The Macho Imperative

Who's bad?

This week's Newsweek magazine had an article about how girls are gaining on boys academically. Various studies show that girls in all age groups (elementary thru high school) far outscore boys on verbal aptitude tests. They're also gaining rapidly in previously male-dominated areas such as math and science. Only @44% of college undergraduates are male now, a serious erosion from previous years. Newsweek explained the difference as over-attention to females in the last two decades -- events like "Bring Your Daughter to Work Day". While that may play a part, I have my own suspicions about culture at large.

Such a disparity has existed for some time in black subculture. Females with dependent children are more likely to assimilate into a white-dominated work world -- a world which grants financial security, health insurance and good credit ratings. But also a world which calls for compliance and respect towards established authority. Males are more likely to operate from a standpoint of rebellious machismo . They would rather have "street cred" with other males in the hood, and be dominant in a matrix of prostitution and drugs. Better to be the alpha gang member than the junior milk toast that sucks up to "the man". What I've noticed more recently is that white, asian and hispanic youth are now adopting this rationale, if you care to call it that. A boy, no matter his color, is likely to get ridiculed and beat up if he sits at the front of the class and takes notes.

What I discern thru all of this is that males are extreme 'pack' animals and the respect they get from other males is crucially important. The approval of 10 females approximates the approval they get from one other male. Should it be that way? Of course not -- but we live in a strange world where MTV, video games and early exposure to adult entertainment have created a "macho imperative". Much of this subculture immersion happens in public school. It is far more important to be bad, than to be good. Money will take care of itself, but a reputation as a wimp is apparently something that cannot be overcome or fixed. Team sports used to be a way for teenage boys to constructively work out aggressions, but in today's world that can be seen as another form of working for the man.

The unfortunate risk of this is that these young men will have a future of blue collar employment, serving french fries and serving jail terms. Their humiliation will be final, considering the macho imperative, when the women in their lives become alpha -- making all the money and thus telling them what to do. So now who's bad? Depends on how you mean the word "bad". My own inclination might be to send my children to a private school and limit their early exposure to a "gangsta" world that offers Bling but in fact delivers the ultimate sting.

Orange Alert

Be very afraid ...

The perception has always been that Republicans are tougher, more pragmatic and more adept at confronting terrorism than Democrats. Democrats have a reputation as bleeding hearts who always turn the other cheek. After 9/11, the American public understandably wanted a firm and unequivocal response to Al Quaeda's atrocities. Some Democrats, including Hillary Clinton and John Kerry, understood the importance of looking tough -- they both voted for the Iraq war. Since that fateful time, they’d probably like to reconsider their vote and their accompanying rhetoric. Now we hear that Karl Rove is going to bang the security drum again for the 2006 midterm elections. We know it’s worked before – there’s nothing like an orange alert to heighten our collective anxiety and make us ring the fire alarm. “In case of emergency, elect Cro-Magnon president”. Already, the Bin Laden tape released this month, has created an undeniable tension – one that begs for some elite military SWAT team to take the man out. If only we could beef up our military alertness ... if only.

There are so many things wrong with this picture. Since 9/11, there have been at least 3 significant terror attacks – the tube bomb in London, train bomb in Madrid and bombings in Saudi Arabia. If you counted “miscellaneous” atrocities in Indonesia and other places, the count would be much higher. Osama Bin Laden is still at large. The cynical side of me says that in this age of satellites and consummate surveillance that someone in our government knows where he is. Why would they suppress that knowledge? It’s only a speculation, and that would be another blog topic. Suffice it to say that he’s still at large after nearly 5 years. A wealthy, connected man with an entourage and a paramilitary organization that reports to him – yes he’s still at large.

As far as military wellness, we have given short shrift to everything. We didn’t ever provide enough troops for Iraq or Afghanistan. When American soldiers finish a tour of duty, they can be sent back – a Hellish new form of double jeopardy. Or if they’re injured they can become another overlooked SSN at a veteran’s hospital. They are given poor quality cladding for vehicles and poor body armor. Yes, we support our troops. Dick Cheney has sung the praises of international torture and domestic spying, but those have availed us nothing except perhaps a serious erosion of civil rights and international respect.

So do Republicans still own the topic of terrorism? I hate to say “yes”. If you refer back to my blog, “The South has Risen Again", you will note that Democrats are only electable when they nominate centrist Southerners. So far, for 2008 we have lightening rod Hillary, foot-in-mouth Dean, perennial loser Kerry and yours-to-lose-and-he-lost-it Gore. With that stellar lineup, the GOP could nominate Alfred E. Newman and he would handily win. I can only close by saying, “In case of emergency – keep your head and don’t overreact.

Mad Dog

Wash that taste of Intel out of my mouth!

I've been a consumer of home computers thru the years, and have tried different brands, platforms, systems along the way. Here is my purchase history (in part):

1982 - Apple II+
1991 - Acer ACROS 325SX
1997 - Compaq Presario w/ Pentium Chip
1999 - iMac (Bondi Blue original)
2001 - HP Pavilion Pentium 4, Dell laptop with Linux
2005 - iMac mini, Gateway Intel Celeron notebook

The two iMacs and the Dell laptop have mostly been for play and education. The HP desktop is my 'workhorse' that has all my financial data and documents. If I had to recommend a computer for a young person or a newbie, I'd recommend something like my $575 Gateway with Windows XP. Why? It's inexpensive, practical, easy to use, and there is a ton of software available. Having used all the different platforms and OS's, I can identify things I might prefer about Linux or Mac. But being practical in the extreme, I opt for Windows XP.

When Steve Jobs of Apple announced recently that Apple computers would be powered by Intel, Mac heads the world over screamed bloody murder. They felt some type of ultimate betrayal, that their leader had made a Faustian, unthinkable bargain with the "Wintel" monopoly. I know a guy who steadfastly uses Linux for everything, home and work. If a utility doesn't exist, he'll write it. Mind you, his work is obtuse and no one else could possibly ever follow it or use it, but he's sticking it to Bill Gates! I'll be kind about Mac and Linux -- Mac has a beautiful interface and cool apps like iLife. It is also ungodly difficult to access Windows networks (you have to buy a 3rd party tool called Dave), and it doesn't offer anything that isn't available on Windows in a less hip (and way less costly) package. Linux is a wonderful open-source system. It offers ungodly complicated software with inconsistent packaging and interfaces that could give fits to programming professionals. Attention geeks:

1- We live in a capitalistic society. That product will succeed which gives people what they want, at the right price.
2- Computers are for everyone, not just geeks and engineers. That product will succeed which has a consistent, easy interface and is kind to newbies.

Mac fails on point 1 -- it's overpriced and missing a lot of software, as well as interoperability with the Windows world. Linux fails on point 2. It takes a PHD in Computer Science to navigate Linux very comfortably.

Reading Webster's definition of cult, I think they are too mild: "great devotion to a person, idea, object, movement, or work (as a film or book); especially : such devotion regarded as a literary or intellectual fad". Well Mac and Linux qualify as cults, even by that tepid definition. My definition of cult would be: adherence to an idea, where action disjoins from reason, and emotion supersedes logic. Thus, you have computer advocates who reflexively foam at the mouth over anything which threatens their movement -- their glass menagerie of Mac-dom in this case. Will Windows and Bill Gates reign forever? Maybe not. But whatever unseats them will be something that stands the test of marketability and usability -- not the wails and gnashing of teeth by ultra-geeks and Mac heads.

Brave New World of TV

Bigger can be better

The 20" RCA CRT TV that I bought five years ago still works fine. It was hooked up to basic cable and provided five years of trouble-free entertainment. When my mother in Round Rock bought a new, flat screen 32" TV, along with premium cable, it pushed me closer to the technology edge. I used to be an early adaptor of gizmos and gadgets, but somewhere lost my fervor. I don't even watch TV like I used to -- have no must-see shows (sorry NBC). But I'll be darned if I'm the codger down the street who still has a Victrola. Also, I noticed that friends and relatives with large HDTV's are getting a nightly theater experience. My eyesight isn't what it was, and every little bit of upsizing helps. Decided I had to become modern. My first obstacle to modernization was removal of a 1,000 pound oak entertainment center. Dark wood, traditional style, it is still like new and can hold up to a 32" TV. (In case any readers want to buy it -- I'll make you a good deal). This furniture no longer represents any aspect of me -- the age of the big, dark furniture is over. Bring on the clean, the lean, the modern -- the IKEA if you will. Crate & Barrel if you want to move upscale with the concept. My good friend and I nearly caused destruction to my house, as well as hernias to ourselves, moving the entertainment center to the garage.

Now, we bring in my new Panasonic 52" rear-projection LCD TV. I purchased it at SAM's, and consequently found equal or better deals just about everywhere I looked afterwards. Also think I found out why mine was $1000 less than similar-sized Plasma devices. It has a pricey projector lamp that must be replaced every two years. What have I gotten myself into? Also, there appears to be a web site devoted to consumers angry with maintenance issues on this particular model. Gulp. I'm fine with it now, and will probably replace the bulb a few times until I have fully amortized my erroneousness.

How's the picture you say? Well, I still have analog cable -- am debating all the pros and cons of Dish, DirecTV, Comcast, etc, etc, etc. The analog shows up pretty darn good most of the time, on a 4:3 aspect (old TV) ratio. Oddly some analog channels look like fuzzy crap -- not sure why such variance would exist on analog. DVD's look fantastic of course, and cartoons have unbeatable clarity. I've recaptured some of the magic of being 10 years old, at the Cinema matinee -- going to see "The Love Bug". Have I mastered all that there is here? There are still owners manuals in the wrappers, and submenus I haven't looked at. So, the answer is no. Perhaps Geeks on Call -- they can tell me why things look as they do. Never has a couch potato needed to be so informed. But I'll have to admit that bigger can be better. Now, I just need stadium seating and some Junior Mints.

Taking Stock

Time for a new entry

Every once in a while, I like to review my recent blogs and see if there's anything that needs to be elaborated, retracted or corrected. As a matter of fact, I do have some addendums to my recent posts. Nobody goes back and reads old topics, much less new comments so here are my comments all in a new blog. No scrolling necessary.

Bah Humbug - I said the most Grinch-like things and then my Mother gave me some really nice Nautica shirts that I like. Maybe the Christmas gift exchange can serve to dress those of us who need to shop more or freshen our look. Also, this past Christmas was almost Norman Rockwell in quality. We had a fun family gathering and nobody made a scene. I guess the Grinch needs to put Christmas back, at least somewhat.

Looking for an Exit - I must be Nostradamus, because Iraq is unfolding (unraveling) as I thought. The past few days have been among the most violent in recent years, even after elections (especially after elections, where extremists prevailed). Despite Bush's public penitence and Rumsfeld's holiday visit to Iraq, America's place there is highly questionable.

A Full set of Golf Clubs - I had previously defined a 'set of golf clubs' where race (20 points) was replaced with these criteria:
Age under 40 - 10 points
Athletic, interested in team sports - 10 points
This set of clubs is in some ways even more 'Darwinian'. Scoring high means that society will open every door – and not question one's motives. Doesn't necessarily mean that the high scorer is a 'better human'. Don't score 100 -- that makes you as exciting as a stale vanilla wafer.

Does Laura Miller Hate Dallas - Shortly after I said that the W Hotel was the only construction crane on the skyline, several more cranes popped up. Downtown Dallas is probably having the biggest building boom it's had since the 1980's. But the jury is still out on Laura Miller. The Cotton Bowl may move to the new Arlington stadium, taking away one of our best celebrations.

Animation Domination - "Family Guy" crossed a serious line for me in its latest episode. It displayed animal cruelty (a partly dismembered bleating sheep) as a joke. Few things on planet earth raise my ire as much as animal cruelty -- I also hate unnecessary depictions of violence. Human institutions that are proud and smug deserve to be lampooned. But defenseless creatures should be off-limits. “Family Guy” has fallen off of my must-see list.

The New Apprentice - Martha Stewart's show is now kaput. The genre was overdone, but she has several other venues in which to shine. Martha will do just fine.

In sum, I got a few wrong and I got a few right. I enjoy making the comments no matter what -- what good is an opinion if you can't air it and stir things up? And I hope my readership of about a dozen people will continue enjoying an occasional read. If you don't agree, just wait and see. I might come around the next time I 'Take Stock'.

Donkey See, Donkey Do

Knoxville, the Instigator

Was at my Mother’s house over Christmas, staying up late and watching TV. I was surfing across the channel lineup, and Comedy Central’s “Jackass the Movie” caught my attention. Never watched the “Jackass” TV show, so all the proceedings were new to me. Have to be honest and say that I was fascinated (yes, strangely fascinated) with what was on, much like when you slow down to see a car accident. The “Jackass” cast is a group of @ 5 men in their twenties who do ridiculous things on a dare. Some of the things are merely embarrassing, but more often there is a real risk of bodily injury; on at least one stunt (paper cuts), bodily injury was the actual intent. I saw about the last 2/3 of the movie, and here are some of the delightful stunts that were done:

- Using the bathroom (for real) in a department store display toilet
- Kick boxing the champion female Korean kick boxer (and getting flattened)
- Shooting bottle rockets from the (naked) posterior
- Getting shot in the abdomen with a bean bag gun (wearing “protective” vest)
- Creating, and then eating a “golden” snow cone
- Having a Matchbox car (wrapped in a condom) rectally inserted, and then visiting a doctor for x-ray

Much of the activity involved people either naked or wearing Speedos; it can make you wonder why the main following of the show is heterosexual teenage and twenty-something males. One can only guess that the spare clothing is needed to focus attention on (for example) the launching pad of the bottle rockets in above example. The appeal of all the shenanigans is obvious in at least one respect: the movie will bring out the snickering adolescent in almost anyone – it’s a gleeful return to junior high.

On another score, I was bothered on a couple of items. The paper cuts were deliberate self-mutilation, however minor. That behavior should never be shown or encouraged for any amount of money, in any venue. Yes, it’s minor injury but everything is a matter of degree. What might someone do next – cigarette burns? Self-asphyxiation? A related issue – real deaths have occurred from children and teenagers doing copycat stunts. Kids do enough deranged things without giving them new ideas. Could “Jackass” still be viable as a male, adolescent ratcheted-down version of “Candid Camera”? My guess is that it probably could. If you removed every component of scatological crudity, humiliation, and cutting edge, well, cuts, you could probably still have some funny scenes left. Would it have the appeal of a car accident? Probably not – and that’s probably a good thing.