inthisdeepcalm's Open Salon Blog

Mad Men -- Maddening Women & Pursuit of Beauty

Tue, 29 May 2012 17:05:26 -0400

This MM episode is one that may launch itself in a new direction, which , in fact, is not new, yet builds onto its vital journey though our recent history. Wow, do you believe what they pulled off here? Even our accomplished film directors would be challenged -- verging on too much story for one episode. The ever so lovable Pete, ( I am being sarcastic ) takes this vile proposition to Joan, therein setting the stage for classic Sexual Politics to be played out in all of its wry, unclean zeal. We feel at once betrayed and detached from this conundrum, learning that honor is weighing in the balance. But more importantly, the question is shamelessly posited: What do we really value in women?

It may not seem to be bomb shell stuff, now, this minute, but let me tell you, a generation back -- it was all blowing up ... I mean the Men Vs. Women Heavyweight Fight was on.

In last Sunday's episode, we have Joan, Peggy and Megan, all captured in the game of opportunity, ripe for their eager bite of ambition sated, its juices running down their chins. It was a time when people did not know how to take this -- be it women or men. This is why Sunday's episode was such a blast. I have to feel that Wiener is setting the stage for the Women's Movement to rush right out of the elevator at SCDP and into the executive offices, blood and damaged egos in its roaring path. We sense that it is about Joan .. . we ache for her, one of the shows very best characters; then we learn that Peggy and then Megan, are offered good opportunities to advance their careers. Naturally, men get in the way -- but not in their way. Not the way one would think. These tines are achang'n ...

The tension is this episode is so strong that my partner, who generally tunes out the show, preferring online poker, actually turned in her chair to watch Joan make her move. I have never felt this attached to a TV series in all of my life ... it builds the way an epic struggle must -- think of Dr. Zhivago or the last sequences of Casino ....

You know what's coming -- it just makes it more real, bitingly intense.

Get ready for a real landing in the next to last episode. It'll be worth it ...

We're in that zone where you think that you know -- but do we?

Do We Really Know The Species?

Mon, 21 May 2012 22:05:19 -0400

One Bird of Prey

One red bird alights on the back of the park bench in Central Park,
The smaller bird, a bit wary of its new neighbor, takes in the rich red plumage, ts shiny beak catching the afternoon sun.
The fuller bird turns, saying, "Will you be my friend?"
The quiet, underfed bird, rocked back some, 'Why?"
But the plump, bright bird, clacked proudly, "Tell you a secret, OK?"
The small bird gazed to his right, unsure, "Just say it."

"Here, you go fly over to that bench, distract the man feeding pop corn
to the poor, dumb squirrels, see?"
"Me? "
"Yes, you. Easy, right? Split it fifty fifty."
"OK. Hungry -- two days now without eating."
"I'm off, then." The red bird took off, out
of sight for the moment.

The poor, hungry bird glanced to the bench with the man
feeding the squirrels, circling around before swooping down,
in his objective. Then, in a flurry of swollen commotion,
the man stands suddenly, the hungry smaller bird sweeps in -- but
the man now pulled back, standing there empty handed.
The red bird plucked the pop corn bag clean. Then,
in this sweeping exchange the man unintentionally knocked
the small hungry bird to the side walk.

Now, the red, plump bird was off with his score, winking at his
real partner, unseen before, the Callico cat darting away,
the unfed, trusting bird in its mouth. Just like that.

The dazed smaller bird now realizes what had happened --
he bought in, paid the price. Two birds:
one tricked, one fed, more than twenty times what either one
could possibly eat.

Later, the red bird found another unsuspecting bird on the
fountain -- but this one just took flight and was gone. The
well fed red bird knew, saying to himself, There are many
hungry birds who are not as smart as me. Many, even most,are not as smart and ready.

Like the dumb pigeon on the fountain.

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Trayvon's image is alive ... Please read, know this ...

Sun, 13 May 2012 17:05:12 -0400

This is beyond the pale of what is, even of the very worst amongst us loving here, that I could imagine. But give the power of the fl flash light, this is what can happen.

Let's right the wrong here ... Please.

The silhouette on the paper target is faceless. But the hoodie, the Skittles and the iced tea leave nothing to the imagination. This is meant to be Travyon Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old shot to death in February in Sanford, Florida. The unidentified internet merchant told Mike DeForest, a reporter for Orlando television station WKMG, that he sold out the silhouettes in two days. The targets come in packages of 10.

The twisted cretin who had these printed said: "My main motivation wasto make money off the controversy." Just business, man. Nothing personal.

Even Mark O'Mara, the attorney for George Zimmerman, the 28-year-old neighborhood watch volunteer who has been charged with second-degree murder in the shooting, found it disgusting:

"It's this type of hatred -- that's what this is, it's hate-mongering -- that's going to make it more difficult to try this case," said O'Mara.
"I hope there is a crime that we can charge that person who made that with. I'm not sure what it is, but we need to come up with one."

DeForest conducted an email exchange with the merchant who would not say how many of the targets he had sold, only that the response had been "overwhelming." They were still for sale on a firearms auction site when DeForest first contacted him. But when it became clear the station was investigating, the ad on the site was removed. That ad stated the seller believes Zimmerman is innocent and that "he shot a thug." Martin had no criminal record. He was visiting his father in a gated community just a few doors away from where Zimmerman killed him after he returned from a nearby store.

The target, made by the Hiller Armament Company, can be seen at this gun blog.

Target shooters often use paper silhouettes for practice and in competition. Some of these are illustrations of generic would-be assailants. A few show real people. The Osama bin Laden target has long been a favorite. But most are simply black silhouettes overlain with concentric rings and numbers with the highest "scores" over the most vulnerable parts of a person's body. These originated in the military and are widely used by police departments in their training.

It's not hard to imagine what buyers of the Trayvon targets say to each other when they're on the firing line. And when they say "fucking coons," they don't mumble.

•••

Please help stop future sales of the Trayvon Martin target by urging legal action based on trademark infringement.

Trust me, this is the New Mitt -- Honest ...

Sat, 5 May 2012 23:05:16 -0400

OK, to those who know me or, will admit it, however reluctantly, I actually feel that the GOP heir transparent, could bring great value. I hear my friends and old associates, experience the true grating of back molars, their fingers over strained eyes. He's off again ... I do not blame them one bit. We must explore the attributes of Willard Romney. Yes, for our President.

Here goes.

First, he is starting with very little, unlike the traditional Democrats, he is not bought. Yet. We may be able to convince him -- yes, damn it! If we are not that desperate to flip a man who needs an intervention of hard core reality, then how will we save ourselves?

What are his values: two Cadillacs; missionary work in Paris; a prom queen wife. Yeah, he creatively takes companies from the cliff of possibly not making it another year ot two, and then launches them into a new world: one which he takes out huge loans, lays off marginal employees -- you know, guys like you, me, your neighbors, -- and gives them a fresh start. No serevices on how to structure your Job and Marketing Plans. This is Tough Love, thank you. Then, he shows us how to turn a handsome profit by hook, crook and deft control of every hemmoraghing penny ... God, he does have the touch with give and take ..
See, we're quite soft and not in step with how to make a buck from scratch.

We need that Joel Osteen touch: SMILE, BELIEVE, GET REALLY GNARILY NARCISSISTIC AND VOILA!: There you are.

Do you see what I mean, guys? We need a solid blind side kick in the the psychic ass. We are so deserving, for the wonderful choices we have recently made: the current cast of trough feeders, who have their hands in the pockets of Big Pharma and the Mega Insurance behemoths that are very easy to work with. We would have a president who would understand this; he would work with such powers that be. No more hand wringing over having your mom and dad being able to pay for medical bills -- hey, this is Survival of the Fittest -- the Eskimos use ice floes, which are quite like a futon and not as clumsy as those old, clunky hospital beds, complete with tubes and dials and all this nonsense.

OK, I am being simplistic here, Agreed. But should we not cultivate the sense of this being a land of opportunity, even for one who comes from a strange spiritual past, who happens to Baptize dead historical figures: the idea of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini being dunked in some imaginary babbling creek, brings a tear to my eye, a furtive chill at my very spine. We are a loving, forgiving people, are we not? Aren't we ready for that breath of fresh air. We've had presidents who are erudite;even balanced budgets -- and even some who blew the country's surplus on a phoney war.

Now, do we not deserve strange -- for a change?

What worldly good does Romney bring to the country? Trust m

Wed, 2 May 2012 23:05:27 -0400

Here goes.

What are his values: two Cadillacs; missionary work in Paris; a prom queen wife; who is a ost of us, and he creatively takes this company from the cliff of possibly not making it another year ot two, and then launches them into a new world: one which he takes out huge loans, lays off marginal employees -- you know, guys like you, me, your neighbors, -- and gives them a fresh start. No seminars on how to structure your Job and Marketing Plans. This is Tough Love, thank you. Then, he shows us how to turn a handsome profit by hook, crook and deft control of every hemmoraghing penny ... God, he does have the touch with give and take ..
See, we're quite soft and not in step with how to make a buck from scratch.

We need that Joel Osteen touch: SMILE, BELIEVE, GET REALLY GNARLY NARCISSISTIC AND VOILA!: There you are.

OK, I am being simplistic here, Agreed. But should we not cultivate the sense of this being a land of opportunity, even for one who comes from a strange religion, who happens to Baptize dead historical figures: the idea of Hitler, Stalin and Mussolini being dunked in some imaginary babbling creek, brings a tear to my eye, a furtive chill at my very spine. We are a loving, forgiving people, are we not? Aren't we ready for that breath of fresh air. We've had presidents who are erudite;balanced budgets -- and even some who blew the country's surplus on a phoney war.

Now, do we not deserve a change -- for a change?

inthisdeepcalm's Open Salon Blog

Mad Men -- Maddening Women & Pursuit of Beauty

Do We Really Know The Species?

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Trayvon's image is alive ... Please read, know this ...

Trust me, this is the New Mitt -- Honest ...

What worldly good does Romney bring to the country? Trust m