10 Minute Rule

Watching Outside the Lines this morning got me thinking about the fight this weekend in ways not at all pertaining to fighting itself. Next week Floyd Mayweather is going to battle with Manny Pacquiao. As Manny said in his famous commercial, ‘He’s going to fight me?!‘  The show, coupled with this excellent article about the lionization of Mayweather speaks to the fact that we back boxers based on who they are as individuals often as much as who they are in the ring.

People hate Mayweather. In truth, they often love to hate him because he embodies all of the principles seen as fundamentally wrong. Mayweather has been convicted of domestic assault five times. He spends money like it doesn’t matter at all. He is brash and arrogant and surrounds himself with an entourage that includes 50 Cent, Triple H, and Justin Bieber. First off, anyone who gives Bieber street creed isn’t great. However, the big black mark is his assaults on women.

Lets consider Mayweather for a moment: This is a violent man. He is a boxer. He is someone who we pay extraordinary amounts of money to see him hit people. There is a mentality attached to that which lends itself to violence outside of the ring. Mayweather has served time in jail for domestic violence. He has done the time for the crime. Now what many wish to see is Mayweather’s livelihood stripped from him for the crime he committed. I think this goes too far and misses what people really want from him. See, Floyd Mayweather has not apologized for his reprehensible actions against women, often falling back to the adage ‘Only God can judge me’. Well the people feel as if they are representative of that invisible force and have judged and found him guilty, basically as a human.

In the end, this fight is going to exist on multiple levels. There is no question about Pacquiaio’s status as a national hero and no question about Mayweather’s role as a villain. On that level we know who the public likely wants to win. On the pure boxing level, the outcome is still in question.

Some Thoughts:

1. 1816 brought us Charlotte Bronte. Say what you will about Jane Eyre, it has stood the test of time.

 

I am so profoundly sick and tired of hearing people ‘remind’ me that Obama was only elected based on the color of his skin. To recognize how profoundly arrogant and dismissive that claim is, consider that the majority of voters across the planet vote along party lines. Yet, how often do you hear people say, ‘oh he only won because he’s a Republican’? You aren’t likely to see that comparison made, because as the Pew Research center put it, ‘Most fundamentally, it is an attitude, not a demographic.’ We are far more willing to challenge a demographic than we are to question our own attitudes. This begins to explain how quickly we are willing to dismiss voting along party lines as something that ought to be looked at and questioned.

This doesn’t stop at race. Google the term female president and there is a long debate between writers of the top American newspapers about wether or not it is a good idea. Yet, do we question if we should have an affluent white male president? Google that and no such debate will come up.

I say all this to think about the way I think and the way we think collectively as a nation. We are a nation of comfort and rarely are we quick to accept change–even when that change is obvious and relevant. We are a nation that fought against the cellphone, against wireless internet, and even challenged milk. We question everything new but hardly anything that has a longstanding history with us.

That is simply the American Way.

Some Thoughts:

1. 1815 was the year dental floss was invented… And the year the cavity creeps began to hide in caves like afghani militants…

Football coaches—coaches in general—rarely get the credit they deserve for the complex work they do. Now I’m not conflating this work with what Neil Degrasse Tyson and his ilk do, but all too often the thinking man’s side of athletics is overlooked. Consider this: as a football coach you have to be a strategist, a poker player, a master motivator, and leader, and what can be best described as a ‘personality wrangler’. This multitude of roles must be achieved expertly and simultaneously in order to be a success. I’m learning this as a coach and as a researcher/observer of coaches. I’ve been studying the good ones from pee wee all the way up through the pros, watching game film and even attending games to gain a clearer understanding of what I want to put into coaching and what I want out of it as a result. Through my research I learned that I do want to coach more, not just for the excitement and gratification, but because it is going to make me better at everything else.

I don’t multitask terribly well. It is a flaw that I have tried to address through research, but research only taught me that you cannot research about multitasking without discovering the futility of the act and pressuring evidence of the inability to truly do so. I disagree with the experts. I know this because I do coach. I carry these multiple roles and tasks forward in the coaching role and do so through compartmentalization and planning. I especially do so through seeking the help of those around me. Every coach has coordinators and assistants handy to take a lead role in aspects of the work. In my personal life I try to do all of that on my own and fall flat. So, delegation is the key there—do as much as I can reasonably and effectively handle and delegate the rest—leaving room to manage that delegation.

 

Easier said than done, of course.

 

Some Thoughts:

1. I might be done with the skater look on guys and gals alike. The problem is the ubiquity of it all, at least here in the flaming AZ valley where girls rock jet black booty shorts, vans, and a concert tee as a kind of ‘cool’ shorthand. This came to a head over the course of a week when I saw no less than six girls from behind and thought, quite reasonably, that they were the same person. This was not all at once, mind you. This was not the sometimes cute, sometimes stupid tendency to wear matching outfits as a symbol of teen unity. These were individuals in locations throughout the city that looked exactly the same. The guys are worse. If I see one more dude in black shoes, black socks, and a purple flat brimmed ball cap I am going to snap. Of course, I say this as a black man who is exceptionally fond of gym shorts and athletic sandals with socks, so there’s that.
2. It is raining.
3. Sitting here at McDonalds watching an old man and his son or grandson interact. It makes me look forward to being a grandpa and having those moments when my grandkids are old enough to understand the world and still want to talk with me about that world.
4. 1814 marked the birth of Samuel Colt and the first public steam locomotive rail line. You don’t get more wild west than that.

Watching the Marvel cinematic universe expand is like watching history repeat itself. There was a time when Bionic men, Incredible Hulks, talking cars, and other super-powered beings were television staples. In their wake came a deluge of medical and police procedural dramas. The psycho-social impact of the shift  requires much more in-depth explanation than a 10 minute blog post. Notably, however, recent dramas have been trending towards the military intelligence (likely as a reflection of combat actions and a population more interested in glamorizing the secret services) side of the fiction pool.

Cloak and Dagger is the new med drama and at times these constructs lend themselves quite well to the realms of the super-powered. Agents of Shield is one example of this working out fairly well. Blacklist is an example of one that draws upon real world-styled intrigue to keep the reader hooked without all the cgi and drama of super-powered people.

Nothing profound to announce about this development–not yet. I’m watching the shift and starting to form thoughts and opinions. I’ll write more as I theorize more.

 

Some Thoughts:

1. 1813 marked the birth of the Philomathean Society, the oldest U.S. literary society. This is of particular import to me as a writer, though I cannot claim to write literature of the small market publishable variety. I cannot in truth even claim to write literature. I write stuff like this. And I love doing it.
2. My son’s cat keeps dragging insects into the house to play with them. She has a hankering for roaches and spiders, neither of which I want her to drag anywhere.

I’ve managed to get into more political conversations about President Reagan with 18 year olds than anyone ever should. Thanks, Fox News. The latest was even more interesting as the student went on to extoll the virtues and foreign policy acumen of Reagan with the fervor of a cabinet member. I asked, ‘Were you even alive then?’ The answer is, of course, no. Which begs the question: Who taught you this nonsense? My initial thought was to say, No, the best American President ever was James Polk, to which the expected response would be, ‘who?’ Who indeed. The fact is, there is a sustained media campaign to make Reagan into the greatest American president and by that make the republicans into the greatest American party. It is working…

 

Some Thoughts:

1. 1812… Well, there was that war. There’s that. In truth though the war of 1812 spanned a bit longer, with conflicts cropping up as early as 1810 directly leading to the war declared in 1812. Britain was interested in kicking a l’il American arse much sooner, but Napoleon was tying up their attention. By the time war was declared they were able to do so on their own terms.
2. I’m not a fan of Sports Agents. They seem rather predatory in nature–a hanger on who is either a fast talker, legal wiz, connected, or any combination of factors. These guys take a percentage of a player’s salary in return for making sure the player gets what is deserved. In modern society is the agent even necessary though? Can’t a player save themselves 10% by being the arbiter of their own deal? I get the value of a middle man in terms of insular relationships and, well, history. I don’t know that we need these folks in all circumstances. Sometimes, like in the case of Adrian Peterson, the agent is just another problem.

 

I got thoughts. Nothing but thoughts. Here are…

 

Some Thoughts:

1. Dear News Media, The Reds manager rant is not a story. Seriously. Calm the f**k down. He has good reason to be mad. I’d love to see a sportswriter try to reveal the Bengals playbook and player tendencies to a waiting audience and try to defend that… through the newly broken teeth he gets from his editor and fan base. I say he because women are clearly smarter sports writers than to do this crap.
2. There is no way I would ever let a car insurance company put a digital monitoring device in my car. That’s asking for all sorts of trouble.
3. Turns out the unarmed suspect killed by the 73 yr old reserve deputy was black. It didn’t seem to pertain to the case but one of the news stations felt the need to point it out. I feel the need to point out that anyone who doesn’t realize the difference between his firearm and his taser likely does not qualify for active duty–regardless of the color of the man he winds up shooting. Mr. Bates, you are benched… forever. Or not. This is Oklahoma. You might get to stay on. You won’t go to jail, that’s for sure. Wild West, yo. Mistakes happen and can be forgiven in the Wild West.
4. Unto 1811 where a fledgling Missouri was (literally) rocked by a trio of 7.5+ richter earthquakes only a few weeks apart. The mainland hasn’t been hit like that again since 1857… Now this is also the year we started allowing women’s golf tournaments–an oft overlooked step in the women’s rights movement. This was less tremulous than, well, a trio of earthquakes, but deeply important nonetheless.
5. Yes, I often r e a c h with this history stuff, but I like it.
6. Football anchors have absolutely nothing to say right now. A full day’s coverage of the 2015 schedule? That’s really sad. Still, Jets v. Giants? Whaaaaaat?

There is something about being able to throw money at a problem until that problem goes away. I mean I’ve been told my entire life that success cannot be bought but then I look at Microsoft and say, hell yes it can. I remember growing up in the dawn of the Xbox. That device flopped horribly. For years the Xbox lost money for the company. The game support was dismal and the device itself was subject to more crashes than the average Windows install. Fortunately for Microsoft, people were (and are) still installing Windows on a global scale. Every college I’ve visited uses Windows as the primary OS. That OS remains the basis for most Comp Sci 101 classes. This is not a local phenomenon. When speaking with visiting faculty from China years ago, they said it was the same way over there. In fact, it wasn’t until last year that China even announced a plan to develop a homegrown OS. So, money helps. It covers up a lot of the BS people try to do until that BS eventually sticks and becomes the norm. It feels like the same process is happening with the new Surface tablet. Give it a few years–even a decade, and I’m guessing it will be the norm.

This is exactly how Xbox cracked into the Big 3. Once upon a time the players were Sega, Nintendo (going strong since 1888), and Sony’s Playstation brand. Sega was the suspect platform, relying on hit or miss games that were built in the same vein as Playstation releases. Nintendo had a brand and a market share all its own and wasn’t chasing Sony or Sega buys. Xbox came along as an alternative and, of course, threw money at the problem. After years of losing or at best slim profit margins, Xbox stands next to Playstation as the ‘must have’ platform while even Nintendo lags, leaning on a shrinking specialized market of consumers. Sega? They have gone the way of Atari.

That bring me to the Surface Tablet. Microsoft has already lost 1 billion dollars on the Surface Tablet. This is roughly equivalent to costing investors 9 cents a share on dividends. I recognize that said in that latter fashion it sounds like, well, pennies. That is because it is. Because of the raw size and strength of the company, Microsoft can afford to take a hit on the tablet and keep taking hits on the tablet until eventually people catch on and like what it is all about. This is the concept of throwing money at a problem.

I can’t throw money at the problems in my personal or even professional life. I live in a world where money is being snatched away. I can see how having more capital will create more freedom and options. Perhaps with a clearer head (and less empty wallet) I would be able to appreciate the nuance and difficulty of wealth more than I currently do. As is, I don’t quite believe Biggie Smalls anymore. More money ain’t always more problems. Just ask Microsoft.

Some Thoughts:

1. Here is a situation where the officer was well within his rights to shoot the suspect and showed considerable (bordering on dangerous) restraint. Way to go, dude.
2. The first US opera opened in 1810. The opera was named ‘Converse’ which I find hilarious as that name went on to become the penultimate American shoe for a time…
3. Of course, that was also the year we annexed Florida from Spain–a decision we’ve come to regret.

I was reveling in the irony that a year ago today I was sick and thinking about creationism. Today I’m healthy and deep in thought about transhumanism. The two shouldn’t be at odds but seem to constantly be at each other’s throats. One is the belief that God set man upon earth while the other speaks to transcendence and our scientifically fostered ability to become more. The notion that faith and science cannot exist in the same mind and space is idiotic to me. I find science to be the rules and structure that define the words preached in all manner of faith. When most look to God they look for guidance, answers, belonging. When most turn to science it is for these same reasons and often with the same dogged belief structure–the belief that what was proven before is gospel.

 

Some Thoughts:

1. This cover of Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ is sick good… if you’re into that sort of thing. If you are, this is cool too…
2. Tebow caught a shot with the Eagles. Sanchez and Tebow back together again?!
3. In keeping with yesterday’s post on slavery, 1809 was in fact the year Abraham Lincoln was born. He was later responsible for the emancipation proclamation. That bold statement led to him being murdered by an upstart named John Wilkes Booth.
4. Yes, my mid-kid is writing a paper on John Wilkes Booth.
5. Netflix’s Daredevil is the best possible version of that story and well worth checking out. I don’t think anyone will (or should) remember the Affleck debacle after this… or the Elektra film that followed it. I do think Elektra will make an appearance by the 3rd season of this show and its already been setup to feel right and seamless.

I’ve become painfully aware that we are a country that prefers to create context than recognize it. This is no more true than in the ‘gotcha’ moments we love trapping our media darlings in. The latest of these moments involves Britt McHenry of ESPN. McHenry is a tall, slim, blonde reporter known as equally for her physical similarities to Erin Andrews as she is for her ability to get tough interviews. Well, now she’s known for something more infamous. McHenry was caught on tape ranting at a towing company worker. The rant was impressive. There were attacks on the clerk’s looks, weight, education, etc. In short, she did to this worker what anyone who has ever had their car towed has wanted to do to the clerk on the other side of that shielded partition. Unfortunately, it cost her reputation and might still cost her job.

Freedom of speech exists in principle, but in practice if you say stuff that others do not agree with you will quickly find yourself socially ostracized. This is the true impact of a PC world. Now to be honest, I couldn’t care less about McHenry herself or the tow worker who got told off. Still, what really transpires in this video is just a tow worker being told off. McHenry was later forced to publicly apologize for having a human moment. This is not about elitism or racism or some power figure. This is about a celebrity who wound up getting towed and mouthing off to the person who had her car and, based on the video, was mouthing off herself. Now this context is lost on the general story. That story is about ‘fat shaming’ and making an example out of a pretty girl who talked down to a presumably ugly one. If that’s grounds for firing then half the population of American high schools can never be gainfully employed.

 

Some Thoughts:

1. 1808 was the year that congress officially banned the import of slaves into the U.S. This limited the number of slave exports that Africa could rely on. It did not, however, end slavery in Africa. The African slave system exists to this day, reminding all of us that not everyone follows the same rulebook.
2. Orphan Black is back and is one of a handful of shows that I still watch. The list is getting smaller by the day. That’s a good thing. TV rots the imagination, changing it from open thinking to varying degrees of simulacrum.

I’m not entirely clear on whether I can call myself nascent or not. I’ve clearly been doing this for a while with some success. I also still feel like I am crawling back towards that precipice of more. It isn’t binge watching Daredevil that is going to make me better. I feel like I will take that next step primarily as a result of having more experiences and learning to understand human reactions to the world and conditions around them. Writers drink in all of that and spill it back unto the page in prose or poetry, words scratched into paragraphs and sentences shaped into dialogue. For me the pathway has always been fiction, but the blogging is more about the truth and the result of my experiences. I’ve learned that I can do both and enjoy both. I’ve learned that one informs the other, and that often the relationship is bi-directional.

I have learned that blogging provides a sense of freedom. I can speak out and be real about things and often be real with myself without allowing myself (for the most part) to work about fear of persecution or ridicule. That makes the work all the more worthwhile.

I don’t know what is coming next for the blog, but I’m guessing it will be more involved and more worthwhile and, well, just plain more…

Some Thoughts:

1. 1807 marked the beginning of the gaslight era. It started in London on Pall Mall street and led to a longstanding genre and romantic period. The facts of gaslight however skew darker than the romanticized perception. Beneath the surface of the gaslight industry was a web of challenged patents, competing entrepreneurs, and murder.