathy, to completely rip someone else apart and to be a total a-hole without thinking twice about it. Who wouldn't like to say to someone they dislike that "my watch cost more than your car?" Who wouldn't like to say that they can do the job better than anyone else in the room ("I could go out there tonight with the materials you got, make myself $15,000, tonight! In two hours! Could you?!?") and mean it?

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Underlying the whole scene is an incredible do-or-die tension, that if you don't finish with the top two sales figures then you're fired; pick up the money that's out there or you'll be shining Baldwin's shoes. There is no middle ground here, you succeed or you fail. One's livelihood and manhood are at stake; the stakes could not be higher.

Current Events: The Tragic Comedy of W

In lieu of a full-fledged explanation of the concept, suffice it to say the dramatic ideas of comedy and tragedy are interrelated. The relationship between the two has been highlighted to an extreme degree of irony by the current administration in that many of its phrases have already become jokes, but at a tragic cost of lives, resources and the morale of the nation. In particular, in the near future, if not already, the following phrases will come to have a loaded, prejudicial (in the legal sense), meaning in the American political lexicon:

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(1) "Brownie, you're doing a heck of a job!" (alternate spelling: "yer doin' a heckuva job!").

W's famous phrase in support of then-FEMA Director Michael Brown in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Clearly, Brownie was not doing a very good job (at best), so if you hear this already-ironic phrase in the future you will have a pretty good idea of its backgroud. I can already envison the disparaging phrase that (fill in name) has as much business doing their current job (whatever it may be) as Brownie did running FEMA.

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(2) "This is hard work"

W's response during a 2004 presidential debate to a question regarding whether the toll and cost of Gulf War II had been worth it (if I remember correctly). It may have been the first debate, which was probably Kerry's high point of the campaign (it was a crush, in debate parlance). W's insight that being president is hard work was totally non-responsive to the question and presented no argument in his favor (so it's hard work--that does not explain why you should be the one doing it).

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(3) "Slam Dunk"

Then-CIA Director Tenet's phrase regarding the intelligence which indicated that Iraq allegedly had WMD prior to Gulf War II. Obviously, no WMD have been found in Iraq to date (though they may have been moved to Syria). This phrase now has the opposite of its literal meaning; a slam dunk has become an air ball.

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(4) "Mission Accomplished"

W's May 2003 landing on an aircraft carrier, decked in a flight suit, heralded the end of major combat operations in Iraq. Already the most infamous moment of twisted irony thus far this century. Even granting a wide range of options as to what an "accomplished" mission in Iraq would actually entail (other than the blunt removal of the previous regime by military force), I don't think we've come anywhere close to its achievement.

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Finally, I recently read a telling, if not damning, analogy between Gulf War II and the current administration. Remember the Iraqi Information Minister's less-than-credible proclamations in 2003 relating to the progress of the war? Listening to the current administration now is like listening to him then.

Pictures: Sub-Tropical South Florida

FL 2005 contains pictures that were taken in Miami and Key Biscayne earlier this year. It did not come out that well in the photos, but if you zoom in on the initial palm tree shots and look slightly to the middle left there is a wild parrot-like bird (it is camoflaged very well).

http://photos.yahoo.com/dmonay

Sports: College Football Picks for Sept. 17 Weekend

One rather puzzling and annoying thing I have noticed in attempting to be diligent about putting out weekly picks is that no site has all the information I want in one easy to cut-and-paste place. How about just a team's ranking, record and opponent (+ record) for the Top 25 all in one simple, easy to copy format? Enough complaining.-------------------

1. USC Trojans vs. Arkansas

2. Texas Longhorns vs. Rice

3. L-S-U Tigers- IDLE

4. Virginia Tech Hokies vs. Ohio

5. Tennessee Volunteers at Florida

Florida coach Urban Meyer's first encounter with its bitter SEC East rival, who is as overrated as its coach is rotund. I am not sure if the Citrus Bowl still exists in name, but the sentiment of former Gator coach Steve Spurrier's observation that "You can't spell Citrus without UT" remains, in my opinion, as true as ever.

6. Florida Gators vs. Tennessee

7. Georgia Bulldogs vs. Louisiana-Monroe

8. Florida State Seminoles at Boston College

Welcome to the new ACC, I suppose. I don't think that FSU is that good, and they might be thrown off by playing in an unfamiliar environment.

9. Ohio State Buckeyes vs. San Diego State

10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish vs. Michigan State

11. Louisville Cardinals vs. Oregon State

12. Purdue Boilermakers at Arizona

This one actually could be an upset pick, but Arizona is a pretty lousy team.

13. Miami-Florida Hurricanes at Clemson

In mild contrast to FSU, I don't think that Miami is as bad as it may appear. They may win 8 or 9 games which, notwithstanding a history of doing better and the potential imperilment of Coach Coker's position, is overall a fairly solid performance.

14. Michigan Wolverines vs. Eastern Michigan

15. California Golden Bears vs. Illinois

In his head coaching debut at Illinois, former Gator coach Ron Zook ws indeed victorious. However, the victory was over Rutgers and required an overtime in which to occur (this was in Champaign as well). The outcome will not be the same on the road vs. California.

16. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. Connecticut

17. Boston College Eagles vs. Florida State

18. Arizona State Sun Devils vs. Northwestern

19. Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Sam Houston State

20. Clemson Tigers vs. Miami (FL)

21. Oklahoma Sooners at UCLA

This may seem like a counterintuitive pick in light of OU's season thus far and the fact that it's a road game for them. I think that people are favoring UCLA more because OU is down rather than because UCLA is so good. Look for OU to bounce back in this game

22. Iowa Hawkeyes vs. Northern Iowa

23. Fresno State Bulldogs at Oregon

This game has a feel like it may be a high-scoring affair. I just feel like the PAC 10 team is going to come out a little better in this matchup.

24. Iowa State Cyclones- IDLE

25. Virginia Cavaliers at Syracuse--------------- Wow, 17-3 (.850), a pretty solid performance, if undercut a bit by my prediction that Oklahoma would bounce back. Although it seems simple, and b/c I would like to do a good job of it, I am going to cease making weekly pics b/c it requires a little more time and energy than anticipated. Expect continuing commentary as the college football season progresses, however.

Pictures: Buenos Aires & Environs

Here are the pictures that I took in BA and environs (April 2005). Artistically there's a few good ones but most were taken on the fly. I was using disposable cameras to remain inconspicuous and did not want to draw any undue attention to myself. Nevertheless, over 60 pictures came out alright. Enjoy!

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http://photos.yahoo.com/dmonay

Current Events: Gaza Withdrawal--the First 24 Hours

Although I had not been paying that much attention to the situation on the ground in Gaza over the past few days, now that the unilateral withdrawal is complete some of the stories from its initial hours seem pretty intense. Allow me to make two points here, after noting that I did indeed endorse Sharon's plan (which does not, however, necessarily translate into being ecstatic about it).----------------------------------

(1) According the reports, there was a last minute decision to keep the remaining 24 synagogues in Gaza intact, in the hopes that the Palestinian forces would protect or otherwise use them (this hope was patently ridiculous). This was an especially poorly thought out idea. Assuming that there is a religious way to 'decommision' a synagogue (for lack of the right term), they should have been removed or transported prior to the handover. Now we get images of them burning empty synagogues, as if the flaming Israeli flags and hateful anti-semitic chants were not enough in themselves to a cause a visceral, distasteful reaction. --------------------------------

(2) The other point is one that been raised numerous times before I am sure, but which received a vivid example today: a nearly unyielding propensity towards self-destructive behavior, as virtually every structure and artifice left behind by Israel was in turn destroyed, pilaged or plundered in the aftermath of the withdrawal. Yes, some destruction may have symbolic meaning, but when you allow mobs to overrun any remaining structures or grab materials of value you are squandering resources that could be put towards better use, namely establishing the territory as a viable, functioning political entity (the likelihood of which I will refrain from discussing now, but let's just say it's quite low).

Sports: College Football Picks for Sept. 10 Weekend

Although the description of this blog declares sports as a subject of discussion, to date I have not made even one sports related post (recent summertime viewing of sunday afternoon horse racing on ESPN and an intense, sudden yet quickly fleeting interest in golf during the PGA Championship don't really merit further attention).---------------------

At long last, the football season has begun. In a simple yet heartfelt declaration, a sports radio caller recently stated: "Now I know what I'll be doing from now until the Super Bowl." It is a thought tinged not only with excitement, but also with immense relief.------------------------------------

This fall I shall be posting my picks for the top 25 schedule based on the AP poll. Just win-lose, no point spread analysis lest I delve too deeply into the intricacies of gambling. Picks are in bold italics.--------------------------------

(1) USC Trojans IDLE

(2) Texas Longhorns at (4) Ohio State Buckeyes (given Oklahoma's opening day performance, this could be the year that Texas finally beats them. However, that just means that Texas will have to lose or otherwise screw up somewhere else).

(3) Michigan Wolverines vs. (20) Notre Dame

(4) Ohio State Buckeyes vs. (2) Texas Longhorns

(5) L-S-U Tigers at (15) Arizona State Sun Devils

(6) Tennessee Volunteers IDLE

(7) Virginia Tech Hokies at Duke Blue Devils

(8) Iowa Hawkeyes at Iowa State Cyclones

(9) Georgia Bulldogs vs. South Carolina (The spread on this one is 18; South Carolina will cover)

(10) Florida Gators vs. Louisiana Tech

(11) Florida State Seminoles vs. The Citadel

(12) Louisville Cardinals IDLE

(13) Purdue Boilermakers vs. Akron

(14) Miami-Florida Hurricanes IDLE

(15) Arizona State Sun Devils vs. (5) L-S-U Tigers

(16) California Golden Bears at Washington Huskies

(17) Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets vs. North Carolina Tar Heels

(18) Oklahoma Sooners vs. Tulsa

(19) Boston College Eagles vs. Army

(20) Notre Dame Fighting Irish at (3) Michigan Wolverines

(21) Texas Tech Red Raiders vs. Florida International

(22) T-C-U Horned Frogs at S-M-U Mustangs

(23) Virginia Cavaliers IDLE

(24) Fresno State Bulldogs vs. Weber State

(25) Clemson Tigers at Maryland Terrapins ----------------------- Results: 12-5 (70.59). I wrongly picked the Michigan-ND, OSU-UT and Iowa-ISU games, but was quite right about the outcome of the Georgia game w/South Carolina covering the spread. Not too bad for the 1st stab at it.

Current Events: Hurricane Katrina & New Orleans

I have never felt as afraid for the country as I have over the last week. While experiencing a wide range of dreadful emotions to the story of New Orleans' submersion and aftereffects, more than anything else the events haved left me feeling frightened in a vast variety of ways.--------------- Speaking solely in the capacity of an observer, the biggest question right now is what have we not yet seen? Although I have been following this story obsessively, reading dozens of articles online and viewing hours of covergage on TV, we have not even seen pictures of some of the worst-sounding reports (marauding bands of looters, acts of violence, the conditions inside the Superdome and convention center). Despite all the coverage that one can follow, without being there you can't feel the heat, smell the filth, see the dead bodies in plain view and hear the cries of thousands of people who have lost everything. I cannot stop thinking of what it would be like for my loved ones to experience such tribulations, or what it was like in the Superdome with 20,000 other people, no a/c, no necessities, no sanitation, no security and all in the total darkness (the "Sewerdome" term is at once darkly humorous and sickeningly evocative). ------------------------------------- A complete breakdown in organized society is terrifying. The ordeals of the surivors are unimaginable. That this happened in America is disgraceful.