Spider-Man

A while back when I read about a remake of Spider-Man coming so soon after the Tobey Maguire as Spider-Man movies, I was skeptical. I enjoyed the Sam Raimi directed movies, the second one especially (third one not so much), and enjoyed the cast enough to question the wisdom of replacing it already.

Well, I am here to admit that I was wrong. Whoever at Sony had the vision to start anew and turn over the franchise to Marc Webb deserves a cut of the profits. Webb has made a career of directing music videos; he has under his belt only one feature film, though it was a lovely independent movie. Choosing him for this big budget, high expectations movie was a gamble that paid off.

The Amazing Spider-Man is one of the most solidly entertaining movies I've seen in a while. It has it all: good story and pace, tension, escapism, action, romance, humor, great cast, and a dash of schmaltz. If I watched it in slow motion and analyzed the timing of every plot element I'd undoubtedly spot curious jumps of logic, but I have no desire to do that. It's just solid entertainment. The movie involved me from beginning to end. I would watch it again. I'm glad I didn't wait until it came out on dvd. There aren't many movies I'd say these things about.

I had worried that Andrew Garfield and Emma Stone, now aged 29 and 24 respectively, would require imagination to see them as high school students Peter and Gwen, but I was wrong about that too. Whether through lighting, makeup, good direction on body language or what, they looked perfect. (If I may take umbrage with one thing in the movie, it's Gwen's work attire; high school student worker wearing thigh high stockings with a mini skirt, leading a tour of interns at a high falutin' genetics company? I don't think so. That was a choice for eye candy, pure and simple.) The supporting cast includes Sally Field, Martin Sheen, Rhys Ifans, and Denis Leary (and a minor role by C. Thomas Howell).

This isn't a film just for particular groups or interests; it's for everyone. If you like movies, you'll enjoy The Amazing Spider-Man.

Scout This

This was originally posted, in a shorter form, on my facebook page, with a link to a news story about Mike Huckabee and the Boy Scouts of America's anti-gay stance.

There are things in life I do not understand; some of them I can learn to understand. However I will never understand the irrational fear of people of the same gender having sex. Homophobia defies logic. What threat does a lesbian hold over me, just because she prefers to make out with another woman instead of a man? Answer: none.

Recently Boy Scouts of America reaffirmed a policy of disallowing openly gay scouts and scout leaders. It took them two years to foolishly renew their support for this policy of homophobia, and it diminishes an otherwise good organization that does important work. As was expected, the decision drew cheers and jeers. Unfortunately, one might also have expected the justification offered by some, an entrenchment in the belief that adult homosexuals who want to work with young people are somehow thus pedophiles (an insulting and logic defying notion, to say the least).

This idea was brought up, for example, on Mike Huckabee's radio show by a caller who said he had been molested as a child and thus felt keeping gays out of scouts was the right decision. I am deeply saddened for the caller, but would prefer that he direct his anger and grief at the real culprits instead of at gays. Sexual molestation is a horrible violation of power and trust, something that is too often hidden and corrosively damaging to the victim's life. 

But let's be clear about this: having a sexual predilection (paraphilia) for children (pedophilia), which when acted upon is termed sexual molestation, is in no way, not even remotely, related to or the same as having a sexual predilection toward a person of the same gender. Anita Bryant and Save Our Children gained nationwide attention for their hateful views on this matter back in the 1970s. I am saddened by the fact that so many still hold onto the belief, which only serves to divide, hurt, and hold us all back.

I assume that many supporters of the Boy Scout policy base their position on institutionally sanctioned disapproval of homosexuality. Religious groups for example seem to elevate the significance and saintliness of human capacity for procreation above other instincts (being fruitful and multiplying comes before being good to our neighbor, it would seem).  This doctrinal opposition to homosexuality, rooted I think in a drive toward survival in the many uneasy, superstitious times humans have lived in, is at least something I can understand. Sort of. That is, I get where tradition and significant cultural institutions have a deep hold on us. We don't particularly understand why we believe many things, we just do and those beliefs are reinforced through culture. It's poweful stuff and takes a strongly inquisitive nature or a barrier breaking incident to move toward another belief system (for better or worse). In this case what I don't get is why being lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning of one's identity is deemed punishable. Or why it would make anyone a less effective Boy Scout. Ah, such are mysteries of life. If only they were a bit less hateful and tragic.

Anyway, I would have liked to encourage my son to become a Boy Scout. Positive leadership and character development is wonderful, important, and lacking in too many young people's lives. The camaraderie that can be gained from engaging in shared pursuits is also fantastic. I can only hope that the inclusion of gays issue is revisited in the four years before my son becomes eligible, and that the irrational fear is finally let go of. It's a long shot, but worth aiming for. For the sake of all boys.

P.S. In case you were wondering, as I was, what the Girl Scouts of America stance is on LGBTQ members, I would point you to the rather informative webpage put together by "100 Questions for the Girl Scouts," a group of folks clearly opposed to GSA's position and alleged partner/donor organizations. They also have a page titled "The Girl Scouts and Radical Feminism." Now that's a scouting experience I can really get behind!

Personal Touch

NOTE: In an effort to cut back on the parenthetical asides within this (admittedly long and rambling, but also occasionally amusing) post, I've decided to use endnotes. I like to think they add something to the piece. Enjoy.

Personal Touch
Call it surveillance of the enemy (0), but I bought lunch for my child and I at McDonald's today (1). For myself I purchased a chicken sandwich (2), the requisite french fries (3), and iced tea (4). For the child I ordered a Happy Meal: chicken nuggets (5), a kid size portion of fries, packaged apple slices, and 1% milk (6).

As we sat at the table eating I noticed the bottom of each bag had a name and date printed on it. 16 FEB 2012 JESUS M. said one, and 08 FEB 2012 RON T said the other (7). A quick check on the web yields no definitive explanation for this bag naming, though the logical consensus is that the name represents a worker at the plant where the bags were made (8) and not, let's say, McDonald's employees (9). It reminded me of the Saturn car manufacturing practice wherein a worker would sign the finished car, taking credit as well as tacit responsibility. I can see such a show of pride in workmanship on cars, which the average worker is not likely to have churned out in the millions during any given pay period. But, paper bags?

It reminds me of a new practice at Safeway. For a month or so, at the end of each checkout process, when the cashier handed me the receipt, they would point out a note near the bottom, indicating I, as a super special customer of theirs, was entitled to the manager's direct phone number. The cashier would tell me to call if ever I needed anything (10). I guess they figured they'd been thanking me by name (11) long enough that they could finally give me their number.

I've never used that number, but it appears on my every Safeway receipt now (they've stopped pointing it out, thank goodness) (12).  I have a feeling the store could not handle call volume if everyone who has the manager's number decided to call every time we had an idea or issue. But Safeway takes that gamble because they know that the act of giving the number generates loyalty, and loyalty sustains business. Because I've been encouraged to make contact with the manager, I will feel a closer bond to that business, even if I never do (13). I understand that. It's a manipulation of me (14), yes, but at least it is partially meant to encourage me to talk to someone. This name-on-a-bag thing is a more troubling manipulation. I'm sure it's meant to sway me in some way. But sway me for good or evil?

Wouldn't it be fabulous if the names were placed on the bags as part of some experiment? I love a good social experiment (assuming no is hurt during the study, duh.) If that were the case, I would totally feel better about eating at McDonald's (15). But if this practice is actually more widespread, then it's probably a paper industry validation/pride thing. Which brings me back to manipulation.

Jesus and Ron had a part in bringing this paper bag into my life. I have mixed feelings about this. I am thankful that they helped create a convenient carrier for my food (16). Because I've seen names and dates of (presumably) real people, I wonder about their working lives, the satisfaction they gain from producing something (17), and the pride they feel when someone gets "their" bag. But they were undoubtedly not the ones who decided to implement this practice of putting names on the product. The desire to communicate pride in one's work is an idea generated long ago (18), and it might be put into practice in various industries, but let's be honest. The names would not be there if it didn't improve--or have potential to improve--the bottom line. There are dollar signs dotting the "i"s in those names (19).

In the paper industry there is an added problem with regards to PR. Jesus and Ron work in a troubled field, dependent on natural resources, increasingly reliant on recycling and environmentally minded consumers. And so I wonder, am I meant to think that because a person was involved in the making of this bag, that I need think less about the source material for paper products the world over? After all, a human touch might offset some of the anonymous malaise that accompanies modern life. In short, am I being manipulated by a few names on the bottom of a bag?

Okay, now that I've gotten all of that off my chest, I'll close simply by saying: check the bottoms of your paper bags. Are they named? If yes, cool. Why do YOU think the name is there? Hopefully you've gotten good use out of the bag (20). Great, now...move on. If there's one thing I've learned from my exploration into names on bags, it's that I really need to move on.

Thanks for reading. TTFN (21)

ENDNOTES
0. Just call me a hypocrite. I can take it.
1. Adding to the environmental damage of my choice, I will admit I used the drive through service for this--in my MINIVAN. Go ahead, shame away.
2. My so-called "premium chicken sandwich" was made from what appears to be actual chicken breast meat, though I realize this could be very cleverly processed chicken parts. I don't live in delusional land.
3. Seriously, why go for fast food if you're not having fries? Though apprently my kid didn't get the memor, because he ate only a small portion of his, having devoured the chicken in mere seconds. And while I'm confessing, I'll tell you it took a good amount of willpower not to order regular Coke to go with my fries, because it seems like McDonald's coke is extra tasty. Again, shame away.
4. I mistakenly received McD's nasty version of sweetened tea one time. Never again. I was clear on this jaunt to assert my desire for UNsweetened iced tea.
5. I wish my child's chicken nugget pieces were not made with pink slime or any other mechanically separated meats which represent all the problems of industrial agriculture wrapped up in a cheery box.
6. Have you noticed how often kid meals come with either 1% (white) milk or nonfat chocolate milk? As if the lack of fat in the milk makes up for the addition of sugar, etc in the chocolate variety. When I see a menu that offers 2% or whole milk for kids, I give a little clap.
7. One name had a period after the last initial, and the other did not. One was in red ink, and the other was black. Both were printed in all caps.
8. The question about names on the bottom of McD's bags was posted on multiple "answer this" type message boards. More than a few respondents assert that the names represent specifically the supervisors at these plants.
9. Many alleged McDonald's employees were unaware there were names on the bottoms of the bags, if Internet message board postings are to be believed.
10. I was tempted at the beginning to ask whether the store would like to babysit my child for an hour or two while I peruse trashy magazines, or barring that, give me free ice cream, but I didn't.
11. My first and last name are printed on my grocery store receipt because I use a customer loyalty number under that name, and habitually enter the number each time I shop. David uses the same number, which is in fact a long defunct phone number, and so he is called "Mr. Eugeni." Everyone at our house at the time used the same number. In fact, if you're ever at Safeway and recall my old Palo Alto home phone number, feel free to enter it. Let's mess with the shopping-habit data mining folks. I wonder if the person who's been assigned that phone number curses my name every time s/he tries assigning it to their grocery shopping account, or thanks me for freeing them from having their personal habits tied to their name.
12. I was tempted once. Deciding to do my shopping on a Thursday evening around 8pm I was shocked to find by the time I was ready to check out, there was only one checker on duty, and no manager in sight. I told the checker she ought to call for backup, and she said this was standard practice to have only one checker, and that there was always a long line. She quipped "Don't worry. I'm a fast checker." I'd been to the store other evenings and had never noticed the line running the full width of the checkout area, as it was that night, so maybe it was an aberration, but still. Any manager worth his badge ought to jump in and lighten the load for a checker working her tail off, at least for a few spells, and the manager ought to tell the checker under what conditions to call for just such an assist. And that doesn't mean "Never." I told the checker she deserved better, that she was indeed very fast, but for customers to wait nearly an hour to get through checkout at 8:30pm was not acceptable. I heard grumbles of agreement, but nobody made a fuss otherwise. Everyone was just anxious to get out of there. I ought to have called that direct line number, that night to complain to the night manager, and the next day to speak to a general manager, but I didn't. I'd worked myself into a frenzy, and I know calling at that moment would have been counter-productive. The next day my frenzy had died down, and I moved on. But sure enough, the next time I went to the store around that time there were two checkers. So I like to think my complaint registered on some level, and that I was not alone in feeling it. But I digress...
13 Here's a research article about the statistical relationship between service personalization and loyalty, which is indeed shown to be positively related, meaning one grows with the other, and that together they increase a business' profits.
14. I generally despise being manipulated, or feeling like I'm being manipulated, which sort of means I'd rather be kept in blissful ignorance of external controls, but so be it. As you see from my trip to McDonald's in spite of awareness of all the evils the industry represents in a healthy world, I am not perfect.
15. Assuming McDonald's had granted permission for this, let's face it, imaginary experiment, of course.
16. For the record, good work, Jesus and Ron. The bags held up well through the filling/transport/emptying process and thus fulfilled their functions. You have not signed your names to a faulty product.
17. Paper bag manufacturing workers are probably not making anything with their hands, which is too bad, in terms of deriving satisfaction from one's creations. I've not studied it, but my hunch says pride in one's work is greater when the work is by hand.
18. Pride in one's work is important to job satisfaction, which makes it a worthy and good thing to promote, don't get me wrong as I rail against being manipulated.
19. Though obviously no dollar-dotted "i"s in the case of Jesus and Ron in terms of the writing, and maybe, possibly in real life too. I simply don't know what motivates these gentlemen, if they are gentlemen. Oh dear, there's so much I'm assuming here. Danger signs should be dotting my "i"s.
20. If you don't need the bag for anything else, consider making a puppet out of it. The puppet is pre-named, so you can use that as inspiration. I picture Jesus as having short hair, a tattoo with his daughter's name on his arm. Ron, he's older, wears glasses, wears a white t-shirt under his work shirt.
21. Ta ta for now. As in, I'll be back another time. :)

Community

There are few things that I believe could make more of an immediate positive impact on society than if a greater percentage of people got involved in their communities. The following list is from a poster entitled "How to build community." I'd love to make this list into a series of bumper stickers, and wrap them around a car. Or place them in public spaces. There are a few I'm not sure about* but for the most part it's a brilliant list of suggestions.

Turn off your TV
Leave your house
Know your neighbors
Look up when you are walking
Greet people
Sit on your stoop
Plant flowers
Use your library
Play together
Buy from local merchants
Share what you have
Help a lost dog
Take children to the park
Garden together
Support neighborhood schools
Fix it even if you didn't break it
Have potlucks
Honor elders
Pick up litter
Read stories aloud
Dance in the street
Talk to the mail carrier
Listen to the birds
Put up a swing
Help carry something heavy
Barter for your goods
Start a tradition
Ask a question
Hire young people for odd jobs
Organize a block party
Bake extra and share
Ask for help when you need it
Open your shades
Sing together
Share your skills
Take back the night
Turn up the music
Turn down the music
Listen before you react to anger
Mediate a conflict
Seek to understand
Learn from new and uncomfortable angles
Know that no one is silent although many are not heard. Work to change this. 

* Dancing in the street might be a quick way to meet the neighbors, and have them assess me for craziness. On the other hand, if I saw a group of kids dancing, or if dancing was incorporated into a street party, that would be a fantastic sight.
* Another one I wonder about is putting up a swing. We've had a baby swing hanging from a sturdy tree branch next to the sidewalk in front of our house for a year and a half, and not one person walking down the sidewalk has even appeared tempted to slide their child into it, as inviting a setting as it might be. Then again, maybe if I posted a sign...

Alive

In the immortal words of Bill the Cat, "Ack!!" It's been 10 months since I last published anything to my blog. Since you probably keep up with me on facebook (or, wonder of wonders, in person) you'll know this is not an indicator of my death or lack of things to comment on.

I am sorry to neglect my blog. I love writing, and I have loads of ideas. In fact, I've begun many, many posts. Today the arrival of a new phone book inspired me to begin (yet another) draft. It was a comparison of today's facebook stalking to what I used to do as a kid.

The arrival of each year's new phonebook (back when there was only one) brought on a frenzy, as I'd look up as many of my classmates' surnames as possible and locate them on a local map. Bike rides became tours, like a locals/youth-oriented version of Hollywood star maps. But the phonebook had so much more than addresses (and phone numbers, naturally). There was that big reference section, the page edges colored red (government agency pages were always blue). I recall when they greatly expanded that reference section to include maps of local sports venues, illustrated first aid instructions, etc--what a joyful development that was. Oh how I loved perusing an updated reference book.

Riveting, right? Yeah, well, that's all I've got. There's no point, no deep message. And so the "Publish" button is not pushed. But it will be. Soon.

There are some movie reviews I need to write (most recently I saw the 1970s throwback spy story Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, and the lovely, gut wrenching The Descendants), a rather odd exercise/efficiency/sex/self help advice book to discuss (The 4-Hour Body by Tim Ferriss), and several vacation spots to share (this one that's a thousand dollars a day of tranquil fantasy vacationing in the Maldives, and a long-contemplated return trip to the Italian region of Le Marche, the home of my paternal ancestry). News of Anthony Shadid's death was one of many sad stories in the last 10 months; I'd recommend listening to his 2011 interview on Fresh Air for an example of Shadid's thoughtful, engaged reporting style.

I can't believe I never posted a recap of my experience with the Seattle 3-Day for the Cure walk, which was 6 months ago, so that's certainly overdue as well. And speaking of Susan G. Komen, there's my dusty soapbox sitting in the corner, waiting to be brushed off. Let's see, I could work up a good rant about the wealth gap, public education funding and community priorities, and all this ridiculous political posturing over who pays for contraception (and what it means, as if it means anything other than women taking care of themselves). Then there's the ongoing crisis in Syria, which receives too little coverage in the US news (imho). Finally, let's not forget election season, which is always ripe for a passionate venting (though lately I've been trying to avoid election news, as it gives me chest pain to listen to debates and political talk shows).

Hmmm, all very interesting. Hopefully I get to one of these topics before another 10 months go by. Care to wait with me?