The Boy, The Tiger- The Man

Recently, I received the entire collection of Calvin & Hobbes as a gift. The other day, I read through the first 10 or so pages, in which Bill Watterson, the author, dictates his journey to the two witty characters of his infamous comic strip.

What struck me the most was his passion to be a comic strip writer in the first place. And he tried everything. He admits that he was never the greatest cartoonist or artist for that matter, but he figured that was much simpler than, say, any formidable drawing. He wrote comics for school papers and tried a few political cartoons, but they were never that successful and they weren't really what he was after.

The fact is that Watterson's Calvin & Hobbes started as secondary characters in a comic he was submitting to various agencies and papers. Finally one syndicate that picked him up mentioned that perhaps he should expound on those two secondary characters as they seemed to have the most depth. Watterson agreed, and what he really saw in Calvin & Hobbes was himself.

He was finally drawing and forming characters that developed as he did and with college background in political science (which by the way, he had no real interest or knowledge of until college), he was able to communicate his thoughts, questions, and ideas to the world. What's even more intriguing was the fact that he had no desire to ever be in the lime light. He frequently backed away from interviews and the most well known picture of Watterson is a picture taken in 1985 is his office. He also defended his artistry and other than the books themselves, never officially authorized any other type of merchandise, such as plush toys or animated films.

Watterson as a man, we saw through the eyes of a little boy and his stuffed tiger. He was doubtful that his characters would succeed, esp. b/c Peanuts had already taken children to a whole new maturity level. Nevertheless, he found an audience, he made his wife laugh and he was good at it...

To me? Watterson was about quiet passion and hard work and that is really amazing.

...to keep kids off drugs...

have you seen the new anti-meth ads? the montana meth project has certainly done a fantastic job at scaring its audience. i have heard parents criticize the fact that the commercials are running during prime time television or even daytime television when their young children may be watching. true the images are disturbing. and true, prime time may not be the best hours to air the ad: but then again, drug users are getting younger and younger. the popular d.a.r.e programs of the 80s don't seem to be doing the trick any more. it almost seems appropriate to be realistic, and unfortunately the truth about the drug is scary. what do you think?

Crank

"crank is more than a drug.
it's a way of life. you can turn
your back. but you can
never really walk away."

"the monster will forever speak
to me"

I recently picked up the book, Crank by Ellen Hopkins. My kid-sister had read it and for a person who doesn't read much, her telling me she polished it off in less than a day...well it meant I had to see what all the rage was about.

Ironically, it's a tragic story about a girl named Kristina Wagner, who after a summer visit to her father's quickly dives down the addiction hole and despairingly tries to maintain an image with her family.

On her summer trip, Kristina falls in love w/ the neighbor boy under an alter ego and finds out that he often gets high on methamphetamine drugs with her estranged father. Her first love leads her down a dirty trail in under two weeks- and her first taste of what she calls "the monster" leaves her isolated, gang raped and craving for more.

After going back to her mother, stepfather and sister, Kristina struggles to keep up the relationship and perspective she left with. She has become a meth addict (aka, Crank), she lives in an altered state of mind just to be brave enough to take the drug and live on the wild side. She abandons friends, finds new ones, that aren't so pleasant, is raped a second time and gets pregnant as a result.

Hopkins writes as the character Kristina (or Bree, her alter ego)-her journal and poetic muse are simple, easy to read, and quickly draw you into her mental state of being. The short poems on each page serve a purpose to the story and each word is artistically designed to read as more than one poem. Frankly, I find the writing, itself fascinating.

What's more- is that the dark words that describe an insecure girl's life are something of an autobiographical tale for the author. Hopkins wrote the story as way to reach out to her own drug addicted daughter. The heartbreak described, I felt. And I was deeply saddened, that for this meth addict, there was no real resolve. Even after becoming pregnant and deciding to keep the child, Kristina admits to snorting crank on more than one occasion.

Over the years, I've taken interest in psychology, the function of the brain, and recently, how addiction plays with that. Meth is one of the most addictive drugs out there. With heightened sense of being, self confidence, sexual arousal and restlessness- it has the ability to create severe hypertension and heart problems. It can also cause aggression and causes an obsessive behavior, one that includes the constant need for the drug itself.

The story was heart-wrenching and the effects, the facts about the drug are more scary than comforting. Some countries have prescription allowances for meth, but unfortunately, due to the social high that it's known for: it is networked underground and is destroying people's lives. What I do find most positive about Hopkins story is that, while it may be sad, she shows that the resolve for being an addict is not an easy one and should never be done alone. An addict is always an addict and it is possible to get sober- but one must be willing seek help, therapy and support. It's the only way out. For those who are prone to drug use of any kind, you're not alone and drugs aren't the answer. So don't be afraid to face your fears and overcome your addiction. Don't let it follow the rest of your life....that life could be short.

It's More Than Black & White

One of most prominent issues in America is race. It pops up in elections, economics and is the most intense social issue that exists. Stereotypes of White and Black are flagged and candid conversations rarely, if ever really occur. When I grew up, I was not taught that someone of another color was different than me. Difference in equality is not something I understood and I was surrounded by Black, White, and even Asian friends, family and people I respected. The fact was, it wasn't an issue at all and recognizing someone with darker or lighter skin was just a fact, not a put down. As I've grown and become more educated: I still find it baffling that people on either side of the White/Black community would put the other down for color. It's true that slavery in the United States was a shameful practice and was color based. But I also find that slavery has existed for thousands of years and very often is a wretched practice among so many peoples across Africa, Asia, South America, the Middle East and Europe. The United States faced a Civil War where race was only one issue (among other economic conflicts) and a century later, a Civil Rights Movement that changed the face of the country. The 1960s carried leaders that moved equality further, as it should have been carried out post Emancipation Proclamation.

As I am wrapping up Boom by Tom Brokaw, he touches on the Civil Rights Movement and its leaders. He took time to recognize what they accomplished during the most explosive decade of the 20th Century, and discussed many of their personal lessons over the years. One particular gentleman that caught my attention was a man by the name of Dr. Shelby Steele. Steele has over the years become known as a "Black Critic." Steele is a fellow at Stanford University's Hoover Institution and began as the president of the local SNCC chapter at Coe College in Iowa during the late 60s. His low-income family was active in Civil Rights events in Chicago that followed the hopefuls of Dr. King. Later, Steele admits he became "something of a black nationalist, and the politics of race had changed into a this anti-white militancy." He stated that the peaceful movement became one that lead blacks to fight openly for equality and to express anger and hostility because of what blacks had suffered. It became a power struggle and not a peace march.

Steele notes that at the time, he tried to have a conversation with his father about "blackness" and his father was blown away by the idea. The idea of black power and black pride-- they were not concepts that were identified or embraced by the pre-WWII generation. Steele followed this movement for a time, but now admits that it has only damaged the work that Dr. King did.

"We were suddenly in a situation where the government was giving us a lot of money for being black...We took it as our due...in the name of race and militancy, we taught black separatism."

(Steele, Boom, Brokaw)

Dr. Shelby Steele stated that once freedom was gained, the black community didn't know what to do with it. And rather than pursuing economic development, education and jobs, they lived off "blackness," and demanded retributions from society. In the late 60s, "black power" went beyond demanding equality, and "treated our race the same way the Ku Klux Klan treated whiteness," making color the end all solution. Steele noted that blacks were not following the example of their great speaker- and seemingly the I Have a Dream speech dissolved in meaning and significance. Today, Steele thinks that Whites are different- they've swung so far to the other side of the pendulam, that are more afraid of being labeled racist than anything else. And it's evident any time a white individual makes a racial slur, by accident or not, the white community will punish their own so harshly, that person's career is over.

Steele believes that racism is actually beneficial to the black man, b/c he can then use it to his advantage- become the victim and making the white man afraid of not treating him fairly. Steele has praised Bill Cosby for challenging the black community to further themselves as individuals- and rejecting the stereotype- rejecting the notion to fall under the victim label. He doesn't have patience for what he believes are white enablers either.

He commends someone like Michelle Obama who has stated questions of "what is black and who is black enough" trouble her. She was quoted as saying, "I did exactly what leaders in my community told me to do. They said do your best in school, work hard, study and get into the best schools....and when you do that, bring that education back and work in your community," which she has done. In other words, it wasn't about white or black, it was about being American and individual in the community.

I doesn't bother Steele that he doesn't having many followers in the community. Rather he's proud of where his life has lead him and he wants to continue learning and participating.

Certainly, for me this is a profound discussion and is what equality is all about. As an American, I'm for everyone having equal rights. What bothers me is when particular social demographics demand special treatment in the NAME of equal rights. And really what is happening is their pursuit is only creating fear and handouts: two things that don't honor the human race at all.

haiti's disaster

the pictures from haiti are heart breaking and i'm sure by now, that many of you have seen the devastation in a the little island country. death and destruction are not a pretty site. my heart breaks for the families that are still hunting for friends and lost ones. in a country of third world proportions, the earth's massive force is an unwelcome state. without any real estimate of how many dead and injured, where does one even begin to help? nevertheless, organizations and people are gathering together for an incredible effort to aid the people in haiti. as you take a look at the pictures today, don't forget to pray.

photo credit: lisandro suero/agence france-presse -- getty images

Setting Conan's Red Hair on Fire

I have to get it off my chest.

And I just have to say it: I think NBC is giving Conan O'Brien the shaft. Yeah, it's a current rant of mine- from a viewer's perspective and production point of view- I'm disappointed that he hasn't been given the fan fair to be begin with. The Tonight Show is an incredible brand that has only carried a few hosts and has been around to entertain for decades. O'Brien was not only the best choice to replace Leno, but he's also made for funnier TV, at least in my opinion.

O'Brien's vaudeville style and goofy antics convinces the viewer and as he's settling into the new hour and embracing the title, NBC keeps finding ways to screw him over. Yes, NBC, Conan was the right man for the job- taking Jay out was highly necessary! So why on Earth, I ask you, would you even offer him the grand Tonight Show only to put Leno back in front of him at 10pm? That was a mistake.

The two men, each have made their share of jokes on the air about the disgruntling situation. But it's been O'Brien that's recieved huge applause when he walks onto the stage. Since September; NBC has lost viewership by total of 4.6% and 9.8% of their 18-49 viewers. That's a chunk. That tells me that NBC needs to yank Leno completely and give O'Brian a real chance to shine.

Granted they ARE going back to prime time shows next month, but the dilemma now is whether or not they will give Leno an 11:30p slot and push O'Brien back to Midnight (which of course should no longer be labeled the "Tonight Show," semantically speaking). This too, will be a mistake. What I don't understand is why they are so desperate to keep Leno! And if they wanted to continue with him, why re-arrange him in the first place?

O'Brien's style lays back into the Johnny Carson days. Not only that, but O'Brien has stage/set features that are reminiscent of Carson and The Tonight Show has become a lot more fun over the last nine months or so. And now, there is a younger generation that now has an appeal to the show's novelty.

Personally, NBC has been disappointing over the last few years, esp. when it comes to prime time, anyway. Heroes became annoying second season, Kings was destroyed by corporate, as well as Merlin, and since Friends & Seinfeld, NBC has not really had redeeming qualities. It's true, I'm a L&O SVU fan, but I don't watch the show on the nightly slot on NBC. TNT picked up Southland last minute, b/c NBC simply...dropped it with little warning. Whether it's promising or not is yet to be seen, but it wasn't even given the chance. While Community is a show I find "comedically" worthy, I found it even more interesting that Critics think the show would almost do better on a different Network.

In the Television business, it's important to stick to what works and what keeps your viewers. With constant changes, killing shows and never really moving programming forward, you loose viewers, then ratings, then money and ultimately, you're killing yourself. And well, Conan O'Brien's annoyance with the issue is certainly warranted.

Wouldn't you agree?

poster design credit: mike mitchell

moving on

i've certainly been lax on blog writing since the start of this new year. and i've been thinking about how i want to formulate it this year, what changes there will be, or what might stay the same. certainly, i plan on reading more than i did in 09, and my thoughts on my readings will still follow.

but i as i progress my life this year, my learning and where i am headed, i think it's important that i reflect that. with my attentions focused on photography, film and music: my journey through those will be noted. there will be moments of journalistic creativity and perhaps a lesson learned to come. nevertheless, i don't intend my writings to be the same as they've been, which in my mind has been on a plethora or topics and varied too often.

i sincerely hope that you'll come with me.

The Sixties, Drugs, Music: Achievement

I'm winding through Tom Brokaw's, Boom, determined to finish it over the next week or so. It's been on of the most interesting books I've read. As such I've just finished reading the section where he targets a discussion on the roll of Hippies, Drugs and even Music. What caught my attention most recently was the discussion surrounding Dr. David Smith and Berry Gordy.

"I had a drinking problem in 1966- and I took LSD. I was studying psycho pharmacological effects of drugs on the mind and I must say, taking LSD was an incredibly positive experience....to be truthful, I wouldn't have opened the free clinic if I hadn't been taking LSD."

(Smith, Boom!, Brokaw)

Whether or not Smith was truly taking the drug as an experiment or not is a bit irrelevant at this point, but the fact that he moved on to open the first free clinic to help youth, poor and addicts is an important contribution. He noted that in the 60s, at the San Francisco General Hospital, the Hippies were often treated "like garbage," and turned away, brushed up to be druggies and their problems were not important as they may have been "self-imposed." Smith's clinic became more than just a treatment center, they quickly became a center for helping people obtain better health knowledge and even a recovery center. The need for his clinic(s) became greater as many veterans were returning and the VA could not support the number of people that needed recovery and assistance. And the money? It came from bands and artists who realized their fans needed the clinic, from the VA who was sending vets to the clinic and a number of other resources.

Today- Smith's non-profit organization, Free Clinic Cooperative helps support free clinics across the country. The National Association of Free Clinics, alone, total to about 1200. There are far more however, that are provided by branches of hospitals, both religious and non-religious.

How unique- that even in the midst of the "Hippie Movement," great things came. Health care is an important part of longevity and with so many Americans struggling without insurance, there are still resources for them to receive medical care. In other words, it is Americans taking care of their own, good people who believe in taking responsibility for their community. Something to think about.

"...1968 and the loss of Dr. King and Bobby Kennedy, Gordy says, it was the year 'when the bad guys were cutting off our dreams.' He says, 'I think we lost our innocence,' at that time. But, he insists, although the world was going sour, the fundamental Motown message through its songs and artists remained essentially the same..."

(Berry Gordy, Boom!, Brokaw)

Gordy was one of the most prominent music producers in the 60s & 70s. And three years following the explosive events of 1968, Marvin Gaye came to Gordy with "What's Going On?" The producer admitted that he did not want to put the song out there. He told Gaye that Motown was supposed to be songs of love, heartbreak and hope, not war on the streets of America. But Marvin Gaye, Motown's number one artist at the time, threatened to quit and was just as adamant about recording the song. So they did. And today, it's one of his greatest classics. The music was real and reflected what Gaye felt about life & society, it communicated something that Motown hadn't before.

Certainly, Motown, in all its glory has motivated and inspired many artists. While Gordy's reputation has often been the center of controversy, he took a risk in mounting black artists and made the successful - pushing forward and rejecting a status quo. He was even quick to say that he wasn't trying to produce "black music," but rather music that happened to be sung by black artists. It was an opportunity in which he took to live out equality, in a peaceful way.

Happy New Year!

A good review of 2009-Hope you enjoyed your New Year's Eve ....thank God for 2010

Christmas Skies, Perfect

I gave the last hug and hopped into the rental. it was a dreary cold day and I was headed to the airport to go home. For as much as I enjoyed the Christmas holiday, I was ready to unpack, retreat and sleep under my own covers.

The weekend felt complete. Driving to the airport, I caught a glimpse of the clouded sky. The sun was trying to peek out, as if to finally say hello on the dark Christmas day. It was beautiful.

After I raced to get the car back, trollied to the ticket counter and stripped for security: i boarded the aircraft with readiness and anticipation. Watching the sunset above the clouds was fascinating. Just seeing it made my insides smile.

*taken from my mobile phone*