Welcome to Seattle: the world's greatest place to be homeless. Decent weather, great public transportation, near-water location, and always someone to give a handout. That's right my friends, not a hand up, a handout. If you need a hot meal: covered. Warm bed: done. Reduced fare on public transportation: not a problem.
If, however, you pay taxes (read: supply the homeless with reasons not to work) and need something to be done, it is not looking good. Case in point: the snow that has buried the city and left thousand of people stranded is still here. No plows, no salt, no sand, nothing. Just....nothing. The city has not even acknowledged that they messed up.
One would think that with over 3,000 people stranded in the airport on the day before Christmas, the city would respond to assist those in need. Nothing. Instead, the reason why the planes were grounded was released. They ran out of de-icer. Ran out. Excellent planning fellas, excellent. For the first time in quite some time, I am speechless at the amount of people in high places who dropped the ball. 5 p's: proper planning prevents poor performance. This is unbelievable.
I waited for the bus today for 75 minutes before deciding to drive. During that time, I watched as three busses loaded to capacity drove past me and the other waiting at the bus stop. The snow has made people in this city crazier than they are normally. They are afraid to drive anywhere and rightly so: the streets are covered in snow and ice. With the influx of people in need of public transportation, a smart city would have added transportation options. Not here in snowy Seattle: the city with the most college educated people per capita. Wasted.
Maybe I see things just a bit differently, but as a taxpayer, I expect the bare minimum from my government. Something as simple as plowing a street and spreading salt to prevent icing seem like clockwork as the winter months approach. Don't purchase snow plows? Run out of de-icer? Don't extend public transportation options? Are you new to this whole city management thing?
All the while as the snow falls and busses nearly fall off of overpasses, the homeless of the city are well fed and warm. I wonder how New York, Chicago, and Boston are handling these winter months. Probably a bit better than the wealthiest city in America per capita: Seattle. All those dollars and no sense. Seems like a waste to me, that's all.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Originally original
I find myself in various places in my new city thinking the same thing about people I see: what the hell were you thinking, if you were, when you dressed yourself this morning?
I don't want to step on any toes but...
I appreciate and almost understand a person's desire to be an individual and express who they are to everyone around. Our appearance is always our first impression unless you're a switchboard operator or sex chat fiend. We display ourselves for everyone who we are because we will not have the opportunity to speak to everybody we come in contact with.
But come on people! If you look at how your friends and you dress, and there is no difference: you've succesfully become your own worst enemy: trendy. I'm afraid so, but it's true. You have successfully made the most debilitating of all personal statments: "I'm just like the person next to me, I'm just like somebody else." Ouchtown. Population: you.
Maybe I am oblivious to this occurance in any other social groups, but I notice it most in the "against the grain" group. You know them: black hair, black fishnet stockings, Against All Authority (the band) t-shirts, and really tight pants. The very group who is against establishment is establishing themselves a solid mass of non-individual thinkers. Nice work gang.
I don't want to step on any toes though, I'm just saying.
I don't want to step on any toes but...
I appreciate and almost understand a person's desire to be an individual and express who they are to everyone around. Our appearance is always our first impression unless you're a switchboard operator or sex chat fiend. We display ourselves for everyone who we are because we will not have the opportunity to speak to everybody we come in contact with.
But come on people! If you look at how your friends and you dress, and there is no difference: you've succesfully become your own worst enemy: trendy. I'm afraid so, but it's true. You have successfully made the most debilitating of all personal statments: "I'm just like the person next to me, I'm just like somebody else." Ouchtown. Population: you.
Maybe I am oblivious to this occurance in any other social groups, but I notice it most in the "against the grain" group. You know them: black hair, black fishnet stockings, Against All Authority (the band) t-shirts, and really tight pants. The very group who is against establishment is establishing themselves a solid mass of non-individual thinkers. Nice work gang.
I don't want to step on any toes though, I'm just saying.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Today's Traffic Was Still Shitty
Across the country, people with a variety of sexual proclivities are facing Wednesday December 10th in a multitude of ways. For me, a human only heterosexual, this is just another beautiful Wednesday in Southern California. My work week is half way over and the weekend is on the horizon. The rapidly fading possible days for Christmas shopping for my wife and daughter seem to be the only thing weighing on my mind. On second thought, I am also mildly concerned of the fact that I work in the construction industry in Southern California and it currently seems like the world hates construction. Really the only industry worse off is the Big 3 domestic car manufacturers, which need to be complained about by us soon, and they are in some seriously deep s.
Homosexuals in particular are calling December 10th “A Day without a Gay”. A day where homosexuals are encouraged to not show up for work, essentially “calling in gay”, in an attempt to recreate the effects of the film “A Day without a Mexican”.
One of the driving factors for the aforementioned day is Proposition 8, recently passed in California, which prohibits same sex marriages. Personally I believe Prop 8 is unconstitutional as it blatantly restricts the rights of American citizens in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Moreover, it mettles in the divisional relationship between church and state (which I think should be kept at the very least plutonic, if not separate).
Now a little history to show where I am coming from.
Currently I am in my first year of an MBA graduate program. By all accounts it has been a challenging and rewarding process that I have truly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone considering it. While this program offers numerous opportunities to expand the knowledge and business acumen of each of its students, it would appear that it comes at somewhat of a price. I chose this particular program specifically for its accreditation and flexibility, all while knowing in full that the University held religious affiliations. While I consider myself a person of faith, unless I am studying theology or attending seminary, I do not think literal biblical based religion belongs in classes like Business Law and Statistical Business Modeling, yet the instructors have found a way to do it.
Back to complaining.
Recently I had lunch with some of my graduate school classmates, who by the way hold a wide spectrum of beliefs none of which seem to align with mine (which if this blog shows any signs of tenured life will inevitably be the source for many topics in the future). After the obligatory “I can’t believe our instructor said this” or “the lady who sits next to me is a whack job”, the conversation eventually worked it way to how each of us voted for Prop 8. Their consensus argument was that the ban on gay marriage was necessary because the state had no right to tell them and/or their churches how or whom they could chose to marry.
Naturally, in an attempt to mildly antagonize and hopefully inspire them to think more about their decision, I attempted to repeat their point to them.
“What you are saying is that the state has no right to step in and tell you or your church what you can and cannot do when it comes to marriage?”
“Yes”, was their reply.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes”, again.
“Then how can you expect the state to step in and tell how someone else can and cannot do with marriage?”
If I could somehow measure the speed in which the subject was changed I think we may have a new land speed record.
The right of free speech is not your right to say whatever you want. The right of free speech is the right for someone else to say whatever it is they want, regardless whether or not you agree. The same rule applies to each of our fundamental rights.
What do you think?
Homosexuals in particular are calling December 10th “A Day without a Gay”. A day where homosexuals are encouraged to not show up for work, essentially “calling in gay”, in an attempt to recreate the effects of the film “A Day without a Mexican”.
One of the driving factors for the aforementioned day is Proposition 8, recently passed in California, which prohibits same sex marriages. Personally I believe Prop 8 is unconstitutional as it blatantly restricts the rights of American citizens in their pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness. Moreover, it mettles in the divisional relationship between church and state (which I think should be kept at the very least plutonic, if not separate).
Now a little history to show where I am coming from.
Currently I am in my first year of an MBA graduate program. By all accounts it has been a challenging and rewarding process that I have truly enjoyed and would recommend to anyone considering it. While this program offers numerous opportunities to expand the knowledge and business acumen of each of its students, it would appear that it comes at somewhat of a price. I chose this particular program specifically for its accreditation and flexibility, all while knowing in full that the University held religious affiliations. While I consider myself a person of faith, unless I am studying theology or attending seminary, I do not think literal biblical based religion belongs in classes like Business Law and Statistical Business Modeling, yet the instructors have found a way to do it.
Back to complaining.
Recently I had lunch with some of my graduate school classmates, who by the way hold a wide spectrum of beliefs none of which seem to align with mine (which if this blog shows any signs of tenured life will inevitably be the source for many topics in the future). After the obligatory “I can’t believe our instructor said this” or “the lady who sits next to me is a whack job”, the conversation eventually worked it way to how each of us voted for Prop 8. Their consensus argument was that the ban on gay marriage was necessary because the state had no right to tell them and/or their churches how or whom they could chose to marry.
Naturally, in an attempt to mildly antagonize and hopefully inspire them to think more about their decision, I attempted to repeat their point to them.
“What you are saying is that the state has no right to step in and tell you or your church what you can and cannot do when it comes to marriage?”
“Yes”, was their reply.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes”, again.
“Then how can you expect the state to step in and tell how someone else can and cannot do with marriage?”
If I could somehow measure the speed in which the subject was changed I think we may have a new land speed record.
The right of free speech is not your right to say whatever you want. The right of free speech is the right for someone else to say whatever it is they want, regardless whether or not you agree. The same rule applies to each of our fundamental rights.
What do you think?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
I hate to say I told you so...
My brother and I have had several little arguements over the years, most of them based on opinion, and having very little to do with being right or wrong, just wanting to argue for the sake of arguing. The following link, however, provides undeniable evidence that I was right about at least one of them. The actual event happened when I was in middle school, but the "discussion" did not happen until many years later. The prompt: How many United States Presidents have been impeached? Not removed from office (as they are two very different things), but impeached. Enjoy reading this one... I did.
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/impeach.html
http://www.infoplease.com/spot/impeach.html
Here we go...
I, on the other hand, have never known life without a sibling. My first 24 years of life have been the most recent 24 of his. To even title this experiment as a "dichotomy" seems very complimentary to me. He still owes me for a CD burner that he stole 11 years ago, but I am trying everyday to forgive him...not there yet. This, as mentioned before, is an experiement. Truly a long shot at the always desired but never received glory that the both of us think we are destined for. Maybe this is the first of many opportunities that we'll have at greatness: a suit in an office will realize the true star power and genuine comedic talents and potential lucrative windfall of the Brothers Bray, a producer or philanthropist will stumble upon our experiment and recognize the hidden gem beneath, a long lost friend who we'll reconnect with through the underestimated power of the WWW, or it will simply serve as a constant reminder that as long as there have been siblings, there have been sibling rivalries and that the best humor is when you don't try to be funny. Or we'll fail miserably and have to think of something else. Either way, buckle up, it's going to be one helluva ride.
The Bray Dichotomy Genesis
I have had the esteemed privilege of having a little brother in my life for the past 24 years. I have little recollection, but for the 4 years prior his arrival I can only imagine my microcosm was filled with unilateral attention, bountiful Christmas gift receiving, minimal dissention of my opinions, and unyielding praise for my various preschool artistic ventures. While this is a spectacular time in any temporarily only-child’s life, it was lacking what every American middle class adult male with nothing to complain about truly wants…something to complain about and someone to argue with about all the things completely outside of the realm of their control.
Thus, we have created the Bray Dichotomy. A place where people from all backgrounds, positions, and beliefs can read what we think and speak their minds about it. Come to think of it, we are essentially providing the same usefulness as the Internet, but funnier.
The Bray Dichotomy will attempt to show that two brothers from the same socioeconomic and religious background, can hold, maintain, and project polarizing opinions about life, politics, and sports, and do so through the use of prose and a serious attempt at humor.
Enjoy.
Thus, we have created the Bray Dichotomy. A place where people from all backgrounds, positions, and beliefs can read what we think and speak their minds about it. Come to think of it, we are essentially providing the same usefulness as the Internet, but funnier.
The Bray Dichotomy will attempt to show that two brothers from the same socioeconomic and religious background, can hold, maintain, and project polarizing opinions about life, politics, and sports, and do so through the use of prose and a serious attempt at humor.
Enjoy.
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