Every once in a while you see something in the news that really catches your eye. THIS STORY did that for me.
Now if you are not inclined to click on the above link, I'll give you the Cliff Notes version: a new edition of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" and "Tom Sawyer" has been edited to replace the "N-Word" (also known as "nigger"...more on that in a moment) with the word "slave". Maybe the idea here is to not offend readers, but I think it does the opposite.
Now is the word "nigger" offensive? Yes, it is a very offensive word. But the world is full of offensive words. Is the intent here to pretend that this particular word doesn't exist? Or that the word wasn't frequently used during the time when these works were created?
To answer my own questions...
One need only listen to much of more urban music to hear the word in question used very frequently. Clearly, kids these days know that this word exists. Now whether they know that it is offensive...and why it is offensive...is probably another question. Maybe it's not the works of Twain that we need to strike this word from...
and
This word was used very frequently during the time of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer. That's a simple, basic fact.
So why edit the word out? I honestly don't know. I simply don't buy the "not to offend readers" argument. Maybe, just maybe, it's not the readers who are being protected. Maybe it's the misguided sensibilities of adult editors that is actually being protected in this case. Regardless, any time art is "edited" everyone should be offended. How is this any different that putting a pair of shorts on a classical Greek sculpture?
Editing a classic work of literature is wrong, regardless of the intent. Period. End of story.
A final thought: George Carlin once observed that there "are no bad words...there are bad thoughts...bad intentions" and I am inclined to believe him. That's why I generally speaking shun the replacement of a certain word with "the N-Word". I do understand how offensive that underlying word is, so I'm not going to over-use it, but let's not forget that it is just a word. The world needs to pay more attention to intentions behind how this word is used and maybe less attention to its use in literature.
It was 1984, and I was in my second year of college when The Pretenders album (back then they really were record albums) Learning to Crawl came out. To this day it's one of my favorite collective pieces of modern popular music. Like most great musical works (including Fleetwood Mac's Rumors or The Beatles' White Album), its creation was steeped in angst. In the case of Chrissie Hynde the angst was driven by the deaths of two band members, James Honeyman-Scott and Pete Farndon.
What's so great about Learning to Crawl? Well first you have to start with the title. "Learning to Crawl", what does that mean? Well when I think about it, it conjures up a state where you are so low that you can't even crawl. In my limited life to date, just when I think I've reached a state where I think I'd need to "learn to crawl", something else would happen and I'd end up seeing that the past trials were just minor league stuff. Now I'm not complaining, as the trials I've had in life probably pale in comparison to those of others, but I will not claim a life of sunshine, smiles & rainbows either. "Learning to Crawl" is a state of mind you reach when you are truly low.
Then there is the music. I've read where it's not uncommon for Ms Hynde to actually cry when she plays the first track on the album, Back on the Chain Gang. That song happens to be one of my favorite pieces of music, ever. The raw emotion of the song just seems to penetrate me. I could go through the songs one by one, but why bother? I just think it's an outstanding collection of music, that is also exceptionally well played (check out the guitar work on Thumbelina for example). Pay attention to the drum work on the album too, as Martin Chambers was one of the best drummers of the era (make that "is" as he still plays).
This seems to be a pretty appropriate way to end this post...
I was completing an on-line continuing education course yesterday for my insurance license, and one of the topics was the Social Security System. Easy enough stuff, but it did spur a thought on my part:
If "Obamacare" is illegal because the Federal Government has no authority to mandate the purchase of health insurance, wouldn't the mandatory contributions into the Social Security System also be illegal?
How is one different than the other? It gets better actually:
Social Security is technically an insurance program in that the amounts paid into the system are not returned to the individual taxpayer like an investment program, but instead go into a fund that, for all intensive purposes, simply provides something that looks like an annuity at retirement
In essence, your Social Security payroll taxes are actually insurance premiums.
I'll be waiting for all those opposed to Heath Care Reform to now come out against the unconstitutional mandate known as Social Security.
...we have Michele Bachmann considering a run for President. Story link HERE. Hey, maybe she can team up with Ricky Santorum and run on the "lunatic fringe" ticket.
As for me, I'd vote for Opus-n-Bill long before I'd ever vote for Ms Bachmann.
Wait though, Ms Bachmann does have something in common with Opus the Penguin and Bill the Cat: she too is a cartoon character.
Gerry Rafferty...Scottish musician Gerry Rafferty passed away yesterday. Story link HERE. His well known songs included "Right Down the Line", "Stuck in the Middle with You" and "Baker Street". True story: when I was temporarily working in Florham Park (NJ) in 1997 I had the lyrics to "Baker Street" posted outside my cubicle. Why? I really don't remember the reason, other than the fact that it just seemed fitting at the time. Here they are...
Windin' your way down on Baker Street
Light in your head and dead on your feet
Well another crazy day
You'll drink the night away
And forget about everything
This city desert makes you feel so cold.
It's got so many people but it's got no soul
And it's taking you so long
To find out you were wrong
When you thought it had everything
You used to think that it was so easy
You used to say that it was so easy
But you're tryin'
You're tryin' now
Another year and then you'll be happy
Just one more year and then you'll be happy
But you're cryin'
You're cryin' now
Way down the street there's a lad in his place
He opens the door he's got that look on his face
And he asks you where you've been
You tell him who you've seen
And you talk about anything
He's got this dream about buyin' some land
He's gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
And then he'll settle down there's a quiet little town
And forget about everything
But you know he'll always keep movin'
You know he's never gonna stop movin
Cus he's rollin'
He's the rollin' stone
And when you wake up it's a new mornin'
The sun is shinin' it's a new morning
You're goin'
You're goin' home.
Rest in Peace Mr Rafferty. You're goin' home.
Medical News...On the medical front, I received some very good news yesterday. What would that be? Well my blood pressure, which had been border-line high for a long time, seems to have dropped down to a quite normal 120/90. Yesterday was "decision day" in that my doctor and I had agreed that if it was still elevated after the holidays I would agree to go on some kind if medication to treat it over the long term, Now for some that may not seem all that terrible, as there are probably millions of Americans who are blood pressure medication. For me though it was daunting, as I'm really not a pill kind of guy. I take two pills every day as it stands, a vitamin and a 20mg Prilosec, and even that troubles me in some small way. The vitamin just make sense, but it bothers me that I can't control my really bad case of acid reflux through any other means. Conversely, I was able to reduce my blood pressure through a combination of weight loss and dealing head-on with the personal stressors that negatively impact my life.
As a side note, I do have something of a cold/sinus thing going on (which explains why it is 5:30am and I am writing this). I think it's because I have been exposed to germs from foreign lands, you know, from places like Egypt or Wilkes-Barre. Oh well...time heals most things, including sinus infections.
Repeal!...Yes, the GOP and Tea Bagger crew and hell-bent on repealing health care reform. G - I - M - M - I - C - K. Any kind of repeal will not pass the U.S. Senate. This is all about placating the politically active Right, not about actually addressing the fact that health care inflation in the United States has been running at an annual increase of about 12% for the past few decades. Where is the alternative? "Market Based" reforms? Newsflash: the free market doesn't work for everything. Want proof? How many here want "for profit" police? Or a "market based" military? I'm not advocating any one solution, but I am advocating some solution, something that is non-existent for most of the talking heads on the extreme Right. Oh, wait, they have advocated lawsuit reform...which is a good idea, but most estimates that I've seen indicate that frivolous lawsuits add a whopping 3-5% to the nation's health care bill. Next...
Budget Axe...House Republicans want to cut an initial $100 billion from the federal budget. That's not a bad thing. The initial cuts will include $35 million from the Congressional budget. That's also okay. Here is a suggestion though: Let's make members of Congress take the same health care benefits that the average WalMart employee enjoy. This would serve two purposes:
1. Reduce the federal budget.
2. Get members of Congress to understand what "market based" health care is really all about.
Somehow I don't think that will not be happening any time soon.
Home...I've been working over the past few weeks to make my domicile more of a home. This includes more pictures, a better organized kitchen, and, most recently, place mats. Yes, place mats. It's amazing how the little things make something of a difference in your life. Note though that I almost never eat at my dining room table (in fact it is a bit of a stretch to even claim that I have a dining room...it's more like a room that stores my Trek and has a table in it).
#1 is Tulsa, Oklahoma, with a smoking rate of 24.6%. Well thank God that isn't us.
#2 is Wilkes Barre-Scranton with a smoking rate of 23.5%. Oops.
Now I guess I should do my normal smoking disclaimer before I ramble on further. Disclaimer? Well it's this: I don't care what someone else does to their own body. What I do care about though is what that action negatively impacts me or my family. Fair enough?
The problem with smoking is that it almost always negatively impacts others. For example, we have the "smoking section" of an institution. That's a joke by the way. Smoking/Non-Smoking sections within a facility make about as much sense as "peeing/non-peeing" sections of a swimming pool. Tobacco smoke simply doesn't obey the law. Then we have the much-increased healthcare costs associated with the addiction to nicotine. Simply put, no one can pour crap into their lungs and expect there to be no negative impact. The problem is that this voluntary activity (smoking) is always fatal, it causes damage from the first cigarette, and the drug in question basically makes it nearly impossible to quit. Now some tobacco apologists will claim "but, but, fast food is bad for you too!", which while true is a flawed argument relative to smoking. Why? Well if you are actually starving to death, a Big Mac could save your life. That Big Mac has protein in it, calcium, and tons of other good things (in addition to tons of fact). Bottom line: Even fast food has some intrinsic value; tobacco usage has ZERO value.
Anyway, this is one list I am ashamed we made.
PS - What's with "Wilkes Barre/Scranton"? That makes NO sense. Every hear of "St Paul/Minneapolis"? Or "Fort Worth/Dallas"? Or "Long Beach/Los Angeles"? Come on, Dan Flood is dead and decomposing, so maybe we can stop the nonsensical naming convention.
For 2011 I'd like to the President continue to work as hard (and as effectively) as he did at the end of 2010. I don't agree with everything that was done in December policy-wise, but I do appreciate the fact that, basically, "crap got done". America is a slightly center-right country, especially when you consider fiscal issues, not an ideologically pure right or left nation. Yes, he should continue to fight the good fight when it comes to those social issues that are important to his core constituency, but there is a real crisis in this country when it comes to enormous deficits...deficits that are being bankrolled by the Chinese...that needs to be addressed over the next few years. Politics is the art of compromise, and we need the equivalent of Rembrandt in the White House in 2011.
Scranton City Council President Janet Evans
For 2011 I'd like to see Mrs Evans check her personal ambition and instead channel that energy towards actually governing in an effective manner for the taxpayers of Scranton. Talk to and work with the Mayor. Don't put my interests (as a taxpayer) subordinate to the interests of unionized city employees. Realize that city council speakers just speak for themselves, not for the vast majority of Scranton's residents.
Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty
For 2011 I'd like to see Mayor Doherty focus on being Mayor of Scranton. I hope he eschews other political ambitions and campaigns for the next few years. I'd like him to do his part to work with the members of Scranton City Council with whom he typically disagrees. He needs to set the positive example for cooperation, even as some may be more interested in conflict for sake of furthering their own political ambitions.
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Corbett
For 2011 I'd like Governor elect Tom Corbett to take off the politically tinged glasses and face reality. That will probably happen anyway, but it's still worth mentioning because it's my concerted opinion that Mr Corbett rode a wave of fairy tales to victory. Fairy Tales? How about the one where you can cut taxes, kneel to the oil and gas industry and not make tough spending decisions? Yes, there are ways to reduce spending in State government, but given the governor's seeming inflexibility when it comes to revenue, the math simply doesn't work.
Representative Barney Frank
For 2011, I don't want Representative Frank to change at all. Not a bit. See this video.
What? You can't "catch" homosexuality from shower spray? Damn, and I've been washing myself down with benzine after taking gym showers all these years for nothing?
Okay, I am just kidding...about the benzine part.
Quitter Sarah Palin
For 2011 I wish the half-term governor of Alaska continued success as a reality-TV star. Stick with that Sarah...and just that...and the world will be a better place.
Incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner
For 2011 I'd like to see the tan-man spend less time clowning to the base and more time working with the President. As I alluded to under the President, America is not an ideologically far-right country, which means that extremists of both sides of the isle need to realize that they don't have a mandate to force through agendas that look good for campaign fund raising but make for bad overall policy. For example, the notion of repealing Health Care Reform makes for nice fund-raising fodder, but replace it with what? A "market-based" system? Wait, we've had a "market-based" system in this country since freak'n World War 2 and health care costs has risen something like 12% per year every year. The free market is great at producing better, cheaper toasters, but it stinks when it comes to complex economic models such as what exists for the delivery of health care. Less ideology Mr Speaker and more actual pubic (as in entire public) service.
The Editors of The Scranton Times
For 2011 I'd like to see the powers-that-be at Shamrock Communications actually, really and truly work to create a regional newspaper for NEPA. Physically it takes me about 20 minutes to get to Wyoming (Pennsylvania), but in terms of news coverage it might as well be Wyoming (the state). Yes, we now see the odd story in the Scranton Times about a fire somewhere in "the Heights", but that's about it. How about one newspaper that comprehensively covers the news in both Scranton and Wilkes-Barre? We talk about the need to present a united front on things like economic development, but yet the media doesn't seem to do much to help facilitate that very concept.
For Lackawanna County Commissioner Corey O'Brien
For 2011 I'd like to note that I am fine with Mr O'Brien running for re-election as Lackwanna County Commissioner. Fine indeed with it. But while holding this office I'd like to see him focus on this office. As I noted under Mayor Doherty, no more politically higher office distractions. If Mr O'Brien has an eye on a congressional seat, then let him quit the county payroll, get a full-time legal gig and then campaign on the law firm's dime, not mine.
Miscellaneous, personal & insider shout-outs:
Gort42...for 2011 please return. The local blog-o-sphere is just not the same.
Mr Borthwick...for 2011 I'd like to see the "observations" continue, as they fit nicely into my attention span (namely short).
Mr Owens, Mr Ballmer, Mr Cordani, Mr Strangfeld, Mr Immelt, Mr Palmisano, etc....for 2011 how about fewer jobs in Asia and more in the United States?
Mr Clapton...for 2011 I'd like to see a tour, with a stop within, say, 200 miles of Scranton.
Ms Rivers...for 2011 don't change a thing (well with one exception).
Mr Palumbo...for 2011 how about adding a comment button? Come on, I can't believe that the suits would have a problem with that!
Ms Marshall...for 2011 how about cashing those co-pay checks a bit quicker?
Ms Carey...for 2011 continue to call'm like you see'm ("chicken $hit" and all).
Mr Willett...for 2011 (at least for January & February) I'd like to you repeat over and over again the following mantra "Steve is a very valuable employee who deserves a large bonus".
Ms Albert (the oldest)...for 2011 I'd like to see gainful employment, of the full-time sort. It would be nice (but not required) if that employment were not on, say, Pluto.
Ms Albert (the middle)...for 2011 I wish you continued success in all your studies, but don't let intelligence though get in the way of hard work.
Ms Albert (the youngest)...for 2011 I wish you satisfaction at a job well done as you graduate.
Ms Albert (my mom)...for 2011 I wish you good health and good spirits.
Mr Albert (my oldest brother)...for 2011 I wish you a job...with benefits no less.
