Cherry-Picking

       I read two articles online about cherry picking. They were "Deltoid, Tim Lambert's Webblog"   and " The Cherry Pick" by Roger Pielke, Jr. I also found quite a few entrys about fruit orchards, I'll go back and read these at another time. Both of these articles leaned to the left a bit but the subject matter was the same whether they were leaning any way, or even hanging upside down. Everyone cherry picks. Everyone. These articles even did it. I'm doing it now. I believe even when you think you are trying to present information in a balanced and even manner,you still cherry pick. I think it is very hard not to because it is second nature to want to  prove our point of view.According to Pielke cherry picking is defined as "the careful selection of information to buttress a particular predetermined perspective while ignoring other information that does not." That defines cherry picking for me.

        Lambert's blogs are mainly about John Lott and his stands on gun control. He speaks of Lott's choices of information and surveys to support his stand and ignoring what does not fit. He also tells us that Lott abandons some of his earlier choices of information when they do not fit what he is saying in favor of others. Lambert seemed to have the opposite views of Lott so I am sure he cherry picked his information also and only provided quotes and data that fit his agenda.

       I guess what we need to do when we want information about anything is to investigate it for ourselves and not accept anything on the surface. 

Spring

Ok, why is it cold again? It was so nice yesterday and this morning. I sat on the patio for a long time, just sitting and not thinking. It's really nice to be able to do that sometimes. Nothing. Nothing can be very positive and peaceful. Jerry Seinfield created a whole television series off of nothing. He made a bunch of money from nothing and became really famous. Probably dated super models, all because of nothing. I wish nothing would make me wealthy because I think I could get really good at it.

Really Tired

       I am beat. It has been a short, long week. That's not a typo, that is the way I feel. I am glad Rachel is home though I don't know how long. She was up at 5:30 this morning, her body clock is going to take a few days to rest. It was 12:30 pm in Germany.

       After class I had to go pick up my income tax return. I have to pay. It doesn't seem fair since I have no money, that is the curse of self-employment. Then I went to do some title searches so I could get some money eventually. I also have a Gender test due Wednesday with ninety two questions and a paper for that class, a Philosophy essay test and then there is English. I am tired. I am just sitting here eating Rachel's Jelly Bellys. they are really good. I remembered I had to finish this so here is the end of a week.

Waiting

      I am just sitting here waiting. Waiting to go to the airport to pick up Rachel and waiting for inspiration that is not coming. Feeling rather burned...anyhow, it's peaceful right now. Listening to the old blues show and sitting out back on the patio is very relaxing. Rachel is in Charlotte right now waiting on her flight to Memphis. I didn't know international flights even flew into the Charlotte airport. She flew in straight from Frankfurt. She almost missed it though. Her tourist visa had expired 13 days ago so she was detained. She had anticipated getting a work visa, but that did not work out as she planned so she bought a ticket for home. She should have bought it sooner. When the airport personnel looked at her passport they immediately detained her. They are very serious about things like that. She didn't think they would notice. She was wrong. A police officer came and took her to a back room. She started tearing up and was bawling by the time they got to the room. I think that helped. But they still made her fill out a bunch of forms and told her it would go to court and she may have to pay a fine. She will have to find a job when she gets back. Her main question was, "Will I be able to get back in the country?" They told her yes, she could come back into the country. I think she has to wait 3 months anyway. I told her the authorities don't care about your business, they have to take things like this seriously. But she made her flight, just barely. My daughter, the illegal alien.

Paper 3

“Unusual periods of turmoil” , that could be considered a pretty good description of the financial situation the United States finds itself in. This was a quote from Treasury Secretary, Henry M. Paulson, Jr., out of an article I read in the news just today entitled “Two Senate Panels Investigate Bear Sterns Deal”. I read it at Yahoo Business News but it originated at the nytimes.com site. In this article written by David Stout, our Treasury Secretary was referring to the taxpayer backed takeover of the Bear Stearns firm. The Bear Stearns firm is one of the latest casualties in the subprime mortgage crisis. And this was a very old, respected firm that was supposedly on solid ground. It seems that the subprime bleed over is growing bigger and bigger everyday.

Pathways Playlist March 25 & 27, 2008

hways Playlist March 25 & 27, 2008

1.Elvis Costello/Brilliant Mistake/King of America

2. The Last Town Chorus/Understanding/Wire Waltz

3. Teddy Thompson/The Worst Is Yet To come/Upfront & Down Low

4. Buddy Miller/Returning/Universal United House of Prayer

5. Amy LaVere/Pointless Drinking/Anchors & Anvils (Local)

6. Jim White/It's Been A Long Day/Transnormal Skipperoo

7. Jim Lauderdale & The Dream Players/It's Finally Sinking In/Honey Songs

8. Missy Higgins/Peachy/On A Clear Night

9. The Avett Brothers/Pretend Love/Four Thieves Gone/

10. The Waifs/Without You/Sundirtwater

11. Luna/Mermaid Eyes/Romantica

12. Great Norther/Radio/Sleepy EEpee

13. Hot Chip/Wrestlers/Made In The Dark

14. Mouserocket/Alone Again Or/Mouserocket (Local)

15. The Cary Brothers/Loneliest Girl In The World/Who You Are

16. Ana Egge/Crazy Lady Blues/Lazy Days

17. Harlan T. Bobo/Baptist Memorial Hospital/I'm Your Man (Local)

18. Jack O & the Tennessee Tearjerkers/I Want You/The Flip Side Kid (Local)

19. Earlimart/Never Mind The Phone Calls/Mentor Tormentor

20. Tim Finn/Dead Flowers/Imaginary Kingdom

21. Sondre Lerche & The Faces Down Quartet/Tragic Mirror/Phantom Punch

22. Chuck Prophet/Small Town Girl/Soap & Water

23. Cowboy Junkies/He Will Call You Baby/One Soul Now

24. Shawn Mullins/America/Honeydew (Wendy, played this one for you.)

25. Natalie Merchant/Motherland/Motherland

26. Levon Helm/Calvary/Dirt Farmer

27. Randy Newman/Big Hat, No Cattle/Bad Love

28. Nations By The River/Kids World/Holes In The Valley

29. Patty Larkin/All Souls Day/Watch The Sky

30. Tom Russell/The Sound of One Heart Breaking/Love & Fear

31. Doyle Dykes/Angel's Desire/H.E.A.T.

Patio Paradise

      I did it! I put together (by myself) the patio furniture I bought  two weeks ago. The day after I bought it was the day it snowed. My enthusiasm waned after that plus so much to do between school and work did not leave a lot of time. But it is so nice today so I decided today was the day to tackle this project. I got out my drill but I did not even need it. It was so simple. I put it together and set it all out on the patio. It looked great, a nice beginning for a backyard refuge. I love sitting outside night or day when the weather is nice. Even when it's hot, I will sit out there and just meditate. I called my daughter, Ariel and my niece, Anne-Marie who is staying with us for the weekend. I wanted to show off my handiwork to someone. I made them sit for awhile and try the swivel chairs. They stayed about two minutes but they'll be back later. Rachel will enjoy it when she comes home. I called one of my best friends, Valerie, and told her we are ready for Margarita Night on the porch. It may seem silly to be so excited about being able to sit on your back porch but this is the first time in 11 years that I have had a porch I could actually use. You've got to take your peace where you can find it.

Rachel Returns

       So Rachel's job plan in Bayruit, Germany did not work out as planned. She first returned there from Berlin last Sunday after getting her certification in ESL. She went to see the man at the school who said he would hire her freelance. Some red flags went up. He did not want to write the letter she needed to get the work visa and told her everything they told her at her school was wrong. He had never heard of the school. Her aunt who recommended it and has been teaching ESL for 40 years said that was very strange. She told her this school was the standard ESL and he should know of it. So Rach left, she was quite upset when she called me later that night. 

      The next day she went to the German Consulate, I think that is what she told me. They told her she had to be guaranteed a certain amount of hours to work and her employer would have to write a letter stating such. They could not give her a work visa unless this was accomplished. For good reason, they wanted her to earn enough to eat.

      She went back to the school the next day and the man who runs it said he could not guarantee her that many hours so she told him she had to go back to the States then. Her tourist visa had run out so she will be back next Thursday. Of course I am glad but I am sorry it did not work out the way she wanted. She did come to the conclusion however that maybe it is for the best. She cannot enter Germany for 3 months but she plans to return.In the meantime she can work and make some money and work on getting her work and residence visa from here.

      I am happy now though just to see her. Now we need to go the beach!

      

Bag of Snickers

       "Come here, I need to show you something," he said to her. She followed him into the kitchen. He stopped at the refrigerator and opened the freezer. He took out a bag of miniature Snickers bars and held it up in front of her face. They had been married a couple of months and one of the things she had learned about him was he liked to keep his chocolate in the freezer. So they ALWAYS kept the chocolate in the freezer. 

       What? She had not yet learned to read his mind. "There is a hole in this bag of Snickers," he said. 

"And... are you trying to say that you are afraid someone has put something toxic in the candy bars? Take them back to the store."

       "You just don't get it do you," he said to her, "Someone has busted in to this bag of Snickers. Someone has been sneaking chocolate."

       "Well, it was not me, and Muriel doesn't even like Snickers. Maybe there was a hole in the bag when you bought it."

       "No, call her into the kitchen! We are going to get to the bottom of this."

       God! This was ridiculous! It's just a stupid bag of miniature candy bars! 

       "I told you, Muriel doesn't even like Snickers bars.

       "Call her in."

       Muriel came in to the kitchen. "Sit at the table," he said. "Did you get into this bag of Snickers?"

       Muriel and I both denied it. I did not have any, and Muriel certainly did not because like I said before, Muriel does not like Snickers.

        He dumped all the Snickers bars on to the kitchen table. "I am going to count each one of these candy bars," he said. "Then we are going to go to the grocery store and buy another bag just like it and bring them home and count those Snickers bars. If it is not the same exact amount in each bag, then someone is in big trouble. There is nothing I hate worse than a liar." 

       We went to the store, bought the bag. "I am going to count the candy bars in this bag and if they are not the same as the first bag, someone is in trouble. You know I hate liars and that is why I am angry so it would be better if you fess up now." He stared at Muriel as he said this. No one said anything.

       We sat there while he counted the Snickers one by one. He finished and had a disgruntled look on his face so he counted them again. They watched and waited.

       "Well... it looks this bag has the same number of Snickers in it as the other one. I guess there was just a hole in the bag when I bought it. But you see why I was so upset, I cannot tolerate a liar. I'm sorry I accused you."

And that is the story of the one time he apologized in ten years. 

Too Tired For Two

Too tired for two Blogs tonight...so you get my Pathways Playlist.

WEVL Pledge Drive is in April.

TUESDAY, MARCH 18, 2008
Pathways Playlist March 18 & 20,2008
1. Phillips & Driver/Ready For Love/Togetherness


2. The Heavy Circles/Ready To Play/The Heavy Circles

3. Shawn Mullins/Homeless Joe/Honeydew

4. Eleni Mandell/Moonglow, Lamp Low/Miracle Of Five

5. Tony Joe White/For Ol' Times Sake/Tony Joe White Warner Archives

6. Ryan Adams/Lovesick Blues/Timeless, Hank Williams

7. Iron & Wine/Boy With A Coin/Boy With A Coin

8. Cat Power/Lord, Help The Poor & Needy/Jukebox

9. Paul Westerberg/Nothing To No One/Stereo

10. Greg Brown/Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone/Yellow Dog

11. Birdie Busch/Tombstone Store/Penny Arcade

12. Tom Waits/Lucinda/Orphans

13. Jack Oblivian/I'm In Love With You/Sunday Nights, Songs of Junior Kimbrough (Local)

14. The Waifs/Pony/Sundirtwater

15. The Wild Magnolias/Pocket Change/Life Is A Carnival

16. Kula Shaker/Fool That I Am/Strange Folk

17. Bell XI/He Said She Said/Flock

18. The Caribbean/The Go From Tatical/Populations

19. Rosie Thomas/October/In Between

20. Ana Egge/In The Backseat/Lazy Days

21. Over The Hill/Darling, What Do You Want Me To Say?/Over The Hill

22. Dan Montgomery/Rosetta, Please/Rosetta, Please (A Love Story) (Local)

23. Ray Davies/Working Man's Cafe/Working Man's Cafe

24. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks/Out Of Reaches/Real Emotional Trash

25. Jesse Winchester/Evil Angel/Gentlemen Of Leisure

26. Richard Thompson/I've Got No Right To Have It All/The Old Kit Bag

27. Kathleen Edwards/Run/Asking For Flowers

28. Ron Franklin/We Ain't Got No Home/Ballads Songs & Snatches (Local)

29. Linda Thompson/Blackwaterslide/Dreams Fly Away

30. Tegan & Sara/I Was Married/The Con

31. Mary Gauthier/Before You Leave/Between Daylight And Dark

32. Kaki King/Can Anyone Who Has Heard This Music Be A Bad Person?/Dreaming Of Revenge

Floyd Skloot

       I went to the reading today at the Jay Etkin Gallery on South Main. The writer who was to read was Floyd Skloot.  I really did enjoy his reading and his own personal story of recovering from brain damage caused by a virus he contracted 15 years ago. He has also had to totally change his writing technique. He has lost a lot of his memories and is having to piece it all together bit by bit. His reading were of his poetry, an essay and his memoirs. I enjoyed all of them, his reading style is very animated. This helps bring the characters he has written about to life for the listener.

       The Jay Etkin Gallery was a nice setting for an event like this. It is a very beautiful gallery with all the South Main and Old/New Memphis charm. The artists represented in the gallery had some amazing pieces.

Grown Up Daughters!

       Hooray! Rachel, my oldest daughter is finished with her ESL school in Berlin as of today! She is now a certified ESL teacher! This is so surreal to me. But then, life has been like a Fellini film for the best 5 or 6 months anyway. I am sooooo proud of her! The school she went to was like a boot camp. She said they worked all day in to the night including all the homework with lesson plans, etc. Her Aunt Nancy is a an ESL teacher and owns a language school in Columbia, South Carolina called Language Expresso. She used to be a professor at University of Memphis in the International Program. She had recommended this school because it was one of the best but very intense. Rachel did not know intense until she got in to it. There have been some tears and some euphoria over the past four to five weeks but she did it! She graduated from U of M in December and now she is a teacher! The feeling of following something through to its completion and then succeeding is a wonderful feeling. It is a fabulous way to start her adult life. If I sound as if I am bragging, I am. To me, Rachel and Ariel are my biggest and best successes in my life.  They are also blessed with wonderful grandparents.  They are truly a gift from God. I am sure I would feel this way no matter what they did with their lives but I really think they have turned out quite well. 

Spring Break

Spring Break? Was there one? What I did was work trying to make some money and then I worked some more on my Philosophy essay test (fourteen questions), I also worked on my English paper and I read for my class in Gender and Society. There is a lot of reading.
So, Did I do anything remotely fun and Spring Breakish? I took pictures of my daughter, Ariel, in the snow. I could not believe that we got that much snow on March 7th, even if this Memphis.
I also took my Mom to the Southern Women's Show. We went with some of my friends and one of their moms. It sounds hokey but it was fun and my Mom enjoyed it. I try to get her out because she won't do it in her own very much, except to go to the store.
My friend, Bev got Botox while we were there. Yep, she had poison injected into her frown lines. I told her to go for it because she had thought about it for a long time. She is not a vain person, really. She works hard all the time so I thought she should do something for herself. Who cares what everyone thinks? I am about to go meet her now and see the results, she has to go to the Spa and get some kind of filler. Her family has been out of town (she became a first time mother after the age of 40) so we are going to tell them to go out of town more often because it takes years off of Beverly to have that alone time.

#451.59 ????!!!!!!

Never, never, never, I repeat never trust MLG & W to do the right thing! I think they have special training for their customer service representatives (HA!) on how to be rude and condescending. I recently moved to a condo and the only utilities I pay for is electric. The rest is covered in my association dues. The first month was normal, then the second month the bill was almost $200.00. For just electric? Come on..... I let it go because the bill was for over 30 days and I turned my thermostat down. Plus I only ran the dishwasher every other day, the tv is hardly ever on. There are only 2 of us here now so we do not use a lot of hot water, I do laundry in cold water. It was still very cold downstairs but we stay upstairs mostly. The bill for January was $87, better. It was an estimated bill so they did not come out and read the meter but they still showed a breakdown on my account website.
The month of February went by with no bill showing up so I sent a couple of emails inquiring into the reasons. It took almost 2 weeks for anyone to respond. I checked my account everyday and there was nothing. My neighbor came over one day and said his bill was over $350 and he lives by his self. He had been on the phone with them and was livid. I started getting worried...Finally, a Miss Beasley called me today but I was driving so I asked to call back later. I got home and checked my account and it said I owed $451.59!!! That is insane! I still could not look at the bill details, the only current information was pay this bill. Like Hell...I am not accepting this! After 30 minutes on hold I finally spoke to a live customer representative who proceeded to let me know that I was ignorant and just did not understand how things worked. When I requested someone to come out and read my meter again, she explained they do not do that. Well someone in an MLGW truck came out here last week after my neighbor had ranted and raved for an hour. I told her I wanted the meter checked out and she told me they could do that but if THEY found out it was ok they would charge ME at least $80.00! I lived in my last house for over 11 years paying electric and gas and never had a bill this high. She tried to tell me it was because they estimated my January bill and because of the extreme cold. Extreme Cold? When? I asked for a breakdown of the charges and she told me they could not get breakdowns of previous months which was counter to what she just said about the fact that when they actually read my meter they found out I used more electricity in January then they showed on my bill. More BS! I think we need some kind of energy revolution or at least some competition in the utility business. I was so pissed after talking to her! I need to go talk to my neighbor.

What Year Were These Words Written?

Many household live on the edge of financial ruin” and “Number seeking bankruptcy protection on the rise throughout the Mid-South.” Some of the contributing factors that were pointed out as leading to this situation were “Weakness in the American farm economy”, “Easier availability of credit”, “Expensive medical care and rising insurance rates” and “Direct-mail advertising by Memphis lawyers

Propaganda Analysis

      Since I am writing my paper on credit, debt and bankruptcy I thought that this ad was an appropriate piece of propaganda. The reason I believe this is so is because American culture has become very self-absorbed and obsessed with having the biggest and the best right now.  The ad has the visual of a photograph of a little girl right in the middle of it. This would make people connect with the idea that Capital One is a family friendly company. They also chose words such as "your". It's your rate, your rewards, your design, it's all about you. You can have this credit card designed to your own needs. Capital one is all about you, the consumer. I think they use a main color palette of calm blue and white because these colors are easy to look at and somewhat serene. Everything about having a Capital One credit card makes one's life easier.

       This artifact is all about American culture's need for instant gratification. It suggests values of having everything you want right now at your finger tips. And you can worry about paying for it later, it's so easy.