Hold Me Closer, Transit Dancer

Im sitting in the transit tunnel, waiting on the light rail. Buses pass in both directions, people stepping on and off. Across the way stands a rather androgynous* individual whom I am going to assume to be a woman. And when I say standing, what I mean is dancing. It leads me to the question I often ask: why?

Perhaps she has been overtaken by boredom. Waiting for a bus can do that to you. Eventually you can't help but give in to the beat of your iPod, which in this case seems to be shuffling between salsa and Michael Jackson. Folk life festival is also this weekend, leading me to believe that drugs may be involved, though this judgment is both unfair and hasty on my part.

Or perhaps she just wanted to dance. What makes the light rail station an inappropriate place to dance? Just saying so doesn't make it true. Shedding the encumbrances of societal norms is beautiful.

There is a part of me that envies her: firstly she's a much better dancer than I am (though to be fair, most people are). But further, she's doing what she loves and not caring who sees. The closest I come is posting in my blog so that a few see**. I don't submit to magazines, the very core of what I should do.

I've been thinking a lot about this recently. I need to do something. That's where I am. Now the hard part: doing it.

One closing thought: I don't think dancing in public is really any stranger than some of the sketches and notes (and Dungeons ad Dragons battles) that are scribbled in my notebook.

*To be fair, said individual would be less androgynous at a shorter distance. However, the androgyny is clearly intentional, so the statement will stand.
**This is not to make light of those who do read. I appreciate you more than I could possibly ever express.

Im sitting in the transit tunnel, waiting on the light rail. Buses pass in both directions, people stepping on and off. Across the way stands a rather androgynous* individual whom I am going to assume to be a woman. And when I say standing, what I mean is dancing. It leads me to the question I often ask: why?

Perhaps she has been overtaken by boredom. Waiting for a bus can do that to you. Eventually you can't help but give in to the beat of your iPod, which in this case seems to be shuffling between salsa and Michael Jackson. Folk life festival is also this weekend, leading me to believe that drugs may be involved, though this judgment is both unfair and hasty on my part.

Or perhaps she just wanted to dance. What makes the light rail station an inappropriate place to dance? Just saying so doesn't make it true. Shedding the encumbrances of societal norms is beautiful.

There is a part of me that envies her: firstly she's a much better dancer than I am (though to be fair, most people are). But further, she's doing what she loves and not caring who sees. The closest I come is posting in my blog so that a few see**. I don't submit to magazines, the very core of what I should do.

I've been thinking a lot about this recently. I need to do something. That's where I am. Now the hard part: doing it.

One closing thought: I don't think dancing in public is really any stranger than some of the sketches and notes (and Dungeons ad Dragons battles) that are scribbled in my notebook.

*To be fair, said individual would be less androgynous at a shorter distance. However, the androgyny is clearly intentional, so the statement will stand.
**This is not to make light of those who do read. I appreciate you more than I could possibly ever express.

Hold Me Closer, Transit Dancer

I've gotten wind of a problem commenting. If you're experencing this, please let me know - you know, via Facebook, Twitter, etc, since you can't comment.

::edit:: The comment issue is known by blogger and rather common. It will be fixed "soon."::

I've gotten wind of a problem commenting. If you're experencing this, please let me know - you know, via Facebook, Twitter, etc, since you can't comment.

::edit:: The comment issue is known by blogger and rather common. It will be fixed "soon."::

The Phantom of the Oprah

Now that 21 May has come and gone, the imminent rapture is no longer front page news*. We're finally able to move on to real news. Let's see - Middle East peace talks, 2012 presidential elections**...Oprah?


Indeed, Oprah Winfrey is a cultural phenomenon. She has had her own television show for 25 years, nearly my entire life, and has built a veritable media empire, from books to magazines to her own television network. While I have seen a few episodes of her show, I've never been an Oprah fan. Her last show airs (I think) today, which makes me wonder, "How did she do it?"

Indeed, part of Oprah's appeal is that, as an African-American woman, she identifies with (and, more importantly, is identified with by) large swaths of the population who feel oppressed, whether this feeling is justifiable or imagined entirely. This in itself is a large group. Furthermore, Oprah has been known throughout her career for philanthropy, whether this be opening schools for girls in Africa or giving everyone in her audience a new car. One can’t help asking whom Oprah will help next.

Oprah has an extraordinary capacity for using her popularity to create more popularity: she realized, by way of example, that people would read whatever she told them to read. Soon everyone is itching to read Oprah’s next book club selection. While I’m a fan of anything that gets people reading Steinbeck (my favorite author), Oprah never actually established herself as an authority in the book market. It happened with no justifiable cause.

But one thing more than any other that stands out about Oprah and has drawn a lot of people in is best summed up in her own words to her viewers:

My relationship with you [her viewers] is one that I hold very dear.

Excuse me? Relationship? With your viewers? Wow. Who else can say that? To Oprah’s allegiant, she is the neighbor who never gossips, no matter how juicy the secret.
Oprah will absolutely tell you about her own struggles: her difficult childhood, her weight issues, her love life – everyone knows Oprah’s business. Oprah has appeared jubilant as well as despondent. Thanks to James Frey, we even got to see angry Oprah (You lied to Oprah!). Everyone knows Oprah. And because Oprah is so open to her viewers, they can return the favor by being open with her, airing out their issues to the television, knowing that if Oprah were in the room she’d be listening and crying along with you.

Like I said, I’m not a fan. As a Christian, Oprah and I disagree on absolutely core issues. That being said, I have the utmost respect for Oprah. She’s something much larger than a talk show host: she’s an institution. Yet to people all around the world who tune in every day, Oprah is something much smaller than an institution: she’s a friend.

*The rapture is of course only a few pages back, as Camping has changed his predicted date to 21 October, my birthday. If Jesus could take away Family Radio, that would be the best birthday present ever.
**Senator Ryan, in or out? Seriously. Your Meet the Press dodging is annoying.

Now that 21 May has come and gone, the imminent rapture is no longer front page news*. We're finally able to move on to real news. Let's see - Middle East peace talks, 2012 presidential elections**...Oprah?


Indeed, Oprah Winfrey is a cultural phenomenon. She has had her own television show for 25 years, nearly my entire life, and has built a veritable media empire, from books to magazines to her own television network. While I have seen a few episodes of her show, I've never been an Oprah fan. Her last show airs (I think) today, which makes me wonder, "How did she do it?"

Indeed, part of Oprah's appeal is that, as an African-American woman, she identifies with (and, more importantly, is identified with by) large swaths of the population who feel oppressed, whether this feeling is justifiable or imagined entirely. This in itself is a large group. Furthermore, Oprah has been known throughout her career for philanthropy, whether this be opening schools for girls in Africa or giving everyone in her audience a new car. One can’t help asking whom Oprah will help next.

Oprah has an extraordinary capacity for using her popularity to create more popularity: she realized, by way of example, that people would read whatever she told them to read. Soon everyone is itching to read Oprah’s next book club selection. While I’m a fan of anything that gets people reading Steinbeck (my favorite author), Oprah never actually established herself as an authority in the book market. It happened with no justifiable cause.

But one thing more than any other that stands out about Oprah and has drawn a lot of people in is best summed up in her own words to her viewers:

My relationship with you [her viewers] is one that I hold very dear.

Excuse me? Relationship? With your viewers? Wow. Who else can say that? To Oprah’s allegiant, she is the neighbor who never gossips, no matter how juicy the secret.
Oprah will absolutely tell you about her own struggles: her difficult childhood, her weight issues, her love life – everyone knows Oprah’s business. Oprah has appeared jubilant as well as despondent. Thanks to James Frey, we even got to see angry Oprah (You lied to Oprah!). Everyone knows Oprah. And because Oprah is so open to her viewers, they can return the favor by being open with her, airing out their issues to the television, knowing that if Oprah were in the room she’d be listening and crying along with you.

Like I said, I’m not a fan. As a Christian, Oprah and I disagree on absolutely core issues. That being said, I have the utmost respect for Oprah. She’s something much larger than a talk show host: she’s an institution. Yet to people all around the world who tune in every day, Oprah is something much smaller than an institution: she’s a friend.

*The rapture is of course only a few pages back, as Camping has changed his predicted date to 21 October, my birthday. If Jesus could take away Family Radio, that would be the best birthday present ever.
**Senator Ryan, in or out? Seriously. Your Meet the Press dodging is annoying.

The Phantom of the Oprah

Death of a Hero

Given a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. While my friend Tyler has said this on several occasions, it never really sank in until today. Today, when I found out that Macho Man Randy Savage had died.

He was possibly the greatest professional wrestler who ever lived. Andre the Giant was a greater physical spectacle; the Ultimate Warrior was better at working a crowd; Hulk Hogan was better known to the world at large. But for the total package, you really can't beat the Macho Man.

Growing up I think I liked him more than I knew. This could be because he resembles my uncle who was another hero when I was very young*, though maybe not. Whatever the case, I wanted to be a pro wrestler so I could form a tag team with him. Don't blame me - I was young. I didn't even care whether he was a "good guy" or a "bad guy": I was ready to redefine these terms because Randy Savage was THE good guy.

Whether delivering an elbow from the top rope, interrupting Mean Gene during an interview, or snapping into a Slim Jim, the world will miss the Macho Man Randy Savage. Oooh yeah!

*Sadly, both my uncle and Savage died in their fifties as a result of heart attacks. I guess three of my earliest heroes died of heart attacks. Yikes.

Given a long enough timeline, the survival rate for everyone drops to zero. While my friend Tyler has said this on several occasions, it never really sank in until today. Today, when I found out that Macho Man Randy Savage had died.

He was possibly the greatest professional wrestler who ever lived. Andre the Giant was a greater physical spectacle; the Ultimate Warrior was better at working a crowd; Hulk Hogan was better known to the world at large. But for the total package, you really can't beat the Macho Man.

Growing up I think I liked him more than I knew. This could be because he resembles my uncle who was another hero when I was very young*, though maybe not. Whatever the case, I wanted to be a pro wrestler so I could form a tag team with him. Don't blame me - I was young. I didn't even care whether he was a "good guy" or a "bad guy": I was ready to redefine these terms because Randy Savage was THE good guy.

Whether delivering an elbow from the top rope, interrupting Mean Gene during an interview, or snapping into a Slim Jim, the world will miss the Macho Man Randy Savage. Oooh yeah!

*Sadly, both my uncle and Savage died in their fifties as a result of heart attacks. I guess three of my earliest heroes died of heart attacks. Yikes.

Death of a Hero

Time and Updates

Last week I said five* updates. Later I redacted this to three. Three happened. Five did not.

When I said five, I was thinking that for three days I would be sitting in the room where the jurors sit while waiting to be selected. Instead I was placed on a jury at the end of the first day. Suddenly eighteen hours of reading and writing time disappeared.

Each week** I have 168 hours. I have a lot of things to accomplish in those 168 hours. Last week writing did not make the cut often enough. I will blame this mostly on the fact that both of my days off work were spent in jury duty, but will also apologize.

This week I am once again going to shoot for three updates. God has been bringing me into a season of artistic fruitfulness as an act of worship, so hopefully one manifestation of that will be more frequent updates.

Unfortunately the down side is that my most artistic seasons are usually peppered with bouts of depression, ending I'm a larger depression struggle. I would very much covet your prayers in this.

Note to self (and others): God created. When I do so, it's an act of worshipping him. This must be my focus. Everything else is vanity. Thus says Qoheleth. Seriously. Check your footnotes***.

*I accidentally wrote "fire" instead of "five." Fire updates would be awesome.
**We are going to in this instance disregard time change week, which contains 167 or 169 hours.
***Not these footnotes - the footnotes in your bible. Ecclesiastes 1:1

Last week I said five* updates. Later I redacted this to three. Three happened. Five did not.

When I said five, I was thinking that for three days I would be sitting in the room where the jurors sit while waiting to be selected. Instead I was placed on a jury at the end of the first day. Suddenly eighteen hours of reading and writing time disappeared.

Each week** I have 168 hours. I have a lot of things to accomplish in those 168 hours. Last week writing did not make the cut often enough. I will blame this mostly on the fact that both of my days off work were spent in jury duty, but will also apologize.

This week I am once again going to shoot for three updates. God has been bringing me into a season of artistic fruitfulness as an act of worship, so hopefully one manifestation of that will be more frequent updates.

Unfortunately the down side is that my most artistic seasons are usually peppered with bouts of depression, ending I'm a larger depression struggle. I would very much covet your prayers in this.

Note to self (and others): God created. When I do so, it's an act of worshipping him. This must be my focus. Everything else is vanity. Thus says Qoheleth. Seriously. Check your footnotes***.

*I accidentally wrote "fire" instead of "five." Fire updates would be awesome.
**We are going to in this instance disregard time change week, which contains 167 or 169 hours.
***Not these footnotes - the footnotes in your bible. Ecclesiastes 1:1

Time and Updates