Thoughts and Actions in BookThree: Flight Log 2016

I feel like in the wake of the Colin Kaepernick controversy I have a responsibility to speak about patriotism, the flag, symbolic acts of protest, and respect. And I may discuss it at some point today; we’ll see how the day goes and if my Social World (now sadly almost entirely relegated to Internet Social Media) sets itself on fire over the issue.

For now, though, I’d like to discuss something heard this morning on NPR. Many of you may remember the Infant Simulator Dolls; dolls that were programmed to simulate the experience of being a parent to a needy infant who cries, wets, and needs to be fed. Honestly, these were never used in our school but from their inception they captured the attention of people wishing to demonstrate to teenage girls how being a mum was more work then they may have otherwise assumed. The NPR report said that now, after 20 years of continual use in some areas, Australia has released the “first ever study” on the effectiveness of these Infant Simulators in stemming the tide of teenage pregnancy. The Australian Report says: NOPE. Not only were the young women exposed to the program more likely to become pregnant, they were more likely not to terminate the pregnancy. The report, wisely, refused to speculate as to the reasons for this. The report existed strictly to determine (arguably corollary) data of Infant Simulator to Teenage Pregnancy Statistics.

I mention this partially because I find the report interesting and partially to point out why the culture of NEW = BEST can be outright dangerous. While it is true that even our best science isn’t entirely 100% reliable (see here) we still owe the world significant testing and analysis before suggesting “This is the new thing everyone should have. Use it now.” Especially when you consider how most companies do their “safety calculations.” The calculation is straightforward. It is all cost benefit analysis. Check most of the recent (10 years) vehicle issues. Even when it was obvious that a faulty issue was a huge public health concern; car companies stalled, blamed the victims, and attempted to use government influence before finally saying, “Okay, there is a problem. And we might have known about it before anyone complained. But we thought it was more cost effective to ignore the issue.” It is one reason why I was reluctant to join the Climate Change bandwagon. I grew up in the 1980s when schools were teaching about Global Cooling… I remember a teacher genuinely stating that the earth was primed for another Ice Age any decade. So… taught to worry about Global Ice Age, then taught the O-Zone was in jeopardy and we’re all going to fry because of Global Warming. Then, ultimately to being taught that we’ve actually found ways to fix the O Zone but we need more human intervention to attempt to undo the damage we’ve done in the past. I believe that humans must be good stewards of the land upon which we live. We have a responsibility to not contribute to the extinction of life; whether plant or animal. But I worry, still, when people say THIS, THIS NEW THING is what we need to invest all of our faith, hope and money into because it will save the planet. Because… yeah. Several decades ago? Plastics were going to save the planet because they reduce garbage! Plastic is the key to a renewable world; we’ll cut down on landfills, we’ll see decreased oceanic dumping, people will finally be doing the right thing! Yeah? Well… these days, the same people that said Plastics Save the Earth are saying Plastic Production Kills the Earth. And I’m not saying all of this as some new assault on renewable energy. My cousin is working for a Solar Energy Company and I would love to see more investments in renewable resources. But… I won’t exactly be surprised if, in ten to twenty years, people come out of the woodwork to scream “Solar Panel production creates a more disastrous carbon footprint than we ever imagined!”

Interesting Article from Cracked about the Roman Polanski Rape Case, the victim, and how media and the courts interplay in modern Outrage Culture.

Here’s another interesting article. This is one that is difficult for me in some ways as I am both with the author and not. For instance, Johnny Storm and Susan Storm being played by one white actor one black actor DID bother me… because they are supposed to be siblings and making the “arrogant, boastful, lazy” team member black seemed offensive as hell. Likewise, I do object to Zendaya as Mary Jane Watson… because she is supposed to be a vapid, less intelligent, giant chested, red headed soap opera star. And hopefully, you’ll notice that neither of my descriptions of Johnny or Mary Jane specifically said WHITE. I’m just needling the issue based on character and description. Much as I hate the new DC movies… I have no objection to a black Perry White. That is a strong character played by a talented black actor. It’s like… we’re willing to change ethnicity on characters, but heaven forbid we cast a black actor in a roll that doesn’t include arrogance or airheaded-ness. Meanwhile, look at Dr. Strange or the Ghost in the Shell movie. When there is a role that should be played by an Asian actor… a strong role that has powerful qualities… the studio casts a white person. That is where my racial concepts come from about Casting. And… like the author, I was against Ghostbusters BEFORE the trailer… and was against Star Trek Beyond BEFORE the trailer… but not because of racism or misogyny… but because I believe that a “reboot” should only happen if you’re bringing something truly revolutionary to the story that couldn’t be told via sequel. An all female cast to act as the change? That can be told via sequel. I suppose they would argue that women not coming up with the gadgets suggests that it isn’t as Pro-Feminism a movie; but you could still make it pro-feminism to demonstrate the female scientist improving the existing gadgetry. OR, how about this.... set the movie twenty years (or more) after the original Ghostbusters movies… New York has been utterly quiet with no ghosts for two decades. Suddenly, GHOSTS and this team of female scientists discover the abandoned Ghostbuster equipment and hideout. Something like that. (And of course, readers should know that I truly agree with the author when discussing the SANCTITY OF THE STORY. If you can’t tell the story well, it doesn’t matter who you cast or why… tell a good fricking story!)

CURRENT EVENTS:


In stark contrast to the article previously shared; notice how there isn’t more outrage over the Black Officer fatally shooting the White Disabled man?

Funny thing, I didn’t care if a “young, black woman” was going to star in the new Iron Man comics… but I am glad they changed the name. Calling her Iron Man seemed… wrong. Why not celebrate that The Hero doesn’t need to have testicles?

We’re not hearing enough about natural disasters. Iowa’s had flooding, AZ has had flooding, massive flooding in Louisiana… and that isn’t even really being covered much in the news (around here)… let alone the national weather issues!