Thursday, September 30, 2004

Campaign Soundbytes

Just got done watching the presidential debate...well as much as I could take and could hold my interest. I guess there was so much debate over the structure and format of the debate that the end product was very staged, unfresh, and predictable. There were very few moments of candor or spontaniety and both sides rattled off the same soundbytes that they have been using for weeks. The only thing keeping me watching the debate was some sort of patriotic guilt.
All in all I feel that Kerry did a slightly better job arguing his points. He did, however, seem as condescending and pretentious as ever. Bush did stutter but maintained his "man of the people" candor. Its strange how this election is playing out. Most people, democrats including, will be honest in saying that Kerry isn't their favorite pick. The one thing getting them going, however, is their anger at Bush policies. So it isn't Bush V. Kerry, its good Bush V. bad Bush.
To be perfectly honest, given the current state of things, I don't think that my life will change much with either president. I can carry on my merry way and for the most part be unaffected by Washington D.C.

Sunday, September 26, 2004

Popular bestsellers. A few facts and alot of fiction.

In the past two weeks I have read "IceBurg" by Clive Cussler and "Angels and Demons" by Dan Brown. These are two books by authors who have brought reading to the masses by mixing all of the dramatic elements that we love with history. While their content has less value then some of the meatier books I have recently read, they are still fun and they get me interested in topics that I typically would ignore. Here are some thoughts:

- I, like many readers, have become versed in the secrets of the Vatican through Dan Brown. This can potentially be a good and a bad thing. Good in the sense that it introduces us to historical events and objects that typical entertainment, such as Survivor, doesn't. I can't read Dan Brown without getting on the internet and following along with his descriptions of Bernini's work or Galileo's ideas. It stimulates me to keep learning. It can be bad in the sense that many people might not further investigate and take his reading at face value. Remember, Dan Brown is out to sell books first and maybe educate us second. Because of the DaVinci code, 1 in every 4 Americans claim to know the secrets of Opus Dei and the Holy Grail. Since we like a good conspiracy we believe them without confirming them through research.

- Since I have read multiple books from both authors I feel that I can critique their styles. Both have a very standard outline in place for each book that they fill in with new settings or villains. Clive Cussler, for example, will always start the book with some historical maritime event that later ties into the latest Dirk Pitt adventure. They soon will uncover some nefarious plot of some insanely evil man bent on destroying the eco-system. Dirk and his pal, Al, will break all the rules an save the day. The formula for Dan Brown isn't too different except that the hero is now dressed in a tweed jacket and from the Ivy League and the adventure is a fast paced treasure hunt involving riddles surrounding ancient secret organizations.

- I look at both main characters, Robert and Dirk, and I guess that they are the ideal persons that the authors envision themselves to be. I would probably do the same and create an idealized, super Ryan.
- As mainstream and campy as these books are I do have to admit that they have spurred my interest in topics I otherwise would have over looked. That is a good thing, I could use any motivation to keep learning that I can get.

Wednesday, September 22, 2004

Misadventures in customer service

Yesterday I had to get the battery replaced on my Accord. Simple procedure, right? You walk in to the store, specify the type of battery, and they put it on. The whole procedure should take 25 minutes assuming the operation is somewhat operation. Well it is not safe to assume anything when dealing with car repairs, particularly Sears.
I selected Sears because of the price and the length of the warranty coverage on the battery. They have a decent reputation so I called them up. They gave me a good quote and even suggested the best time to bring it in. If, they said, I came in around 4pm I could be in and out in a half an hour. Sounded good, so I took their advice.
I left work early and made the trek to the mall. The first scene upon opening the door should have sent a quick signal of apprehension. I didn't follow my initial instinct and, as a result, I spent the next 3 1/2 hours in waiting room purgatory. Back to the opening scene.....There was a group of 7-8 people around the sales counter. The desk was being manned by two young men, one was perpetually upbeat despite all of obvious failings at the hands of Sears and the other was a gangly, glass eyed fellow who seemed to have tuned out the critism hours earlier.
As I approached, the mood became clear. All of these people were wondering why it was taking 3-4 hours to get their batteries checked or their tires replaced. Some were irrate some kept their anger more hidden, but displeasure was the overriding theme. Neither sales associate would respond to questions regarding why it was taking twice as long as their quoted time. I didn't have anything to do that evening, and I needed the battery changed, so I opted to grin and bear it. I was given a 2-3 hour quote and I made my way to the waiting room.
Upon entering I was greeted by a chorus of women, howling at their misfortunes. Never underestimate the power wielded by women who have been thrown off their errand schedules by unforseen waits. I spent the next 45 minutes listening to them gripe, second guessing my decision to stay. I was alright, so long as they didn't exceed their quoted time.
Anyways, three hours roll by and we are at the three hour threshold. I approach the counter and inquire about the status of my car. He was so busy dealing with other people that it took a good 15 minutes to finally answer. He turned to me and said, "Youre in luck according to this the car is done." I had been watching my car languish in the parking lot the entire time and knew that it didn't make it to the garage. I had him second guess and sure enough I was right. Some person had put my information in the "done" been and had forgotten about it. I could have gone the entire night and nothing would have been done.
At this point my passive demenor hardened into a firm tone. I reminded him of my quote and demanded something be done. I had watched the garage from the lobby and knew that nothgin was going on back there. Finally a worker took my keys and pulled the car into the garage. 10 minutes later it was done and I had a new battery. The whole process took 20 minutes, just like the initial quote over the phone. What the "H" happened to Sears?
They are designed to only do a few things so the operation should be very streamlined. When you are repeating the same tasks you should be able to generate some great volume. That wasn't being done here. Just a bunch of kids unhappy to be working and not willing to take any responsibility.
I got home around 8:30pm, my journey had ended. My only solace was knowing that my car was alright and that I could look forward to reading a new Dan Brown book that I had bartered for with a woman in the waiting room. I hope my car never has anymore problems.

Tuesday, September 14, 2004

A blank page

Tonight I have suppose I have writers bloc. I am sitting at my computer trying to drum up an interesting topic to post...I've got nothing. The only thing keeping this post alive is my commitment to write at least three times a week. Well, move over Seinfeld cause' I'm writing about nothing.

Tonight we fed the elders, something that we do every other week. Once again I was in charge of making dinner and once again it hit a home run with the missionaries. This is the third time it has happened. The sad observation is that these dishes haven't been spectacular, tonight's dish was a chicken casserole. But for some odd reason the elders love it, I can only imagine what they were eating before their missions.

I spent a good portion of the evening in the yard trying to determine what to do once the heat subsides and I can do some real landscaping. There's something about homeownership that really turns one's thumb green, it's hard to explain. Two years ago you couldn't have offered me a bowl of cookie crisp to do yard work and now it's something I take pride in.

My wife is into fantasy football. This is a definite victory for me. Her interest in football means more justifiable discretionary football devotion on Sunday. I have successfully neutralized one of her key argument objections, the time I offer to football.

U2 is slated to put out a new album in November. I am very excited, despite its lame title. They are one of like 6 bands that I will go out of my way to respect their intellectual property and purchase their album. Their 2001 concert in Salt Lake is still and will probably be the closest thing to rock n' roll bliss that I will ever experience.

I have taken up the guitar again. I just bought a capo and am perfecting the Beatles "Here Comes the Sun." A beautiful song and one of the few that I have cared to learn in its entirety. I am creating a repitiore of around 6-10 songs that I can pull out during those occasions that call for some shameless social guitar.


Sunday, September 12, 2004

Remembering 9/11

Yesterday passed and I, undoubtedly like many other Americans, went through the typical weekend drill of errands, yardwork, and football. It wasn't until I caught a glimpse of the late afternoon news before I was reminded of the 3rd anniversary of 9/11. Unfortunately I, like many other Americans, have pretty much forgotten or tuned out the emotions of that day.
I still remember that morning very clearly. I was watching the morning news before my bus ride to Provo and work. I was almost out the door when I heard the news from NBC around 6:50am. I stuck around for a few moments, curious to know what a plane was doing crashing into the WTC. Minutes later everything became horrifically clear as the 2nd plane crashed into the towers. Immediately my wife and I were both in front of the TV, expecting more attacks and more details.
The bus ride was very uneasy, I was enmeshed with a silent rage aimed at whoever was responsible for such a senseless act. I spent the hour long bus ride expressing anger and then sadness with other people and discussing how we would respond to those responsible. The rest of the day no work was accomplished, we spent it in the local deli getting news updates. I have never felt so much anger, sadness, and national pride then I did on 9/11.
The next several days were spent doing the same thing, watching the news and trying to figure out ways in which I could show my support for the nation and victims. I witnessed some amazing acts and was deeply touched by the outpouring of American flags that I saw wherever I drove. We turned to each other for support and, more importantly, we turned to God. We promised that we would never forget and that we would be stronger, better, and more caring people.
Now just three years later it seemed like we have forgotten. Its back to life as usual, selfishness as usual, politics as usual. Have we really applied what we learned at 9/11? We have demonstrated our military might by going after the perpetrators with amazing force and precision. But how are we doing as local citizens? Are helping each other out? Do we have the same solidarity and unity that we did three years ago? I don't know. I can only hope that I can remember this event and make a personal effort to ensure that I am a better person.

Thursday, September 09, 2004

The evening dillemma

8:30 once rolls around and I am confronted with the same challenge. Do I wave the white flag and watch whatever the TV has to offer, which tonight is a very impressive New England-Indianapolis matchup, or do I stick to my ideals and do something more worthwhile, like read a new book that I purchased. This is the dillemma that confronts me most evenings. My fortitude tested to the limits by the sweet siren song of "The Apprentice" coming from the other room.
Tonight will be a compromise. I absolutely cannot miss the opening game of the NFL season, but I also need to excerise my fragile discipline. I am running into my office during the commercial breaks to read and write and then enjoying the game as it plays. So I get the piece of mind that comes with learning and the joy that comes with football. Sometimes compromise is the best solution. Anyways, James Mitchener isn't going anywhere, he can always be read on an evening with reruns.

Wednesday, September 08, 2004

Alaska....one big and majestic state

My wife and I just returned from a weekend trip to visit my brothers family in Alaska. Just a few thoughts about the trip.

  • The sheer majestic ruggedness really blows away anyplace that I have ever been, and I have traveled extensively throughout the great west. Let me just paint a brief picture from a boat trip outside of resurrection Bay in Seward. Orca whales playfully jump along the boat as we skim across a glassy aquamarine colored ocean. Just off shore on a rocky outcrops we spot several seals sunning themselves. The rocks soon give to the sheer cliffs of a mighty fjord, mountain goats dotting the cliffs. We follow the rocky and tree filled outline of the mountains until we reach a large valley. A massive glacier slowly makes its way to the bay, shaping the earth as it slowly moves. Our gaze is soon moved to a family of puffins that are flying along the waves looking for food. This description captured only a 10 minute period from the trip.
  • Salmon are a very abundant resource. Every river that we saw was chock full of salmon in search of their spawning grounds. It wouldn't take much at all to catch one, I wonder if the locals get sick of them...I was after eating 4 consecutive dishes showcasing their meat.
  • You would have to be an independent and solitude seeking individual to live in Alaska, with the exception of Anchorage. You really get a feeling of peaceful isolation up there. I would imagine that many people can feel small and insignificant compared to the size and majesty of that state.

Some other thoughts from the trip.

  • While spending a lot of time with my brothers family I was able to make some observations regarding child rearing. Some good and some bad. It is very easy to critique a situation that you are not in. This is very common for me as I am constantly around my nieces and nephews. In one of my next blogs I intend to make a large list of things that we will and will not do regarding our future children. I will keep this list and see how many rules are broken or modified when I begin raising them. Right now, my siblings are constantly reminding me that being an "armchair parent" is very different then raising one and that my standards will cave in after the first year. I want to see if that is true.
  • Airline customer service is horrible. Our continental flight from Anchorage to Seattle, leaving at 1am, was delayed for four hours due to some engine problems. I can live with that, safety is job #1. But what ensued upon landing in Seattle really exemplified why people are so weary of traveling. The airline promised that when we got off the plane that a number of customer service reps would be available to help us obtain a connecting flight to our final destinations. We all missed our flights by now but were relieved with this gesture. We got into the terminal to find one person, she was immediately overwhelmed by customers. She didn't really understand what was going on and told us to go to the front desk. The airline effectively passed on responsibility to a few local reps, unaware of our circumstances or the promises made on the flight. To make a long story short, we ended up spending 5 hours trying to fly standby on a flight to Phoenix and got home at 6pm rather then our intended arrival of 9am. Kind of makes you want to buy an RV.

Wednesday, September 01, 2004

The Political Fray

These days it is hard to avoid the political arena. The media has done a great job of making us aware of every comment or action that could catch the attention of the public. While I personally believe that most of the issues of the day will have little impact on my personal life, it is important that I form my own views independent of political pundits and misguided rock stars.
I will begin this paragraph by stating that I am a moderate Republican, this might help explain my views. I am conservative on moral issues (abortion, gay marriage, equality, independence) but more moderate on social issues (gov't involvement in certain areas to help the most needy segments of the population when no other entity will) On the whole I support President Bush, although I disagree with some of his policies. I have met him and listened to him and I genuinely feel that he has our best interests in mind and has pure intentions. That doesn't mean that I wouldn't consider someone of another party who would better represent my views, I have voted against the party lines in the past.
Back in November I seriously considered John Kerry. He seemed well spoken and wise. Then his campaign happened. It doesn't take a pschyciatrist to realize that Kerry is an elitist who shifts his stand on the issues according to his audience. He can't showcase his senate record because it is so inconsistent. He is such a lackluster candidate that his own party and their 527 special interest groups have had to focus their efforts on attacking President Bush and portraying him as an evil crusader. That is quite a revelation into the overall perception of Kerry when his supporters don't necessarily care about him but rather care about getting Bush out of the White House.
These Democrat groups and media have done a great job of turning Bush into a belligerent and ignorant sycophant determined to control the world for his special interests. The reality is that both parties are recipients of enormous sums of money and are beholden to special interests. Bush and Kerry aren't too different on the political spectrum, how is Bush/Republicans so evil when the other side isn't too different. It should also be mentioned that much more "soft money" is poured into democrat attack adds than vice versa.
I don't unequivically agree with the Republican party on every issue, I don't think it would be possible for any thoughtful person to completely agree with their party platform. I do think that the playing field needs to be leveled. The media shouldn't be manipulating the public in either direction, let the candidates and their records do the talking. I'm just fed up with liberal elitist crying wolf when none exists.

Dude