Archive For The “Writing” Category

That Dream About Marx

That Dream About Marx

I had the saddest and cutest dream. I dreamed that Brian’s friend, Brian, had come to visit us in our new home. Marx, our cat, asked if he could borrow the suit for the day.

*****Let me explain*****

[My brain works differently and accepts most things people’s wouldn’t. So, in my dream, cats and dogs speak in languages we understand. You can purchase a temporary human body suit for them to wear. This means they are on their hind legs, using their fingers, toes, et cetera. Most animals know about the differences in races, but my cat had chosen a suit in the form of a young, black man, maybe in his 20s, athletic, short hair cut, actually attractive-looking. The clerk even looked at us strange and tried to get Marx to change his mind, but Marx wanted that suit. The suits come nude, so you do have to buy clothes.]

Marx puts on his suit, gets dressed and announces that he’s going to the park to play basketball. We waved bye and he headed out in his gear. I noticed the material of the suit was getting worn out. They didn’t make them in the best material and Marx had been caught outside in the rain a few times.

So, Brian, Brian, and I are sitting back, drinking wine, watching a movie. The hours flew by and it’s now dark outside. I’m beginning to worry about Marx. Suddenly, we hear the front door close.

“How was your day at the park?”

“Good. I played some ball. The guys are amazed at how high I can jump.”

“Did you ever tell them that you were a cat?”

“Naw. I just wanted to play. Some of the guys get grumpy about playing with suits.” Marx walks into the den and I take a look at him, when I notice it. His suit is crumbling. “Do you think we can get a new suit just like this one?”

Brian even asks, “Don’t you want a different one?”

Marx replies, “Naw. The guys are used to ‘Mark’ [he named himself for when he’s in his suit].”

I reply, “They may not even has that same model, Marx. You know that model is kind of old.”

Marx, looking a little disappointed, says, “I know. I mean I like this suit. The way it looks. And everybody knows me, I guess,” he takes a pause. “Well, everybody talks about them at the court. I kinda …. well … you know…. um. I kinda want, to get …. a job.”

At this point I start tearing up. [I blame female hormones.] The Brians are looking at me like I’m an alien. My little kitty is growing up before my eyes. I stand to hug him and I feel the suit crumble a little. A piece falls off. He puts his hands behind his back to hide the fact, but his little paw is sticking out behind him. I gave him a low five and pushed his butt into a forward motion as a sign to get out of that suit.

Brian asked me what my expression is all about. I go into a friggin’ Seventh Heaven moment, talking about how Marx could have used the suit in a deviant manner, but he decides to be a good cat, and a good person, by just going out to play and now wanting to take on responsibilities. And that after it all, we were pretty good parents. I turned into a bubbling mess over my wine.

I awakened on the verge of motherhood tears.

And then realized I really need to have my medication changed.

Changes in Music: G-Dragon vs. the KMCIA

Changes in Music: G-Dragon vs. the KMCIA

I’m old enough to remember vinyl albums, 8-tracks, cassette tapes, blank cassette tapes, CDs, VHS tapes, Laserdiscs and DVDs. I have evolved through each technology.  With each transition, the media industries barked and fought their replacements. Media is constantly changing. I remember the fight for blank cassette and blank VHS tapes. Recording was supposed to be the “death” of radio and television. Now we laugh about mixtapes, which have become mixcds.

Except, the iPod came along. Sure there were other “tapeless/cdless” music formats for different players before the iPod came around. However, the iPod really started to define digital music.  It wasn’t just portable, but you could store countless albums on your computer, meaning harddrive space had to be redefined and upgraded. Then movie formats changed, more compression, without a decreasing the resolution.  And here we are.

A few years back, after moving to Virginia, I had the stereo system in the Jeep upgraded. Back then I only had close to 20 days of digital music stored on my computer. When I saw the Sony Xplod system (Yes, I’m namedropping. Nothing you can do about it.) I immediately knew it was the one for me. There would be no more loosely scattered mixCDs slewn across the floor of SpaceGhost. See, this system didn’t have a CD player.  I was thinking to myself, “You’re a f*cking genius!”

I could plug in my iPod and play music to my heart’s content. Better yet, I could store music on a USB stick, plug it in, and play even more music than my iPod would offer. I was in MUSICLAND with my Jeep. 

So now, we come to my nearly 300 days worth of music, taking up less than 2TB on my 4TB external drive. I listen to everything.  I mean everything: All American genres, but also French rap, Hindi Rap, Korean Rap and Pop, World Trap Beats, trot, and of course, BigBang (who I will give a genre all to themselves, just because I can.  It’s my blog!) 

So, the Korean Music Content Industry Association (KMCIA), says that they will not recognize G-Dragon’s newest album, Act III, M.O.T.T.E, as a record.  Well, sure, technically it isn’t physically a record, but it is pure genius. I will admit, I am disappointed that the songs are not on the USB itself [having to login and provide the code to download the music].  That little technicality could make it not a record, or technically an album, since the content of an album is not physically on the USB stick. I would prefer a USB which I could pull out of the packaging and stick directly into my stereo, without having to go online and download the album, then put them back on my USB stick.  It’s a conundrum. 

What do you think? I still think it’s genius because many technologies are now dropping physical medias.  Most albums I know take up less than the 64 GB space in a typical USB stick.  I don’t know the max GB space of these USBs used for G-D’s album. However, I believe it’s going to begin a standard as technology keeps evolving.

Postponing My Studies

Postponing My Studies

I feel I have been burning my candle with a blowtorch! I love my career. Yet, I am having to deal with work on Saturdays while trying to attend classes. There is no budget for a second person. I am willing to take a pay cut to hire a second person to assist me. This master’s program is also a full-time job, despite having classes only on Saturday.

On top of that, because of the C (which I find a bit unfair due to the quality of my projects), my financial aid has been terminated. I fall .09 points below a 3.0 GPA, for a total of a 2.91. I am disappointed, but also disheartened because I love the program, but the comments from the financial aid department and program leader at American University left much to be desired about AU. I asked for assistance so that I can keep my financial aid and continue. After being declined, I was asked if I knew the hardship and complications of paying for school out-of-pocket. What the hell kind of question is that? Even still, I had no choice. I have to pay out of pocket. Sure it’ll save me the interest of not having a student loan. I just need to do what’s best for me.

So I’m postponing until another moment when I am not so burdened. I can jump right back in at AU, or Syracuse is tempting me with the same program, but online and at a more affordable tuition.

Also, I have to realize that I have a great career that I love. It’s hard to find your own sandbox. I’m the “adapt and overcome”-type person, but I am at a level in my career where a master’s degree would position me. In the meantime, I’ll keep my brain active with some courses at Coursera. There’s a scriptwriting course and the Strategic Communications certification that I could get there. Wish me luck!

Comm 620: Visual Storytelling I — Media Pitch
The Person Your Parents Aren’t Talking to Online

The Person Your Parents Aren’t Talking to Online

Tech-novice grandparents are taking over social media to communicate with friends and family. However, when it comes to talking with their doctors, their signal falls silent.

Shutterstock.com

Seniors are missing out on online conversations with their doctors

Seniors are a steady growing demographic for technology usage, especially for the internet and social media. While many seniors are not as tech-savvy as younger generations, they are finding their way around a computer and online. According to a Pew Research Center report in June, usage of the internet by adults 65+ has increased by 44 percent from 2000 to 2015. Social networks will see a surge in their base of 65 and older uses by 2020. There’s an estimation of 55 million seniors to be online by 2020. Currently, seniors are showing a faster adoption rate for the internet, although young adults are still most likely to actually use the internet.

An April 2014 report from the Pew Research Center contends that even with the increase in adoption, seniors remain isolated from digital life. There are many benefits for seniors to be online. Majority of these benefits include communications, either with loved ones or friends. Some seniors are utilizing social media to connect with colleagues and friends. They are video chatting with family, cyber-visiting their loved ones. Some have even enrolled in online studies from a variety of Universities. The chief person being left out of online conversations with seniors are physicians.

Assisted Living Communities Teaching Technology Usage, Not Communication

Wishpond created an infographic based on information from various sources.

Wishpond created an infographic based on information from various sources.

Assisted living communities for seniors are including technology usage classes for desktop computers, laptops, tablets and smart phones. While many seniors are not so quick to select a smart phone over a cellphone, they are getting the most usage of the internet via portable devices like laptops and tablets. Merrill Gardens, a Washington-based assisted living company, said, “Our community uses social media, not to just connect with our residents. We connect with the children of our residents through social media.” Merrill Gardens says that social media is a great way to keep the residents involved with activities in the community and to let children see the progression and interact. “Our Pinterest account allows seniors to express and share their creative works,” said a community representative. There was no comment on the communications between physicians and residents, out of concern of a possible Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) violation.

“The benefit of assisted living is that we are located on the campus…. It is easy for residents to come directly to us”

Ashby Ponds, an Erickson Living community, says that they have added technology classes for iPad usage. While they have more advanced technical programs, such as videography and video editing, many residents shy away from computer-based training out of fear of “breaking the internet.” However, when it comes to communicating with their residents, the medical center relies mostly on telephone and face-to-face communications.”

“The benefit of assisted living is that we are located on the campus and are in walking/shuttle proximity of the residents. It is easy for residents to come directly to us,” said an Ashby Ponds Medical Center representative.

Immigrant Debate Takes To Literature With New Book

Immigrant Debate Takes To Literature With New Book

Tanya Marie Golash-Boza

Tanya Marie Golash-Boza, Author
Listen: Golash-Boza – Eric’s Story

The nation in a heated debate over immigration policies and the relocations of thousands of Syrian refugees. In the lively bookstore, Politics & Prose, the debate continues amid demonstrations at the White House gates. Today, author Tanya Golash-Boza introduced her new book “Deported: Policiing Immigrants, Disposable Labors and Global Capitalism.”

Following Golash-Boza’s previous book, “Immigration Nation”, which covers the policies involved in immigration, “Deported” develops a human rights perspective from interviews with 147 deportees. From these interviews many factors are thrown into the debate: commercial restructuring of communities, neoliberal reforms, and the unequal criminalization of people of color.
 

So over the past few decades, trade agreements have facilitated the movement of capital across borders. And these trade agreements have not facilitated the movement of workers across borders. –Tanya Golash-Boza

“Eric’s story allows us to consider the connections between individual migration stories and larger economic trends, such as outsourcing, economic restructuring, cutbacks in social services, the enhancement of police and the privatization of public services,” says Golash-Boza. Eric’s story began with his mother migrating to America for better wages in order to provide a better life for Eric. The story details many disadvantages of migrant workers, including lack of benefits, longer hours, lower wages than American citizens. Golash-Boza says, “As an undocumented worker, Eric’s mother was less likely to challenge her low pay and lack of benefits.”

“Deported” delves into the capitalization of deportations and the U.S. prison system. Golash-Boza says, “Once arrested, Eric was placed in a private prison, and privatization of public services is another key economic trend, as is the profitability of prisons. So over the past few decades, trade agreements have facilitated the movement of capital across borders. And these trade agreements have not facilitated the movement of workers across borders.”

Eric was able to gain work in Guatemala, where he was deported to from the United States. However, his wage is not enough to bring his wife and children to Guatemala. The American corporation that operates the call center in Guatemala where Eric works is able to keep a steady supply of low wage workers deported from privatized prisons. The company is able to obtain low-wage bilingual workers, familiar with American geography, products and lifestyles. This gives Eric priority at hiring, but the American company will close U.S. operations, paying $400 a month to a deported immigrant to secure larger profits.

“The heavy policing of poor neighborhoods predominated by people of color made it much more likely that Eric would be arrested, even though he had in fact not committed a crime,” says Golash-Boza. These stories explore the bias and racism of mass deportations in the United States. The Secure Communities Act from the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was repeated throughout the presentation as a condemning policy that allows racial profiling of people of color.

We have this vast apparatus of laws and regulations and policies that most people know nothing about. –Linda Rabben

According to the ICE website, the Secure Communities Act, replaced by the Priority Enforcement Program in July, states that “Secure Communities was designed to reduce the potential for racial profiling. Under Secure Communities, the fingerprints of every single individual arrested and booked into custody, including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, are checked against immigration records – reducing the risk of discrimination or racial profiling.”

There are American citizens who believe more immigration reform is necessary. The process for accepting immigrants, especially refugees is strenuous. Several Americans are worried that terrorists will slip through cracks in the refugee resettlement program and that there are no controls in place.  Associate Professor at University of Maryland, Linda Rabben, says, “Immigration is already controlled in the United States. We have this vast apparatus of laws and regulations and policies that most people know nothing about.”

Numerous Americans are responding to televised media coverage of recent terror attacks, crime and policies and opinions, from opinionated pundits to candidates running for president. Rabben says, “And if you rely on what the media tells you, then you’re going to get a very distorted picture of how the system works.”


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