epiphanatic » 2003» March

Posted on 03.27.03 by jstoner @ 2:37 pm

The Ethical Traveler–I’ve been having thoughts on this exact subject for a while. Travel as international relations, presenting your own unique American face, unmediated. If I had a job or some money, I’d probably start planning a trip.

U.S. House Resolution 153–calling for a national day of prayer and fasting in this time of conflict. Warning: lots of strong Christian language, for those of you with issues about Christianity.

I like the spirit of the idea. This is the paragraph that got me:

Whereas, on March 30, 1863, in the midst of the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln, at the bequest of the Senate, and himself recognizing the need of the Nation to humble itself before God in repentance for its national sins, proclaimed a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation;

This is an unusual use of the word “humiliation.” From Webster’s (via dictionary.com):

humiliation

\Hu*mil`i*a”tion\, n. [L. humiliatio: cf. F. humiliation.] 1. The act of humiliating or humbling; abasement of pride; mortification. –Bp. Hopkins.

…

Source: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

So, humiliation as instilling humility. Sounds like something we could use around here. Seems to me like a proper attitude for a nation at war, whatever your religion. Or your opinion about the war, for that matter.

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They wage war because they are so inept at waging peace

Posted on 03.24.03 by jstoner @ 10:46 pm

I suspect we would have to go to war with Iraq at some point. Now is not the time. It only looks like it is the time because we started the credibility clock: when you start banging the drum about the credibility of sanctions and the UN, you force the action forward, whether or not the time is right.

We have paid enormously in international credibility and goodwill. The diplomatic ineptitude of this administration will cost us for decades to come. We will pay in allied relationships, in moral authority, and most importantly in the safety of our people. It may very well be the beginning of the end of the American era.

The Iraqi regime is terrible. Saddam is a murderous sociopath, living a sociopath’s dream. but there are others who are also terrible, at least one of whom has acquired nuclear weapons.

I could write a litany of second-guesses. The Bush administration should have stayed involved in the Israeli-Palestinean confict, and participated in a more even-handed way. They should have–and still should–sustain better focus on Afghanistan. I mean, “We forgot to put it in the budget?” Come on. I could go on.

What matters right now is that the Americans finish their business in Iraq as quickly as possible, and with minimum pain. It matters that the aftermath is handled under international auspices.

I saw Thomas Friedman talk about the aftermath prospects on Jim Lehrer’s show. He said words to the effect that “This could be a very good move, if we handle it right.” I don’t think the Bush administration has handled it right so far. I don’t think there’s evidence that they will do so in the future. I dread the next several years.

And I’m very clear that we have to replace the Bush administration in 2004. Just or not, his election was an historic mistake, and must be corrected.

Filed under: politics--global
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peeve of the moment

Posted on 03.21.03 by jstoner @ 12:47 pm

Embedded: what are you, a tick? I thought these people had degrees in English.

And yes, I have strong feelings about everything else going on in Iraq. I’ll say more when I have time and my head is clear.

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the science of unemployment

Posted on 03.17.03 by jstoner @ 7:25 pm

I’ve been out of work for most of a year. Actually, most of a year and four months. Things are getting pretty thin.

I talked to my buddy Todd this weekend, hanging out at his new restaurant. Todd’s an old hand contractor, he’s dealt with all kinds of situations, and he knows a whole lot more about that end of the IT world than I do. He says to me, “These recruiters, they don’t really care what you can do, they care about the money. Find some short-term gigs on Dice, see if you can make a deal.” This was a new angle to me; I’d always fretted over my skill profile, and just hoped to watch my income naturally increase.

Then I remembered an article I’d read recently in FAST COMPANY about pricing, and how companies establish and manage prices. Apparently it’s a new idea to use the scientific method to determine what the market will bear.

So, today I went to Dice, picked out nine contract positions, gave them the old “Ordinarily, a developer like me would cost $x/hour, but you, my very special body shop, you get the low low price of $y/hour. Act now!” And I gave three of them the highest price, four a middle price, and two a lower price.

Imagine, finding useful advice in one of these schmancy business rags. We’ll see how it goes.

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political love

Posted on 03.13.03 by jstoner @ 1:58 am

Author Chris Hedges, of the book War is a Force That Gives Us Meaning was inteviewed in a recent edition of NOW with Bill Moyers.. This exchange occured:

MOYERS: How do you explain the phenomenon that while we venerate and mourn our own dead from say 9-11, we’re curiously indifferent about those we’re about to kill.

HEDGES: Because we dehumanize the Other. We fail to recognize the divinity of all human life. We— our own victims are the only victims that hold worth. The victims of the Other are sort of the regrettable cost of war. There is such a moral dichotomy in war…

I found myself agreeing, but strangely unsatisfied. It took a few minutes to figure out why.

Dehumanization is only half the story. Yes, it goes on even now, subtler than our “Get the Japs” posters of WW II. But humanization is work, too.

It’s not entirely natural for most people to “recognize the divinity” of every human being. It takes some work for us, or some event. I think the impact of 9/11 was so global because it was a massively visual event, and it happened where there were many people with cameras in the street.

There are other ways to cultivate “recognition of divinity of all human life.” I think the simplest is to dwell on it. To practice political love for everyone. Not neccesarily a sentimental or romantic love, but the simple decency called forth by the divinity of those around you. Practice political love, and continually expand the circle of those you give it to. Question your reasons for not giving it.

Filed under: spirit
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First article. aaack.

Posted on 03.07.03 by jstoner @ 2:02 am

Aaack… I’ve resisted this for too damn long.

This blog is the source of great apprehension for me. I’ve wanted to start one for a long time, and now it’s here.

You know those moments when all of your long-remembered brilliance and pungent wit just abandons you, the moment your boss asks for a new idea, or a cutie of your preferred sex walks into the room? This is one of those moments. Aaack.

Of course I knew it was coming. So I got scared, and got into action, but in a weak and meandering way, and built it up in my mind into this monstrous ordeal.

Well, now it’s time for me to go make an ass of myself in a public place, and to continue to do so until I stop being an ass. I suppose you can ignore this for now.

I promise not to fill this blog with self-absorbed crap. Though I suppose I’ll have my weak moments.

Aaack.

Filed under: life
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