Cowboys and East Indians

I had a chance to see Cowboys and East Indians at DCPA recently.  The premise of the play is an Indian couple who relocate to Wyoming from Toronto after emigrating from Madras.  It relays the challenges of no one willing to rent them a house and their two daughters growing up in cowboy culture and being confused as Native Americans (dot Indians versus feather Indians in the play's vernacular).

The main character is the younger daughter who put off her dreams of graduate school at MIT to nurse her mother was dying of cancer.  The elder daughter has restarted life in New York City.  The father is trying to fit in and accepts the teasing from his boss and others for being different.  The mother is hesitant to try to fit in, but certainly does a better job.  Finally his boss holds a secret that is revealed by the end of the play.

The story of a petroleum engineer in Wyoming along with the open landscapes is something I could relate to.  Of course, I could also relate to growing up Indian in the United States.  The play is based on a book and is well written and entertaining.  The acting and production was very good as well.  My only criticism is that I did not leave feeling entertained.  I would recommend the play to most audiences.

2024 Election

I have put together a brief commentary on the United States elections going back to 2012 with Obama's defeat of Mitt Romney.  Since I have been eligible to vote, I voted for Bill Clinton in 1992, sat out the 1996 and 2000 elections and voted for George Bush in 2004.  Since 2008, I have largely aligned my vote with my wife's staunch Democratic position.

2012 Barack Obama 65M votes, Mitt Romney 61M votes

2016 Hilary Clinton 66M votes, Donald Trump 63M votes

2020 Joe Biden 81M votes, Donald Trump 74M votes

2024 (as of Wednesday) Kamala Harris 66M votes, Donald Trump 72M votes

President Elect Donald J. Trump beat Kamala Harris by sweeping the battle ground states.  He will have a Republican controlled Senate and House.  He has appointed (3) Supreme Court Justices and will potential seat (2) more between now and 2028.

In terms of the popular vote, it certainly appears that Republicans are more energized and are voting.  Democratic voter turnouts have languished and seem to have fallen back to pre-Biden levels.

This was all done despite, the Democratic party raising nearly $1B vs the Republican's paltry $0.4B.  PACs spent $670M supporting Harris vs $190M supporting Trump.

He campaigned on a agenda of fixing immigration, new tariffs, reducing government regulation, improved health care and changing the education system.  While I have strong opinions on these issues, they will not affect my everyday life.  Yes, I will have a tougher time at airports and I will pay a little bit more for cheap foreign goods that will be more expensive.  I am fortunate that my kids will be done with public school soon.  Hopefully I can take care of my health and minimize my dependence on the health care system.  If Trump's policies work, I should have more money in my pocket to spend on things not provided by the government.

With Roe v Wade already overturned, I do not see the judicial docket doing much except to continue to make pro-business decisions and reinforce conservative values.  However, I will likely be surprised.  Reading through a list of past landmark Supreme Court decisions, many individuals may find standing in a sympathetic court.

For all I know this Trump victory, may have headed off a Civil War.  A repeat of January 6 on a nationwide scale would have been hard to stomach.  A roll back of protections for women, minorities and LGBTQ+ individuals may shape their politics for decades.  Trimming the fat on a bloated government may streamline processes and force the question of what environmental protections are necessary and what environmental protections are overreaching.  It is certainly harder to govern than it is to be elected.  Joe Biden learned that and for that matter so did Donald Trump during his first term.  This will give the Democrats a chance to question every decision that the Republican administration makes.

In terms of foreign policy, an isolationist policy will certainly have an impact on geopolitics.  I feel bad for the Palestinians and the Ukrainians.  I also felt bad for Tibet and the Sudanese, but the United States has been retreating from world politics since Vietnam.  If not for the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, it is unlikely that the United States would have gotten involved in Iran, Iraq, Syria or Afghanistan.

The financial markets are certainly enjoying the election of Donald J. Trump with the S&P up 2.12% and the Dow up 3.24% in midday trading.  Those invested in US Markets must know something.  

Casa Bonita

This was our 3rd trip to Casa Bonita.  Our last trip in 2015 confirmed that we did not like the food and it was all around too gross.  This was our first trip since the remodel and I was very impressed.

There is no longer the funky not quite chlorine smell permeating the restaurant.  The floors and surfaces are not sticky.  Entry is still a bit of a production and the price point is high for the food that is served.  It was served quickly and of reasonable quality on the order of a Del Taco or Taco Bell.

Our family tried the Enchiladas, Carnitas, Taco Salad and Chili Relleno.  The carnitas were the favorite dish, the chips and salsa were good.  The sopapillas could stand to have more honey.  Service within the restaurant was great.

In terms of entertainment, we saw the cliff divers, magic show, heard the band, toured Black Bart's cave and took a picture with Cartman.  We walked through the arcade.  We did not do a Tarot card reading, see the puppet show or have a balloon animal made.

Overall it was not an altogether unpleasant experience.  For our family, it was $30 each for lunch that included a soft drink and sopapillas.  Adult beverages or additional desserts would have been extra.  Definitely not a regular dinner destination, but not something to be shunned if family or friends are visiting from out of town.

Extreme Ownership

Part I:  Winning the War Within

Chapter 1: Extreme Ownership

Chapter 2: Not bad teams, only bad leaders

Chapter 3: Believe

Chapter 4: Check the Ego

Part II: The Laws of Combat

Chapter 5: Cover and Move

Chapter 6: Simple

Chapter 7: Prioritize and Execute

Chapter 8: Decentralized Command

Part III: Sustaining Victory

Chapter 9: Plan

Chapter 10: Leading Up and Down

Chapter 11: Decisiveness and Uncertainty

Chapter 12: The Dichotomy of Leadership

I have read quite a few self help books and business books and I have always gained pearls of wisdom.  Extreme Ownership is no different.  Getting the right people on the bus and believing in the mission is important for success.  Working the fundamentals, keeping things simple and doing the next right thing establishes a pattern of winning (Make your bed!).

Planning and leading up and down the chain are skills that I need to work on more.  This book provided a good foundation for me.

US Politics - The Two Party System

The constitution never expected a two party system, yet Democrats and Republicans have dominated US politics since the mid 1800s.  That has provided some stability, but it has also created brand policy.

The current chaos in the US Congress is an important reminder of why diverse points of view are represented in our governing bodies.  That ability to stifle legislation because it is off brand is asinine.  I understand that a political party is best served when it votes as a block, but I do not feel that constituents are always represented.  For example 210 Democrats voting to vacate the Speaker of the House is an ideal example of Representatives voting on brand rather than with constituents.  Bailouts and other policy legislation are good examples as well.

The Freedom Caucus has grown from about 29 members in 2016 to 45 members in 2023.  They represent their districts especially well when the districts believe in far right conservatism.

Based on the success of the Freedom Caucus, a significant third party of even 15-20 Representatives could have an outsized hand in US Policy for decades to come.  They could vote with Democrats or Republicans to create a majority.

The challenge is campaign finance.  Without the primary party financing, it is difficult to be elected.  A reasonable fear is that wealthy individuals could self finance and create an oligarchy.  However, one could argue that corporations and dark money have already created an oligarchy.

Pew Research List of Political Issues - Alphabetically

• Abortion - I favor access to abortion and fewer laws restricting health care procedures
• Climate, Energy & Environment - I am in favor of energy policy which allows extraction of natural resources on Federal lands, spends research dollars on future energy development, access to energy for communities and environmental policy that balances human life over environmental purity
• COVID-19 & Politics - I am against mandatory vaccination policies and closures of public facilities
• Criminal Justice - I am in favor of eliminating mandatory sentencing. The criminal justice system from police officers to district attorneys are harsher on blacks an other minorities than whites, however I do not have a plan to address that
• Death Penalty - I am in favor of the death penalty (unfortunately this contradicts my stance on criminal justice)
• Defense & National Security - I am in favor of a large defense budget.  America first is best achieved with making sure international conflicts are resolved favorably to US interests
• Discrimination & Prejudice - I am against discrimination and want more investigations into discrimination by government, schools and corporations
• Drug Policy - Drugs need to be addressed with education, funding mental health and funding community activities
• Economic Policy - I am in favor of a balanced budget, even if it means a haircut of defense spending and the social safety net.  I accept that debt must be incurred for investment with a positive return such as infrastructure, education and resolving world conflict
• Education - I am in favor of a national curriculum.  Schools that do not meet the national curriculum guidelines should receive less public funding
• International Relations - I believe the US is safer with strong international relations.  The tough part is allowing countries to self govern when aware of human atrocities
• Free Speech & Press - The ownership and incentivization of the press no longer aligns with the intent of free speech and press laws.  Reading "Fall: or, Dodge in Hell", speech and press will be increasingly misleading with the rise of artificial intelligence and targeted news feeds
• Gun Policy - Ownership should be restricted for the mentally ill and violent criminals.  This benchmark should be identified through background checks for all purchases.  The checks can be waived at the discretion of firearms dealers with government oversight
• Health Policy - I am in favor of a two tier policy with basic access to healthcare for all individuals up to age 25.  Healthcare after age 25 will have to be accessed as one pays for other insurance such as homeowners insurance, auto insurance, etc.  I agree in limited subsidies for some medications.  After age 65, I do not support subsidies for life extending medical procedures
• Immigration & Migration - I am in favor of an immigration policy that allows people to escape oppression.  If an asylum seeker cannot support themselves financially, placement is the US should be based on the needs of the local economy.  In effect, the lower the unemployment rate, the more relocation of immigrants and migrants to those communities with temporary work visas.
• LGBT Acceptance - I am in favor of self expression.  I am aware that children are easily influenced and that hate and love are learned behavior.  Those working in the public sector should temper their expectation of self expression when working with children.
• National Conditions - The national condition is increasingly favoring corporations through current nature of campaign finance.  Campaign finance reform and voting rights reform will improve the national condition
• Privacy Rights - Privacy has some bounds.  However, I favor personal privacy in the absence of an imminent threat to public welfare
• Religion & Government - Religion has no place in government or public policy.  Freedom of religion is vital to a strong national condition
• Social Security & Medicare - Reform is required in Social Security and Medicare.  Contributions should be maintained, but benefits should be reduced on a sliding scale and at a progressively increasing age.  Medicare should be aligned with my aforementioned views on healthcare.
• Technology Policy Issues - Technology needs to be regulated when it is misaligned with public welfare.  As individuals behavior is increasingly monetized, there must be some transparency.  Subliminal advertising was introduced in 1957 and there are no laws in the US to prevent them.  Technology will become increasingly sophisticated to the point where reasonable individuals will no longer be able to discern fact from fiction.

The Good Hand, Michael Patrick F. Smith

 

An old friend of mine recommended this book to me as I was one of the few people he knew that actually worked in Oil & Gas in Williston, North Dakota.

The book was a well written, fast read that included some memorable sentiments including the instruction, "Never put your hands anywhere you wouldn't put your dick."  Pinch hazards are everywhere, along with slips, trips and falls.  However the most dangerous thing we do is drive.  The only deadly accident, involving people I worked with, was a rollover accident driving back from location, 2 people dead, 1 person in critical condition and 1 was treated for minor injuries.

By the end of the book, I got the feeling that part of the author's adventure was to establish a context for his childhood and his life choices.  Notwithstanding his early family life, "Magic" Mike certainly conveys a level headedness which is challenged by the folks he meets in the field.

I never got an oilfield nickname that stuck.  However, I did cross paths with folks who spanned the political gamut, were on the misogynistic spectrum, and there was plenty of homoerotic humor.  It was almost like middle school boys were physically transformed to hard working men with very little maturity to show for it.  Despite of all that, I will argue that the oilfield is a balance of meritocracy and who you know.  There are plenty of folks who got ahead despite their mediocrity.  However, a good hand was not held back for race, creed or sexual orientation.  Interestingly creed and sexual orientation were not taboo subjects as there was no topic off limits.

We worked 2 week hitches (14 straight 12+ hour days) with 1 or 2 weeks off.  Over that period of time, you get to know people pretty well and will discuss religion, child rearing, relations with your significant other and anything else you could think of that I never broached in corporate America.  Your views will certainly get you teased, but not judged.  Entering the oilfield for the first time at 46 years of age with greying hair, the constant question I got was "How old are you!?"  You will get teased short/tall, fat/skinny, young/old, bald/long haired, one can continue the list ad infinitum.

Mike worked for a oilfield services company and his experience was exclusively in loading and unloading trucks during rig ups and rig downs.  I worked for an Liberty Oilfield Services.  A company that worked exclusively in Hydraulic Fracturing.  Everybody starts with a green hard hat, which essentially signals that you do not know what you are doing.  It took me nearly 8 months to "graduate" to a red hat and I was very proud to get that red hat.  Most guys would get a red hat in 3 to 6 months.

I had to be taught everything starting with how to move around location safely and how to swing a hammer without hurting myself or anybody else.  To see an expert swing a hammer during rig up rivals watching a professional ballet dancer.  It appears effortless and elegant.  All of the iron is heavy on location.  The 4 inch long iron is a 2 or 3 man lift and all of the iron is connecting by tightening wing nuts with an 8 lb short handle hammer.  The iron needs to withstand 10,000 psi on the line without leaking.

I was hired in Denver and being sent to North Dakota felt like being sent to the moon.  I was not even sure how to pack for a 2 week "business trip."  I was basically told to pack like you would to stay at a hotel.  We stayed at man camps run by Target Logistics.  As an engineer, I had access to a company truck while on hitch.  Some man camps were better than others.  The one in Stanley was incredible, the Judson Lodge in Williston sucked.  One time we were put up at the La Quinta, when we were working in near Dickinson.  There is no way I would have paid $1500 per month for a trailer space, like I heard some folks doing during the early boom days.

By the time I landed in Williston, strip clubs were banned and we never went out for beers.  In fact alcohol and guests were not allowed in the man camps.  Some guys got together, just off the property for parking lot beers, but working the long days and getting fitful sleep on a crappy mattress, does not lend itself to a lot of entertainment time.  I would hit the gym 4-5 days a week.  Usually warming up on the treadmill, doing some calisthenics and some barbell work.  I would also call my family daily, usually driving to or from location depending on whether I was working nights or days.

With room and board included and the long shifts, I did save a lot of money because I never had time to spend it.  If I saw something interesting or just wanted it, I would buy it.  But being established before starting oilfield work, I did not want for anything.  Certainly a kid with a GED and a CDL making $100K+ a year could get carried away buying a nice truck, firearms or other toys.  Most of the guys were working to support their families.

I started in April 2017 with a "five week" hitch in the DJ basin in Colorado.  The five week is essentially frac boot camp for engineers.  Everything on me hurt.  Going from 8's at a desk to 12's of physical work was brutal.  We rotated around location working in sand, chemicals, the blender, walking pumps, gel hydration and pump down.  My first hitch in the Bakken was in May 2017 and I worked 2 and 2 up there, until January 2018.  Then I transferred to back to the DJ basin and worked a 2 and 1 schedule until October 2018.  I completed a breakout project and was promoted and was on track for a career.  However, I felt like I aged 5 years over that 18 months.  I missed my family and quickly realized that I would be having a stint in the oilfield and not a career.

I was laid off after 19 years in data storage at StorageTek, Sun Microsystems and Oracle.  I struggled mentally with being a stay at home Dad, even though I had saved for a rainy day and got a huge severance package.  In 3 months, I sent out 75 applications, attended job fairs and networking events.  I had 2 interviews and 1 offer that came in just after I started training to work in the FedEx warehouse loading trucks part time.  I needed to work and I knew Liberty took a chance on me.  I came to realize later that they never took applications for engineering jobs.  Everybody else was a referral.  I got in because I came across a posting that was required by law to hire H1B workers.  I wanted to prove that I still had another rodeo in me, that I had skills and was willing to work hard and learn.

One of my biggest fears was financial insecurity and I clung to my job in tech about 5 years after I stopped enjoying it, because I was afraid of change.

I was fortunate to have a loving wife.  It is tough to meet people when you disappear for 2 weeks at a time and then have a week or 2 off.  My daughters were 8 and 10 when I started.  I could not have done it when they were younger.

To this day, I miss the hard work, camaraderie, hijinks, authority and trust in the oilfield.

The antics of night shift were always crazy with lots of chatter on the radio.  I still remember walking into the data van for my day shift and seeing the pump operator and quality control supervisor looking like death warmed over.  I guess the guys got Caroline Reaper hot peppers and dared each other to eat them.  After 12 hours, night shift came back a guy short, I guess he had to go to the emergency room.

The cold was brutal.  The coldest weather for me was -35 deg F and -50 deg F with the wind chill.  Idling trucks was the norm and the thought of having to go to the port-o-let was enough to be constantly dehydrated.  I certainly hid out in the data van that rig up.  I got out and helped carry some soft pressure hoses and quickly disappeared again.  On those cold days, the only saving grace was getting your extremities near the rig heaters that were in place just to keep fluid freezing in the well head.

As a memoir, Mike certainly captured the flavor of a boom town.  During my first day of training, one of the old hands warned everybody to bank their money.  Oilfield is a cyclic business.  Booms are followed by busts followed by booms followed by busts.

There were a lot of ex-military in the oilfields.  Guys who were tough and wanted a sense of purpose.  They found one in American Oil on American Soil.

I will also say, that if you can show up and be even remotely teachable, there is a place for you in the oilfield.  I remember overhearing an exchange where the company man explained to a driver where he wanted the dumpster.  After 10 minutes of using every conceivable compass bearing, relative equipment, road and feature on location, they storm out and the company man points exactly where to place the dumpster.  On returning, he loudly proclaimed, that he could always get an oilfield job, because if that dumb fuck can get a job, anybody can.

The oilfield does police its own.  The majority of men are fiercely conservative and while they may talk trash, they would not tolerate violence towards women or children.  You would get your ass kicked and not be welcome back.  If you show up to work hungover, you may get a pass and sleep it off in a truck.  If it happens once too many times, you will get run off.  It is not hard to merciless pick on somebody until they are near suicidal.  Any disputes that cannot be diplomatically resolved could still be taken out behind the water tanks.

Some recommended reading included:

The Moral Case For Fossil Fuels, Alex Epstein - very enlightening, well written

The Rational Optimist, Bill Ridley - interesting, especially in changing times

Don't Tell Mom I Work on the Rigs:  She Thinks I'm a Piano Player in a Whorehouse, Paul Carter - poorly written, but fun read

United States in Chaos

As a Libertarian, I am not too upset by the events that unfolded at the Capitol on January 6, 2021.  I am upset that people were injured.  I am further upset that my tax dollars will be spent to repair the damage to the Capitol.

As I see it, people have the right to protest for change.  I was not opposed to women marching after Trump was elected President.  I was not opposed to citizens of the world marching to oppose police brutality towards Blacks.  I was not opposed to Americans protesting public health orders (although this one felt a little dirty as public health orders protect Medicare and Medicaid that are paid for out of my tax dollars).  Therefore, I should not be opposed to Americans trespassing on the Capitol grounds.

I am constantly impressed by how powerful a speaker President Trump is.  There are very few men and women in history who could stir up a crowd, incite a riot and maintain power.  Joan of Arc led France to Victory over England, but was burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1431.  Adolf Hitler was one such powerful speaker, but the Third Reich ultimately fell in 1945.

President Trump was duly elected with 62.9 million votes in the 2016 election.  His popularity continued its meteoric rise and he captured 74.2 million votes in the 2020 election, although ultimately defeated at the ballot box, in court and in congress.  In both his 2016 and 2020 campaign, he was at a significant disadvantage in terms of political spending.

His legacy includes improved U.S. diplomatic relations with North Korea and Russia.  He cut environmental and tax regulations for businesses.  He shepherded the largest tax overhaul in 3 decades with permanent cuts to corporate profits, investment income, estate tax and more.  52% of Americans have some participation in the stock market.  Only 1 in 700 deaths were subject to the estate tax (basically the ultra wealthy).  Finally he stacked the Federal Courts and the Supreme Court with appointments that were held open by the Republican controlled senate during the last 3 years of President Obama's term.  These are significant wins for his supporters.

While I do not agree with President Trump on policy or personality, I should temper that with the claim that I do not agree with anybody 100% on policy or personality.  New catchphrases were added to the lexicon including "Fake News" and "People are Saying."  Both of these proved to be powerful to his supporters and an anathema to his detractors.

Donald Trump will continue to be a powerful force in global events.  His legacy will likely grow to be as powerful as Karl Marx among revolutionaries who championed the people and created a new theory of government.

Future elections will seek to capture the Trump voting block, similar to how politicians in past elections have sought out Evangelical Christians, Blacks, Latinos, Suburban Housewives and Progressives.  A Trump lobbying group could prove to be more powerful than the NRA.

Similar to the common stickers, "What Would Jesus Do?" individuals will find themselves asking "What Would Trump Do?" as they have found a new Lord and Savior that is current, charismatic and personal to them.

I would like to believe that Democracy will continue to be the guiding principal for the United States.  I would like to see the size of government shrink.  I would love for the two party system to collapse upon itself under the weight of disenfranchised Americans who are being sacrificed as pawns.

2020 First Presidential Debate

I watched the first 45 minutes of the 2020 Presidential Debate.  The first topic was the Supreme Court.  Then the debate kind of shifted to the coronavirus and mask wearing.  It took a brief diversion to college transcripts.  An interesting departure as both men have been out of school for nearly 60 years.  It then kind of drifted to the economy and tax policy.  Around that point, my 11 year old suggested we play rummy and that was wildly more engaging.

From my perspective the playbooks were pretty clear.  President Trump championed his first four years in office (I intentionally state that he was not defending, but actively promoting his accomplishments).  Meanwhile, Vice President Biden attacked the sitting President's record without offering direction for the country.  I think it would be very easy for decided voters to each claim that their candidate won the debate.  I think it would be very easy for undecided voters to be disillusioned with political discourse in the United States.

I have heard the advertisements say that the country will not survive another four years of President Trump.  I have also heard the advertisements that say Vice President Biden is a socialist who will derail the economy, promote a far left socialist agenda and encourage violence and destruction of the suburbs.

I am not naive enough to think that elections do not have consequences.  The Democrats controlled the Senate from 2007-2015.  During that time health care was pushed through and 2 Supreme Court Justices were seated.  The Republicans have controlled the Senate since 2015 and and have pushed through a tax bill and 2 Supreme Court Justices have been seated.  Americans can still keep and bear arms, Roe v Wade has not been overturned, Brown v Board of Education has not been overturned, ...

There is a divide in the United States with the coasts and densely populated areas trending towards the Democratic party and the central states and rural areas trending towards the Republican party.  Only 2 states, Minnesota and Nebraska could be considered split or non-partisan.

The hot button issues of the day are as old as the country itself.  There is a debate over social equality versus traditional social values.  There is a debate between an economic safety net versus deregulation which allows a rising tide to raise all ships.  There is a debate between the United States being a world superpower or isolating itself from the world's woes.

One doomsday scenario is the breakup of the United States.  This does not seem like the end of the world to me.  The borders in Europe have been evolving over the last 100 years.  The Indian Subcontinent divided into India and Pakistan after the British abandoned the colony.  The U.S.S.R broke up during my lifetime.  The Middle East has been a hot mess and will continue to be so for the near future.  

I could see the US breaking up into the NE United States (roughly the Union States at the time of the Civil War).  The SE United States (roughly the Confederacy).  The Republic of Texas.  The Prairie States.  The western United States could band together, but Utah may form its own Republic.  The Native Americans will likely want a swath of the Prairie States.  Hawaii will likely go back to being a Kingdom.  I am not sure what would become of Alaska.  

All of these areas have natural resources and economic opportunities.  All of these areas have belief systems that are fairly unique in terms of social values and economic concerns.  None of these areas would fail to mount a defense, especially if loosely joined together (like NATO).  None of these areas would cry foul if they did not have to pay Federal taxes and argue about how those taxes were redistributed.  

Coming up with 10-15 new flags, might be tough, but if Mississippi can find a way so could the new countries made up of the former United States.

Yes, the economy would suffer, but it would stabilize much as the European Union has.  Yes, some regions would decline as Pakistan has not had the same economic success as India.  Nor has North Korea had the same economic success as South Korea.  Yes, China would be the lone world superpower and have even more influence in world affairs than it does now.

Abraham Lincoln boldly proclaimed that "A house divided against itself cannot stand."  The United States is divided.  The Electoral College versus the Popular Vote has been a media darling for quite some time.  The two party system is an anathema never conceived by the writers of the Constitution.  The conservative and liberal leanings of the Supreme Court is a constant source of agony for those who realize the court is doing the legislating that the legislature cannot.  The cooling saucer that is the Senate now allows the 26 smallest states with only 18% of the population to have 52 of 100 Senate seats.  The compromises that have created our current system of government were the direct results of 13 fiercely independent colonies that wanted to be left alone to farm.

In the words of Thomas Jefferson, "I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical."  If you would prefer a more recent reference, in the words of Clemenza from the 1972 film, The Godfather, "That's all right.  These things gotta happen every five years or so, ten years.  Helps to get rid of the bad blood."

Plaza Suite

My wife and I had the opportunity to attend a preview showing of Plaza Suite, by Neil Simon, performed at the Arvada Center.  The company at the Black Box Theater has always impressed me and the chance to take in a light comedy was not to be missed.

The play was essential 3 acts plus 1 mini-act with all roles be played the same group of 5 actors.  All of the acts take place in Suite 719 of the famed Plaza Hotel in New York with couples at various stages of their lives.  The first act consisted of a couple married over 20 years, with a workaholic husband and supportive wife.  The second act consisted of high school sweethearts reconnecting, despite the woman being married and the man being thrice divorced.  The third act consisted of a married couple that is actually a team working to get their soon to be married daughter out of the bathroom and to the venue.

The dialogue was witty and I would have missed several of the 1968 references if not for the study guide.

President Elect Donald J. Trump

Congratulations to President Elect Donald J. Trump, who just proved that you do not have to be a career politician to make a difference in America.  You don't have to be a mindless follower of the two party system and can have your own opinions.

Trump overcame a significantly under-financed campaign.  Per the Washington Post, Hillary Clinton enjoyed a $1.3 billion war chest compared to Donald Trumps, relatively paltry $0.8 billion war chest, which proves you can't buy your way into the oval office.

I don't agree with much of what Trump campaigned on during the election cycle.  Truth be told, my values are more closely aligned with Libertarian party principles (socially liberal, fiscally conservative).  However, I have been more upset with past government actions that seemed to have been bullied through (Wall Street bailout and penalties for not buying health insurance).

I agree that the world has changed since World War II and that the scales tipping away from a superpower controlled international community is overdue.  As world citizens we still have to be vigilant against human rights atrocities.  However we always start by making sure our own house is in order.

I have also constantly been suspicious of the Electoral College system, but today concede that it works.  While populations were originally driven by slaves counting as 3/5th of a person and the road to the White House being through Virginia, today small population states are not controlled by high population states.

In other election news, I was pleasantly surprised that assisted suicide is no longer criminalized in Colorado.  I was disappointed that money for schools and sidewalks was not approved by voters.

Declaration of Independence

"When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. .."

While I am not a strict Constitutionalist or any other "-ist," the 2016 Election process, from the primaries, to the selection process in the Commission for Presidential Debates, to the smeared hateful portrayals of Americans running for office, it has become clear that our Form of Government has become destructive to the self-evident unalienable Rights which we hold dear.  The absence of term limits in Congress has created an institution more resembling an Aristocracy or Oligarchy than a Democracy.  A Supreme Court conducting judicial activism essentially holds veto power over that Congress.  Citizens United vs the FEC will soon be recognized as the tipping point where foreign entities and corporations, rather than the governed will be determining the outcome of U.S. elections.  It is no different than the U.S. deploying assets abroad to impact the stability of another sovereign nation.  Cyber attacks and Wikileaks are simply the most blatant examples of influence.

If not for a wild period in my youth where I may or may not have been known to make a misogynistic, racial, homophobic or other jokes, may or may not have been known to consume controlled substances, I would consider taking a more active role in Government.

The media driven, sound bite era we live reminds me that future elected officials will more likely be Manchurian candidates, than real people.  They will need to be programmed from birth similar to Japanese Emperors to rule their people without a shred of impropriety.  Candidate's parents, grandparents, siblings, spouse and children will have to be equally above reproach, lest the legitimacy of the kingdom come into question.  Either that or a candidate will have to be selected at random by the hand of God to govern.

While I would like to believe otherwise, the absence of a smooth transition of Government could lead to renewed secessionist fervor and tremendous instability in our United States.

But then again, maybe the sky isn't falling and everything will be hunky dory this time next year.

2016 Second Presidential Debate

I got around to watching the second Presidential Debate and was pleasantly surprised.  Both candidates at least touched on the questions and there was relatively little interrupting.  The moderators seemed more concerned with the 2 minute time cap, that having the discussion flow along intelligently, but what can you do.  I also thought the moderators were very neutral by bringing up disparaging sides of both candidates.  I think this is less important than the issues, but then again, most people vote the way they fill out an NCAA March Madness Bracket.  They have their favorite issues that they piecemeal through to the point where they select their full slate of President, Senator, Congressmen, Judges, Ballot Issues, etc.

I had to look up the Carried Interest Deduction.  At a very high level it allows income generated by hedge funds and distributed to general partners to be taxed at the Capital Gains rate rather than the Personal Income rate, which results in a much lower tax burden (20% versus 39.6%).  I think we need to move to a flat tax and eliminate dependent deductions, mortgage deductions, capital gains rates, etc.

I also had to look up the Kurdish Rebels.  Apparently the Kurds are "Today, they form a distinctive community, united through race, culture and language, even though they have no standard dialect. They also adhere to a number of different religions and creeds, although the majority are Sunni Muslims." per BBC News.  I don't know how the United States needs to be involved in the Middle East, however reading about how the Kurds stick together despite international borders, is endearing to the point that I can see how local militias are respected above a nation state's armed forces.

I did enjoy hearing about the Affordable Health Care Act, Syria and the Islamic State, Russian aggression in the Middle East, Energy Policy and the qualities to be sought in a Supreme Court Justice.

I also was intrigued by the repeated mention of Twitter, Facebook, and Secretary Clinton's fact checking website.  It reminds me that in the digital age that we live in, the Electoral College, two party system, and debates are a pretty archaic way to decide the President of the United States.  It certainly made sense in the 1700's and even the 1800's, but now it is a vestige that we should not carry forward.  Considering the hundreds of millions of dollars of campaign advertising, I would like to see campaign finance reform that would make Citizens United obsolete.

To close on a very aside note, I have to comment on "Locker Room Talk."  I have been in locker rooms as a high school athlete, living in a Fraternity house, and working out in commercial and corporate gyms.  It is generally believed that some immature men (I obviously can't speak to women's locker rooms) in male only settings can exaggerate their experience with women (I never heard exploits of men with other men as the LBGT community is not well represented in my peer group).  For example a kiss goodnight, could be exaggerated to a more physical encounter.  It would also not be unheard of to discuss aspects of a woman's appearance, dress, etc.  Topics such as work, family, politics, could also be discussed.  Expletives could be thrown about in the locker room as well, although that is not appropriate in some company.  The use of expletives or questionable metaphors in many situations including male only situations would be considered sexual harassment and rightly so.  As my peer group has aged, I have not heard any braggadocio in recent years and even expletive use has gone down considerably.  "Yesterday's workout f**king kicked my ass" has been replaced with "Tough workout yesterday, my glutes are pretty sore."  I believe that no locker room has an expectation of privacy and any criminal activity being conducted or discussed would be reported to the authorities.  That would include, but would not be limited to suspicion of sexual assault, tax fraud and illicit sales of performance enhancing drugs.

To maintain the non-partisan nature of this blog, my employer would likely fire me if I deleted e-mails that were under legal hold.  I have no expectation of privacy in any electronic communications whether on an employer server, public server or private server.  I would also not be surprised if I faced legal consequences.

2016 Vice Presidential Debate

I watched the Vice Presidential Debate last night and was very surprised by the exchange.  Elaine Quijano came up with some thoughtful questions.  Unfortunately Governor Mike Pence and Senator Tim Kaine answered very few of them.

Senator Kaine made Secretary Clinton and Mr. Trump seem downright thoughtful.  Similar to my second grader matching questions in one column to answers in another, he seemed to have a canned answer that sometimes fit vaguely, but more often did not.  Governor Pence on the other hand spent more time responding to Senator Kaine's remarks than the moderators.  Both of them seemed more like a couple at marriage counselors office than Vice Presidential candidates.

Given the candidates running, it is certainly easy fodder to look at Mr. Trump whose entire life is in the public eye, but not in public service, and fine snippets that are very unflattering.  The Clinton campaign has to attack here as Mr. Trump has no political record to defend.

Similarly, with Secretary Clinton spending her entire life in public services, it is easy fodder to look at voting records and everything that has happened in the country over the last twenty four plus years and pin it on Secretary Clinton.  The Trump campaign does not need to go about cherry picking words out of context and can stay slightly above the mud.

There is not much to report on from the debate, besides Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-Un, Moammar Gadhafi, Saddam Hussein, nuclear weapons in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, tax returns, private e-mail server, "absolutely false."

However, I will weigh in on the questions asked.

Question 1:

I'd like to start with the topic of presidential leadership. Twenty-eight years ago tomorrow night, Lloyd Bentsen said the vice presidential debate was not about the qualifications for the vice presidency, but about how if tragedy should occur, the vice president has to step in without any margin for error, without time for preparation, to take over the responsibility for the biggest job in the world.

What about your qualities, your skills, and your temperament equip you to step into that role at a moment's notice? Senator Kaine?

TeamGupta:  One of them should have led with experienced in Washington, thoughtful, builds consensus, knowledgeable on foreign affairs, and patience.

Question 2:

Senator Kaine, on the campaign trail, you praised Secretary Clinton's character, including her commitment to public service, yet 60 percent of voters don't think she's trustworthy. Why do so many people distrust her? Is it because they have questions about her e-mails and the Clinton Foundation?

Governor Pence, let me ask you, you have said Donald Trump is, quote, "thoughtful, compassionate, and steady." Yet 67 percent of voters feel he is a risky choice, and 65 percent feel he does not have the right kind of temperament to be president. Why do so many Americans think Mr. Trump is simply too erratic?

TeamGupta:  I wouldn't have touched this either.  With 60% and 65%, opposed to a candidate, the American populace will not embrace either candidate and will instead revamp the makeup of Congress, likely with more independents, Tea Party candidates, and maybe even a Libertarian or Green Party candidate.

Question 3:

According to the nonpartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, neither of your economic plans will reduce the growing $19 trillion gross national debt. In fact, your plans would add even more to it.

Both of you were governors who balanced state budgets. Are you concerned that adding more to the debt could be disastrous for the country. Governor Pence?

TeamGupta:  It would only be disastrous for the country if the US credit rating slipped.  With money cheap, this is a non-issue right now.  Granted the debt to GDP is poor, but given the entitlements, this cannot be fixed.  The only fix is high/hyper inflation which will likely return in the next 10-20 years.

Question 4:

On that point, Governor Pence, recently the New York Times released part of Mr. Trump's 1995 tax return and reported that he could have avoided paying federal income taxes for years. Yesterday, Mr. Trump said he brilliantly used the laws to pay as little tax as legally possible. Does that seem fair to you?

TeamGupta:  Yes it seems fair to me.  I am a strong proponent of a Value Added Tax, National Sales Tax, and/or flat taxes without loopholes, deductions and the like.  Until the laws are changed, special interests will continue to create loopholes and asset bubbles.  Those fortunate enough to have a team of tax attorneys will pay lower taxes.

Question 5:

Senator Kaine, on the issue of Social Security, in 18 years, when the Social Security Trust Funds run out of money, you'll be 76. The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates your benefits could be cut by as much as $7,500 per year. What would your administration do to prevent this cut?

TeamGupta:  Nobody is cutting anything.  Our national debt will merely grow to cover the cost of entitlements and when inflation hits, real purchasing power will decline, but hopefully it will be slow enough that individuals fortunate enough to have non-Social Security savings will be OK.

Question 6:

All right. Let me move on now to the issue of law enforcement and race relations. Law enforcement and race relations. After the Dallas police shooting, Police Chief David Brown said, quote, "We're asking cops to do too much in this country. Every societal failure we put it off on the cops to solve. Not enough mental health funding, not enough drug addiction funding, schools fail, let's give it to the cops."

Do we ask too much of police officers in this country? And how would you specifically address the chief's concerns? Senator Kaine?

TeamGupta:  It is not a question of funding for mental health, drug addiction or schools, it is a question of deploying those funds effectively.  I think mental health and drug addiction should be handled planned parenthood style where somebody can drop in or go to a clinic rather than needing to be absorbed into they system.  If schools were educating kids to get middle income jobs rather than college prep curriculum then schools would not be failing.  Having the law enforcement solving issues is the last ditch resort, but the most visible resort.  Given the breadth of socioeconomic status, nation of origin, religion, political affiliation, race, etc, conflict is inevitable.  I carefully follow all the criminal laws, speed limits, etc.  I don't wear a dark hoody at night, because any encounter with an armed individual (law enforcement or otherwise) places my life at risk.

Question 7:

All right. I want to turn to our next segment now, immigration. Your running mates have both said that undocumented immigrants who have committed violent crimes should be deported. What would you tell the millions of undocumented immigrants who have not committed violent crimes? Governor Pence?

TeamGupta:  I would tell any individuals within the US borders not to worry.  We have so many problems, that funding the immigration and naturalization office is way down on the list of concerns.  As unemployment and crime go up, this may become an issue, so get naturalized while you can.

Question 8:

Gentleman, I'd like to shift now to the threat of terrorism. Do you think the world today is a safer or more dangerous place than it was eight years ago? Has the terrorist threat increased or decreased? Senator Kaine?

TeamGupta:  I think the world is safer than it was 8 years ago as the awareness of the terrorist threat has gone up.  We have gone from not in my back yard to yes, that could happen when I am visiting an elementary school or going to the movies.  I think the military calls it situational awareness.  People are living in fear and make a point of sitting closer to exits and with their backs against walls and often armed, much like the wild, wild west.  I think more people will start to study martial arts and weapons self defense.

Question 9:

Governor Pence, Mr. Trump has proposed extreme vetting of immigrants from parts of the world that export terrorism. But that does not address many of the recent terrorist attacks in the United States, such as the Orlando nightclub massacre and the recent bombings in New York and New Jersey. Those were homegrown, committed by U.S. citizens and legal residents. What specific tools would you use to prevent those kinds of attacks?

TeamGupta:  There are no specific tools to address those terrorist attacks.  Per the motto of the US Special Forces, "The right man in the right place is a devastating weapon."  Right now more of those devastating weapons are terrorists rather than those set to prevent terror.  We have to accept those attacks as the new normal.

Question 10:

I want to turn now to Syria. Two hundred fifty thousand people, 100,000 of them children, are under siege in Aleppo, Syria. Bunker buster bombs, cluster munitions, and incendiary weapons are being dropped on them by Russian and Syrian militaries. Does the U.S. have a responsibility to protect civilians and prevent mass casualties on this scale, Governor Pence?

TeamGupta:  The US would have a responsibility if it were a super power.  Now that responsibility falls on China.  The US protecting civilians in Aleppo, is a similar situation to the World War II or Darfur, the American populace has no appetite to deploy resources and will maintain the isolationist tract until it becomes untenable.

Question 11:

Gentlemen, Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, annexed Crimea, and has provided crucial military support to the Assad regime. What steps, if any, would your administration take to counter these actions? Senator Kaine?

TeamGupta:  There are no actions we can take against Russia's actions without risking a global conflict.  We could take the historical British approach of colonizing all of these places, placing them under our protectorate and take all of the natural resources, or we can sit back and wait until the situation is untenable.

Question 12:

All right, I'd like to ask now about North Korea, Iran and the threat of nuclear weapons. North Korea recently conducted its fifth and most powerful nuclear test.  What specific steps would you take to prevent North Korea from developing a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States? Governor Pence?

Senator Kaine, if you had intelligence that North Korea was about to launch a missile, a nuclear-armed missile capable of reaching the United States, would you take preemptive action?

TeamGupta:  The US has maintained its first strike strategy and that is unlikely to change.  We can't prevent the development of nuclear weapons or prevent nuclear weapons from falling into the wrong hands.

Question 13:

All right. I'd like to turn to our next segment now. And in this, I'd like to focus on social issues. You have both been open about the role that faith has played in your lives. Can you discuss in detail a time when you struggled to balance your personal faith and a public policy position? Senator Kaine?

TeamGupta:  This happens all the time for every individual.  If one is to be a trusted public servant, one has to represent the best interests of the people he or she is serving.  There will be conflict at the local, state and national level, but one must put personal feelings aside when in public service.  It is much more difficult in the two party system as expression of personal feelings on the second amendment, death penalty, abortion, human rights is important to be embraced by either party.

Question 14:

I do have one final question for you both tonight. It has been a divisive campaign. Senator Kaine, if your ticket wins, what specifically are you going to do to unify the country and reassure the people who voted against you?

TeamGupta:  Whoever wins will have to review the make up of Congress before approaching unification of the country.  If the same party controls the Executive and Legislative branches, it will be easy to control the Judicial branch with a Supreme Court nominee and then people will fall in line (be unified).  If the Executive and Legislative branches are split, then we can try to unify again in 4 or 8 years.

First 2016 Presidential Debate

I started to pay attention to politics more seriously during the 2012 election.  This year, I have been on the fringe so far, fed up like many of my fellow Americans with the two party system and the dearth of new ideas.  Overall, I felt like Secretary Clinton did come across as over rehearsed as she waited patiently to give her elevator speech on Mr. Trump's falling short in the past with women and minorities (in both cases she had to go back 20-40 years).  Mr. Trump lived up to his reputation of stirring up his base, but was surprisingly civil in his rebuke of Secretary Clinton's policy decisions as a Senator and as Secretary of State.  He failed to take the cheap shots that have led to the perception of not being "Presidential."

All questions paraphrased

Question 1:  Despite six years of job growth and rising incomes, there is significant income inequality and Americans are living paycheck to paycheck.  How do create jobs that put more money in more pockets?

This was all media rhetoric on more people going to college, equal pay for equal work, fair trade deals and tax incentives for business.

I don't agree that college training in the answer, for many of my fellow Americans, high school was a waste of time, but more trade schools and a stronger manufacturing sector with good wages is an answer.  I agree with equal pay for equal work and improved family leave for your first 3 children.  It is an arbitrary cap but corporations are not in place to provide 6 years of income with no work for families who choose to have 12 children.

Trade deals and tax incentives are linked.  I agree with a consumption tax or value added tax and higher sales tax.  I think corporate tax code and individual tax code needs to be thrown out the window and go back to 3 tax brackets with no deductions, loopholes, etc.  Unfortunately too many tax lawyers would be out of work.  However, a low corporate tax rate and competent workers that can create a business with a positive income statement is the answer.

Question 2:  Tax cuts for the wealthy or tax increase for the wealthy

Invoking Reagan and "trumped up" trickle down economics was pretty ridiculous.  However, the incentive to create domestic jobs being tax breaks on the wealthy was weak also.  Everybody knows the more you make, the more lawyers you should hire and the fewer taxes you should pay.

I go back to a implementing a one page tax code to make things fair and bring transparency to Washington.  Without loopholes and deductions, we will not have bubbles, special interests and lobbyists.

Question 3:  How do you heal the divide on race relations in America?

This was a great question and I think both candidates appealed to their base and got undecided voters thinking.  Secretary Clinton focused on improving communities.  Mr. Trump got going on "Law & Order" and brought up stop and frisk.

My Dad was racially profiled in the 60's and early 70's.  When this young, brown man drove his 1968 Camaro around Philadelphia he was repeatedly stopped, harassed and sent on his way after producing license and registration.

I would hate to live in a stop and frisk world.  I believe there will be more confrontations with law enforcement, but violent crime would eventually go down, as would community relations.

I think income equality goes a long way towards healing the racial divide.  We also need to do more to attract underrepresented races to law enforcement.  Adequately trained neighborhood watches similar to the National Guard could go a long way as well, especially if everyone finishing college had to do a mandatory 2 years.

Question 4:  Securing America against Cyber Attacks.

As a security professional, I was obviously disappointed by the candidates turning it around on state sponsored actors and the general lack of understanding of cyber security.  I did not care for Mr. Trump invoking the image of the 400# man in his basement or poking at what hackers discovered about the Democratic National Committee and Bernie Sanders.

That being said, personal cyber defense should be taught in school the same way public schools used to teach home economics and personal finance.  Companies need to invest in cyber security.  The government can help by establishing security protocols rather than regulation.  I appreciate NIST and the NSA establishing security protocols.  I like the convenience of free wifi.  However, I know the limitation and the public sector, private sector and individuals need to educate themselves on the limitations of current standard practices.  While locked doors will not stop thieves, a welcome sign will not deter them.

Question 5:  Nuclear policy

I thought this question was a red herring.  I was ignorant of the first strike policy.  Per the Wall Street Journal, "The Obama administration will release a new national nuclear-weapons strategy Tuesday that makes only modest changes to U.S. nuclear forces, leaving intact the longstanding U.S. threat to use nuclear weapons first, even against non-nuclear nations."

I agree with leaving all options on the table.  Further I agree that the next nuclear bomb will likely be deployed by actors securing weapons from a failed state.  This is a tough question and I have no answer.

I think either candidate can be trusted with the U.S. nuclear arsenal.

Question 6:  Will you accept the outcome of the election?

Worst question of the debate.  However, I prefer Secretary Clinton's answer of respecting the democratic process.

Let's see how October 4th goes.  I am curious to get to know the Vice Presidential candidates.

Finally I am disappointed that Gary Johnson did not get a voice on the debate stage.  I am not as disappointed by Jill Stein not getting a voice, mostly because I believe her policies are unicorns and rainbows.

Core Knowledge Curriculum

My daughters attend a K-8 charter school near our house.  Being a charter school, the school has a board of directors, on which I have recently considered participating.  To that end, it is required that board members read two books by Ed Hirsch, "Cultural Literacy" and "The Schools we Need."

The books are very well researched and lay the groundwork for why America's K-12 education has fallen as defined by standardized mathematics and reading tests compared to other developed nations.  They trace the major shift in pedagogy (teaching) starting in the 1920's with the Romantic ideal of teaching the student (vs content), learning to learn, more group projects (vs memorizing facts) and less testing.

Several of the criticisms hit home.  I attended public school in Pennsylvania (K-3) and then Tennessee (4-12).  In the absence of a national curriculum, it is likely that I missed some material or doubled up on some material.  I was an average student in Pennsylvania and an above average student in Tennessee.  I also recall how History and other Social Studies courses in Tennessee were downplayed.  Typically one of the athletic coaches would teach the subject and we would get as far as we got, I was rarely exposed to history after World War I.

In going through the list of what every American should know, I was woefully illiterate in terms of world geography, history and culture.  In reading the book, my grasp of vocabulary was challenged and since it was hard copy, I could not just click up on my Kindle to find the definitions.

All parents want better for their children, and I believe a core knowledge curriculum is a step in that direction.  Children are inherently eager to learn.  Class advancement should be a meritocracy versus social promotion (advancing kids to the next grade even if they are not ready).  My kids have had to repeat gymnastics classes multiple times as they do not have the skills to succeed in the next class.  I would hate for them to be held back at school, but I would prefer that to the alternative of being lost in the system.

As an example of being eager to learn, while "snowed in" on Sunday they were playing school complete with writing assignments, reviewing science fair projects, art and even PE.  They both lamented not having a rope to climb (I can't imagine my wife allowing one in the future).

I agree that there should be some universal standard and that ethnic minorities and underprivileged students should be provided extra considerations.  Rather than that be in the form of scaled test results or non-standard examinations, it should be in the form of bringing core knowledge up to the point that they can succeed in school.

For advanced students, I disagree that the job of the school to hold them to a higher standard.  I feel like that should be left to the household.  In Taiwan, kids are divided into advanced and standard curricula.  The advanced kids do much better than the world average and the standard kids are behind the world average. In contrast Japan has the same curriculum for all students and while the mean is higher than the world mean, the highest scores are missing.  America should not be considered as the mean and number of advanced students is well behind both Taiwan and Japan.

A point that hit home for me is that American Colleges and Universities are world class because the failings of K-12 education is not present.  There is no social promotion.  There is rigorous testing and you cannot complete a degree in a given course of study without demonstrating that knowledge.  Finally the teachers are subject matter experts as opposed to be experts at teaching.

Master of None

Over the past week, I have marathon ingested Netflix's original series "Master of None."  I am loosely familiar with Aziz Ansari.  I did not watch "Parks & Recreation" but I have a soft spot for Indian entertainers in America and watched his stand up special "Live at Madison Square Garden."  I definitely enjoy the content of his material, even though his delivery is less often laugh out loud funny.

Although it would be tough for me to recommend "Master of None" to general audiences, I really got a kick out of it.  Over the 10 episodes, there were definitely some laugh out loud moments.  There were also some interesting cultural notes that resonated with me personally, including communicating with parents about dating.

The 10 episodes are all pretty good and the cast of characters are fun and just over the top enough, without jumping the shark.

Plan B
Parents
Hot Ticket
Indians on TV
The Other Man
Nashville
Ladies and Gentlemen
Old People
Mornings
Finale

The writing may not be as clever as that of Seinfeld or Modern Family, but the sitcom is a great achievement from a great face for Indians in America.

Inside Out Movie Review

The family went to see the Pixar feature Inside Out and I really enjoyed it.  I did not know much about the premise, but I knew that there were multiple characters involved based on the ongoing Subway Restaurants promotion.

I discovered the premise is the balance of Riley’s emotional state as determined by the characters Joy, Sadness, Fear, Anger and Disgust.  Per the Wikipedia site, the writers even consulted numerous psychologists.  It is very clever and appealed to my kids as well as my wife and I.  As you see Riley grow up, Joy who is the dominant personality is trying to keep Sadness, Disgust, Fear and Anger at bay.  When Riley’s family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, things start to go haywire.  In addition to the main characters, Riley’s mind also features an imaginary friend, an imaginary boyfriend, workers in the archive memory who are fond of uploading a catchy jingle, and the train of thought.  Dream sequences are pretty fun as well.

In Riley’s mind her personality islands are created by core memories.  The original personality islands include her love of hockey, her goofiness, her sense of right and wrong, the bonds she has with her friends, and the bond she has with her parents.  I even got a little emotional at times thinking about how cute and caring kids can be and how they will be challenged as they grow up.

To take things a step further, I started to look at my own personality.  Unfortunately, I often feel like my mind I controlled more by Fear than by any of the other characters.  My personality islands do offer some overlaps with Riley, such as bonds with family, sense of duty, being silly, and love of physical challenges.

Even if you don’t have kids, wait for it to come out on Netflix and curl up with it on a quiet evening or morning.  It is worth watching.

In Defense of Bobby Jindal

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will be throwing his hat in the ring for President of the United States.  I don’t plan on discussing whether he is qualified or the best candidate or even has a chance, but I would like to discuss some of the criticisms against him.

Piyush to Bobby – Jindal’s parents named him Piyush, but he chooses to go by Bobby (based on a character from the Brady Bunch).  For all I care, he could prefer to be called “Princess Moon Dolphin,” the Native American name my 5 year old came up with.  I have a good friend growing up who prefers Ian (based on the lead singer of Nine Inch Nails) to his birth name.  I have another friend who prefers Tashi (based on his embracing Buddhism).  I have been watching the HBO series, “The Wire,” and most of the corner boys are better known by their nicknames than their given names.  I name is just a name, but I have taken it a step further.  I go by one name with family and another name professionally.

Hinduism to Christianity – Jindal was raised Hindu, but free to explore other religions.  Some people choose not to believe in a higher power at all.  Freedom of religion is what allows individuals to not live under Sharia Law.  He converted to Christianity as a teen and was baptized as Catholic in college.  Good for him.  Whether a person chooses to align with a religion is his business.  I have struggled to introduce my children to religion.  Whether they choose to believe what I believe is their business.  Whether I expose them to belief systems is my business.

Indian Traditions – Family traditions are a great thing.  It would be great if I could recognize more cultural traditions and religious holidays with my family.  I don’t always make the time.  My kids and I can’t speak Hindi.  I am sure there are plenty of immigrants around the world who can no longer speak their mother tongue.  I know plenty of people of German and Italian descent that can no longer speak German or Italian either.

Camo Christmas Card – This thing is awesome.  If you have the opportunity, you should embrace what your community has to offer.  When I moved out to Colorado I had the opportunity to learn how to ski and go hunting for the first time.  I likely would not have had these opportunities growing up in Memphis.  Should all of my Christmas cards, have a backdrop of the muddy Mississippi river?

I do not align with all Republican Conservative values.  I do not align with all Democratic Liberal values. 

I don’t understand much of politics, but I know money is important and you have to chase the dollars.  If you can get the money based on the color of your skin, then get the money.  If you can get the money by aligning with corporations, then get the money.

I also believe you have to represent the interests of those you have been elected to serve.  It has got to be really tough to turn your personal feelings aside and vote or fight for something your constituents want, versus what you actually believe.  It has got to be even tougher if something isn’t good for them.  Governor Hickenlooper has done his best to make marijuana reform work in Colorado.  That is what I expect from my elected officials.

In the United States you have to be Republican or Democrat enough to win your primary, but you can’t be so Republican or Democrat that you alienate the Independents (that 10% of America who really chooses the President).  If our Electoral College system were ever to change, it would be whole new ballgame.

A Month

I just realized that it has been a month since I posted anything.  Part of that is nothing particularly interesting happened (although that could be said about a lot of my blog content).  I had a mediocre 10K on September 20^th.  I had a very chilly dive on September 21^st.  I took a business trip out to Santa Clara, but did not do any training. 

Looking forward, there is nothing particularly interesting on the horizon.  Ski season is still a ways off.  I have not signed up for any fall events.

One thing that has been occupying some mind share is Colorado Amendment 68 which would expand casino gaming to horse tracks which have been suffering financially.  Based on advertising this seems pretty contentious.  Proponents tout the increased tax revenues that will be earmarked for education.  Colorado still ranks 48^th nationally in terms of funding for education.  Opponents stress vice and crime associated with gambling.  While it is hard to determine where the advertising budgets are coming from, I would argue current casino owners are opposing the measure, while horse track owners are supporting the measure.

Similar to the recreational use of marijuana, I see this as a wash.  People who enjoy casino gambling will have more opportunities to play.  Any additional tax revenues and jobs is obviously a good thing.  However, in all likelihood education funding will be cut somewhere else so the schools will not be any better off.

Being somewhat libertarian in nature, I am comfortable with Colorado’s lack of helmet laws, recreational marijuana use, and existing limited gaming.  I would be comfortable if gaming expanded.  I don’t expect to benefit if the amendment passes.  I don’t expect any loss if the amendment fails.