Mary Margaret Park

Americans showed up to the polls and voted in record numbers. The turmoil that our country has seen, from the war in Iraq, to the economic crisis’s has broken through the complacency that’s blanketed our dreams.

In Barack Obama’s victory speech, he spoke of the need for all Americans to work together and to get involved in rebuilding this nation. With change comes hope, and with the reawakening of countrymen everywhere, all things become possible.

Let’s hope that this historical election points to a greater day for all citizens of the United States.

One in which we reclaim our country and demand accountability *

In the current economy, it never ceases to amaze me how much we spend on our pets. From gourmet pet food to canopy covered beds, it seems nothing is too good for our furry friends.

I have a German Sheppard (puppy), and I insist on buying her Eukanuba’s brand dog-food; it’s full of meat, less byproducts, and it’s supposed to be beneficial for a growing dog. It must be working because she just turned a year old and weighs 75-pounds plus, she’s still got another year before she’s fully grown.

 If I get cheaper food, do you suppose I could downsize her?

(Just kidding), but the current economic trend seems to be maximized-downsizing. Whether its corporations or cars, it all amounts to the same thing — (Or does it?)

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Hmmm…..the fat cats have a way of staying fat, yet the little guys lose their jobs; the CEO’s figure out how to get a bigger bone (I mean bonus).

You can bet they’re eating steak (not Eukanuba).

Oops — I’m confusing the issue (back to pets).
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I’ve always been a dog person (but cats, although they act a bit like drag-queens, are cool too). It’s nice to come home to someone that is actually excited to see you, so why not spend the extra money for that special food, right?

One of the interesting things about this trend is what the senior citizens spend to indulge their animals. Plenty of these folks are living on social-security, barely subsisting, but they still spend a fortune on canned gourmet cat and dog foods.

If you were to add up the cost of these foods per pound, most of these folks would see that they’re spending roughly 8 to 10 dollars a pound for the stuff.

I say go for it (as long as you don’t have to survive on Kraft-Macaroni and PB&J sandwiches), otherwise, you might want to switch to a cheaper alternative.

The main-idea to all of this is really that I ponder what sorts of impacts items such as the food labeling laws will have on free-market foods & dairy.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26890660/

There is always someone looking for a means to cheapen a product or necessity but frankly, it is absurd to think that we should do this to any extent; regardless whether dog-food or people-food.

I hope the trend stays only with the flux and doesn’t position itself as a standard-practice in the market. I hope that a few companies come along and do the right thing by helping to straighten the moralistic and ethical standards to food production & distribution.

For everyone’s sake; dog or human +

I just learned that Paul Newman died; I had to stop for a moment and mourn his passing. He was not only a great actor, he was a gentleman, and in Tinsel town, that says something. I believe that the world was a better place with him in it, so cheers to Mr. Newman — he will be missed.

The fiscal, irresponsibility of big businesses, is very out of control. First Enron, now the banking crisis and it seems; as if, many American’s, support the government bailout?

I don’t believe doing this sends the right message to corporate-entities; all it really does is pat corporations on the back for being monetarily-irresponsible. Supporters of the bailout state that our economy will blunder; so badly that, foreign investors will run-out; leading to a serious depression.

The American dollar is already weak against other currencies; so imagine what could happen if the government gives seven-hundred-billion to the companies that began this charade.

Would it be “kiss the American dollar goodbye?” (As many have suggested)

I don’t have the answers, but common sense suggests that we shouldn’t reward irresponsible behavior and then expect change for the better.

What do you think? — Deal or No Deal?

I just watched “Real Time with Bill Maher” on HBO; the upcoming election has proved to be fodder for playing the usual blame game. Democrats versus Republicans…? That “he said, she said”, syndrome; it accomplishes nothing and instead makes everyone look foolish.

Face it, our government is a mess, and it’s pointless to place blame on one party over another. What American’s should be doing is accepting responsibility and then acting…..?

Everyone seems to be missing the point? Maybe this is what got us in the predicaments we’re in, sort of a ‘Modus Operandi’; like an Atomic-bomb exploding in the middle of Washington D.C. — the survivors run around blaming each other for the catastrophe instead of helping each other.

The opportunity to control the fallout is missed and more people die; that’s how I feel about our administration, but it’s not just the past eight years.

It started long ago, in a galaxy far, far, away called, “Vietnam”.

I’m not going to make the mistake of blaming anyone but myself because if, there’s a mushroom cloud on the horizon then we’re all f*cked anyway (in the sense that maybe we’re not doing enough to restore our democratic values).

Okay, not really, but I suppose it’s no wonder that the Soviets are master Vodka producers.

I wonder how they keep all the factory workers sober…can you imagine a bunch of drunken Russians milling around the factory? Touting the days of Gorbachev’s Perestroika?

I worked for “AE Staley” in ‘Decatur Illinois’ one summer. They make grain alcohol there to add to gas, you know, gasohol? Anyway, when they first started, they had a terrible time keeping the factory workers (aka “Us”) from dipping into the white lightening.

In the end, they had to add wood alcohol to the mix (to keep the workers sober).

Nuts, isn’t it?

Do you suppose refining all of that Russian Vodka was just practice for the real show; refining oil into gas?

They are the world’s largest gas producers, and with the price of oil rising, it has made them wealthy.

I have a feeling that the old Soviets of the late 70’s are coming back to haunt our days. Is this latest scrimmage with Georgia simply a prelude to the Soviets reclaiming their superpower status?

Are programs based in reality art? How do we measure artistic integrity in reality TV programming? Should we measure it based on how large the divide is between reality and integrity? I suppose there is art in the human condition, but when viewed through the lenses of reality TV, it’s more like an estranged form of voyeurism. Perhaps we ponder the question of artistic vs. voyeuristic in the name of justifying the programming’s existence? Do we ponder this in the name of understanding Art’s evolution? Or is it just something to wonder more than woe? I think it is both; but of course that depends on who you ask.

Reality TV is a Concept that isn’t new; nor did it arrive by accident – Back in the days of early comedy, comedians took to the streets and interviewed random people; and news anchors took to the streets to get opinions and sometimes, debate. All of these things focused on real people and their reactions.

Now it is a big-budget drama-bonanza with niche specific targets in place. Not just American Idol, but themed reality shows like Survivor, or on a smaller scale, the shows that focus on who will vomit first. Anyway, you can see where the question of artful & un-artful quickly comes to mind. Perhaps a better question is, “Is it right for humanity?”

Some of you may wonder what I mean; I’m mostly talking about the evolution of societal acceptances. I’m not deterring any fan or individual from watching. What I ponder in my latest short-story is the aggressive, destructive nature of such programming on its participants. I think about the subjective edgings surrounding exploitation.

Films, when done well (and even not so well done) – can artfully digress exploitation with entertaining & insightful anecdotes; but we know they are fictional depictions. Because Reality-TV is purported to be factual and uninhibited, we have many individuals that view the medium as voyeuristic and still others who view the programming to feel above and beyond their peers.

Still; what about the people?

“Claire-TV”
A short-story by Mary Margaret Park
http://www.marymargaretpark.com/pdf/mmp_claire-tv.pdf

- Mary Margaret Park (Author & Poet)
admin@mmp-publishing.com
http://www.marymargaretpark.com

The Georgian vs. Russian forces skirmish has been interesting.

It’s sort of like this nominal yet, provocative and charming incident to shed light on how bizarre politics have become. Soon, neighbors in domestic areas may shell their neighbor’s backyards but, like the lockdown happening in Arkansas; it will be considered a necessary stepping on the constitution. By the way, when has that ever been necessary?

People don’t want to believe in globalist affairs but, what does this speak of? Can we simply say that a story where no one knows the actual perpetrator stands?

I guess the true contingency within anything from the Iraq quagmire, to the Iran Nuclear debate, all the way to items like this reviving Cold War rhetoric is, be unclear and get the world behind the non-clarity.

Stay safe and keep reading.

- Mary Margaret Park (Author & Poet)
admin@mmp-publishing.com
http://www.marymargaretpark.com

I met Bob Baker during his “Indie Buzz Bootcamp” this past weekend. I’ve heard a lot of things about Bob over the years and not all of them were good; on the other hand, there are plenty of musicians out there that seem to worship him — so you can bet I was curious to find out what the entire hubbub was about.

Bob is an expert at self promotion and he’s just bumbling enough that he doesn’t seem threatening. He’s self effacing to the point that you just “know” he wouldn’t try to pull something over on you, and he really does seem genuinely interested in helping others.

I don’t think he’s brilliance personified in regard to marketing, but I do think he’s smart enough and hard working enough to be reckoned with; and in that regard, he’s earned my respect.

Bob (Baker) is the sort of man that tells you what works from his experience, and he’s smart because he surrounds himself with people that have answers. True, not any one of these people have all the answers as the music scene reinvents itself, but you can bet that each and everyone of them has something valuable to contribute.

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “Nothing succeeds like success.”

People who are successful, or want to be successful; love being around others that are successful.

Over the weekend, I attended “Bob Baker’s: Indie Buzz Bootcamp” and had the pleasure of meeting Derek Sivers, the founder of CD Baby. He’s quiet, thoughtful, a great listener, and when he does engage in conversation, he contributes something worthwhile.

I was mesmerized by his eyes; you can see the wisdom in those baby blues but in the next moment, they’re likely to flash with twinkling mirth. When he tells about his experiences, he’s often animated and funny (apt to fall into the booming voice of who ever he’s telling about).

Derek has accomplished a great many things but he’s still very approachable. I imagine he’s puzzled at all the attention he gets for being the visionary that started CD Baby, because the truth isn’t nearly as sexy; he simply saw a need and filled it; the rest is history.

What Derek may not realize is that he really is a visionary. His wisdom, creativity, and ability to fly by the seat of his pants are what make him innovative and truly a man ahead of the times. I feel quite certain that we haven’t seen the last of Derek Sivers; I think he’s only just begun.