This is what Gatz has to say:
I went to the Da Young Museum in San Francisco last Thursday (8/19/10) to see the 100 pieces of the Impressionists. Now this show is not like any other art showing in America this year or any year. All these pieces come from the Musee D'Orsay in Paris. (In case you don't know the Musee D'Orsay is second only to the Louvre in fame) They are on loan from the Musee D'Orsay only because that museum is undergoing renovations this summer. Normally, you would have to fly to Paris to see these famous works.
The museum was packed (as you would expect) especially so because it's near the end of summer and the show closes September 6th. When my appointed time came I went in and was fully surrounded by art lovers mulling over the Manet's, Monet's, Sisley's, Caillebot's etc. However, in the midst of all the claustrophobic ton of people I noticed something disturbing.....90% of all the people there were over the age of 45. Most were my age or older. I looked and looked but could find NO younger people there. Only a handful and they were kids or early teens with their parents. Not one person.....I mean literally not one person 18-30 was seeing the show or waiting in line. HEY.....WHAT"S GOING ON HERE?
I also went to the Toulouse Latrec show in San Diego about 2 1/2 weeks ago and it was the same exact thing. All older people, no twenty or thirty somethings.
This bothers me alot. Has a cultural gap been growing and I am just now noticing it? Do young people not care about art and culture? Have young people concluded that art is their facebook page, their twitter accounts, their e-mail and texting? Why wouldn't art, music, dance be important? I will say this, when I went to the Metropolitan Opera last December there were twenty somethings and thiry somethings in the crowd. But something is definitely wrong here overall. I'm worried, I drove 500 miles to see this art show that lasted 1 1/2 hours and not a single twenty or thirty something person from SF (or anywhere) was there.
I truely hope we aren't headed to (or God forbid already in) a cultural wasteland where Van Gogh has been replaced by You Tube.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Suicide Prevention is Every Person's Job
This is what Gatz has to say:
Mike Moldeven spent the better part of 30 years delveloping suicide prevention programs for the U.S. Military. He manned a suicide prevention hot line many times and still to this day writes on several websites. Here are some of his recent ideas:
ITEM 1 SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE
During the 'Open Government Dialogue In June 2009 I submitted an item,
'Suicide Prevention in All Federal Departments', (url and text as
follows)
http://opengov.ideascale.com/a/dtd/4360-4049
Department of Defense components have created 'suicide prevention'
programs and trained their military and civilian personnel to be alert
and responsive to the needs of their organizations and circumstances.
The DOD programs lend themselves to being adapted throughout all
Federal Departments and Agencies. When the Federal Government (as an
employer) adopts 'suicide prevention' as an essential element in the
health and well-being of its employees then similar concepts and
practices will have a better chance in the private sector.
I suggest a top down policy to all federal departments that will
encourage suicide prevention 'gatekeeper' training for federal
employees in supervisory positions, who hear and investigate employee
complaints, interact with survivors of suicide (military and
civilian), and others that have duties in law enforcement, security,
mental health, supervising conduct of prisoners, and otherwise
relevant positions.
Why Is This Idea Important?
'The nation is experiencing extraordinary stresses that adversely
influence people in all walks of life. The number of calls to suicide
prevention 'hotlines' has increased. Employers have a role in dealing
with suicidal conduct, ideation, and attempts. Police officers and
hospital staff often see successful suicides. Understanding the
phenomenon and how to interact with a suicidal person, including
getting him or her to professional help ASAP is vital. Suicide
prevention is everybody's business.'
The 'dialogue' invited comments from the public, and included a
graphic to vote the idea 'up' or 'down.' The idea that I
submitted was rejected; generally, the public comments were off-topic, to
put it mildly.
IMO, the 'idea' that I submitted a year ago is as valid today as it
was when I first wrote it. The rate of suicides and attempted suicides
among both the military and civilian populations of the United States
has not abated, generally; to the contrary.
Searching the Internet, I came across the following item. It's for and
about all of us. How can it be built upon --- constructively?
Mike Moldeven spent the better part of 30 years delveloping suicide prevention programs for the U.S. Military. He manned a suicide prevention hot line many times and still to this day writes on several websites. Here are some of his recent ideas:
ITEM 1 SUICIDE PREVENTION IN THE WORKPLACE
During the 'Open Government Dialogue In June 2009 I submitted an item,
'Suicide Prevention in All Federal Departments', (url and text as
follows)
http://opengov.ideascale.com/a/dtd/4360-4049
Department of Defense components have created 'suicide prevention'
programs and trained their military and civilian personnel to be alert
and responsive to the needs of their organizations and circumstances.
The DOD programs lend themselves to being adapted throughout all
Federal Departments and Agencies. When the Federal Government (as an
employer) adopts 'suicide prevention' as an essential element in the
health and well-being of its employees then similar concepts and
practices will have a better chance in the private sector.
I suggest a top down policy to all federal departments that will
encourage suicide prevention 'gatekeeper' training for federal
employees in supervisory positions, who hear and investigate employee
complaints, interact with survivors of suicide (military and
civilian), and others that have duties in law enforcement, security,
mental health, supervising conduct of prisoners, and otherwise
relevant positions.
Why Is This Idea Important?
'The nation is experiencing extraordinary stresses that adversely
influence people in all walks of life. The number of calls to suicide
prevention 'hotlines' has increased. Employers have a role in dealing
with suicidal conduct, ideation, and attempts. Police officers and
hospital staff often see successful suicides. Understanding the
phenomenon and how to interact with a suicidal person, including
getting him or her to professional help ASAP is vital. Suicide
prevention is everybody's business.'
The 'dialogue' invited comments from the public, and included a
graphic to vote the idea 'up' or 'down.' The idea that I
submitted was rejected; generally, the public comments were off-topic, to
put it mildly.
IMO, the 'idea' that I submitted a year ago is as valid today as it
was when I first wrote it. The rate of suicides and attempted suicides
among both the military and civilian populations of the United States
has not abated, generally; to the contrary.
Searching the Internet, I came across the following item. It's for and
about all of us. How can it be built upon --- constructively?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
"Random Wish List"
This is what Gatz has to say:
I have been in a wish mode lately. Wishing losing weight were easier, wishing pasta was like a vegetable and wishing money were no object. However everyone wishes things like this. What wishes would I have on a larger scale that affected more people and maybe improved our society. Here is my "random wish list":
1. I wish more americans were smarter. I swear the average american is dumber than dirt. I know not literally but for Pete's sake they vote for presidents because the person is " the kind of guy you'd like to have a bar-b-que with" or they "like the color of their tie" or they promise things like change, transparency and just seem as honest as "aw shucks" my grandpa. Americans fall for dubious psychological advertising, annoint cronies like Dr. Phil, or Tony Robbins or Oprah as the sages of the century. These are clowns whose message isn't any more profound than mine or yours. Please american citizens get smarter before it's too late.
2. I wish sports had integrity. Did you see that ESPN show where Lebron chooses which city he will play in. The gall of ESPN to think anyone would watch such silliness but oh yeah...they did. There is cheating, doping, steroids, tainted records, and how about all the parent obsessive involvement in their kids "sports careers". The fact that a kid has a "sports career" is insanity to begin with. How about every kid is an all star, every kid gets a trophy, every kid believes they are the one going to the big pro contract but oh yes only 1% do. Parents fight with each other, have killed each other over their stupid 7 year olds game. Do me a favor look up the name Todd Marinovich who is the poster child for what is wrong with sports in America today. I love sports, but sports like years past.
3. I wish TV news reported the news instead of creating it. The fact that FOX news is labled conservative or liberal and so is CNN and CNBC and so forth is wrong to begin with. News stations once reported the news but apparently that is no longer enough. They create news now with how they slant stories, take facts out of context, and in some cases completely manufacture the story. William Randolph Hearst pioneered "yellow" journalism (sensational journalism) with no integrity at all. That was in the 1930's, I thought we had come a long way from that. Wasn't Walter Cronkite, CBS news anchor of (1960-70's) voted the most trusted man in America? We did so well those years and now we are back to bull shit, worthless yellow journalism.
4. I wish Americans were sincere when they say "educating our kids is one of our most important values". NO IT"S NOT! It's one of the weakest values. How do I know this? Because you put your money where your mouth is and education in this country is literally starving from lack of funds. States can't keep schools open, buy new text books or keep teachers. It is critical right now and has been more than once in this country. Whenever there are cuts to be made in a budget, the first place they go is schools. Do parents cry out? NO! They let it happen. California is 49th out of all states in the amount of money supplied to schools. If it were really a priority we would insist on stopping our stupid wars and put that money into schools. We don't, never have and never will.
5. I wish this country would go back to sound financial principles. Greed, and making money are the only criteria guiding people individually and in corporate America. Why else would we hire people here illegally and pay under the table, why else would we out source jobs and have Americans without work, why else would we give up our preeminent position as producers of the world in favor of being mostly consumers? We have gotten away from all the basic fundamentals of finance that was designed to keep our country strong, in favor of selling out the country for profit. I hope every corporate raider, or golden parashoot executive gets the karma coming to them. We have to stop this financial suicide.
That's is my 2010 wish list for this country and for the people in it. What is it you wish for?
I have been in a wish mode lately. Wishing losing weight were easier, wishing pasta was like a vegetable and wishing money were no object. However everyone wishes things like this. What wishes would I have on a larger scale that affected more people and maybe improved our society. Here is my "random wish list":
1. I wish more americans were smarter. I swear the average american is dumber than dirt. I know not literally but for Pete's sake they vote for presidents because the person is " the kind of guy you'd like to have a bar-b-que with" or they "like the color of their tie" or they promise things like change, transparency and just seem as honest as "aw shucks" my grandpa. Americans fall for dubious psychological advertising, annoint cronies like Dr. Phil, or Tony Robbins or Oprah as the sages of the century. These are clowns whose message isn't any more profound than mine or yours. Please american citizens get smarter before it's too late.
2. I wish sports had integrity. Did you see that ESPN show where Lebron chooses which city he will play in. The gall of ESPN to think anyone would watch such silliness but oh yeah...they did. There is cheating, doping, steroids, tainted records, and how about all the parent obsessive involvement in their kids "sports careers". The fact that a kid has a "sports career" is insanity to begin with. How about every kid is an all star, every kid gets a trophy, every kid believes they are the one going to the big pro contract but oh yes only 1% do. Parents fight with each other, have killed each other over their stupid 7 year olds game. Do me a favor look up the name Todd Marinovich who is the poster child for what is wrong with sports in America today. I love sports, but sports like years past.
3. I wish TV news reported the news instead of creating it. The fact that FOX news is labled conservative or liberal and so is CNN and CNBC and so forth is wrong to begin with. News stations once reported the news but apparently that is no longer enough. They create news now with how they slant stories, take facts out of context, and in some cases completely manufacture the story. William Randolph Hearst pioneered "yellow" journalism (sensational journalism) with no integrity at all. That was in the 1930's, I thought we had come a long way from that. Wasn't Walter Cronkite, CBS news anchor of (1960-70's) voted the most trusted man in America? We did so well those years and now we are back to bull shit, worthless yellow journalism.
4. I wish Americans were sincere when they say "educating our kids is one of our most important values". NO IT"S NOT! It's one of the weakest values. How do I know this? Because you put your money where your mouth is and education in this country is literally starving from lack of funds. States can't keep schools open, buy new text books or keep teachers. It is critical right now and has been more than once in this country. Whenever there are cuts to be made in a budget, the first place they go is schools. Do parents cry out? NO! They let it happen. California is 49th out of all states in the amount of money supplied to schools. If it were really a priority we would insist on stopping our stupid wars and put that money into schools. We don't, never have and never will.
5. I wish this country would go back to sound financial principles. Greed, and making money are the only criteria guiding people individually and in corporate America. Why else would we hire people here illegally and pay under the table, why else would we out source jobs and have Americans without work, why else would we give up our preeminent position as producers of the world in favor of being mostly consumers? We have gotten away from all the basic fundamentals of finance that was designed to keep our country strong, in favor of selling out the country for profit. I hope every corporate raider, or golden parashoot executive gets the karma coming to them. We have to stop this financial suicide.
That's is my 2010 wish list for this country and for the people in it. What is it you wish for?
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Space Faring by Mike Moldeven
This is what Gatz has to say:
Mike Moldeven has published a futuristic fictional novel on future space tavel and where technology can take us. He has been a student of this subject for years. This is his guest blog on Gatz Sez. Enjoy!
The Shapes of Things to Come
'Space faring,' a term recently added to the world's dictionaries is an
approaching reality and deserves recognition by humankind generally.
'Space faring' is analogous to 'seafaring', defined as: 'the use of the
sea for travel or transportation.' Thus, a simple definition for
'space faring' would be: 'the use of space for travel or
transportation.' The phrase 'space faring nation' appears, however, to
imply much more. It is used to describe societies or nations capable
of building and launching vehicles into Earth orbit. Some use a more
strict criteria, defining space faring nations as those that can build,
launch and return manned space vehicles. Space faring requires space
vehicle assembly and launch facilities, as well as advanced
astronautics, and a program to train astronauts. The problems of life
support must be solved in proportion to the distance traveled. There
has still not been a manned mission outside of the Earth-Moon system.
The ambition of a space venture to Mars and return is persistent and
considered achievable, even inevitable, by many of the world's
scientists and philosophers.
An associated and vital term to 'space faring' is 'space logistics.'
‘Space Logistics:’ is the science of planning and carrying out the
movement of humans and materiel to, from and within space combined
with the ability to maintain human and robotics operations within
space. In its most comprehensive sense, space logistics addresses the
aspects of space operations both on the earth and in space that deal
with:
‘- Design and development, acquisition, storage, movement,
distribution, maintenance, evacuation, and disposition of space
materiel
‘- Movement, evacuation, and hospitalization of people in space
‘- Acquisition or construction, maintenance, operation, and
disposition of facilities on the earth and in space to support human
and robotics space operations
‘- Acquisition or furnishing of services to support human and robotics
space operations.’
Why is 'space' and 'space logistics' literally vital to the destiny of
humankind? Scientists, engineers, philosophers and other experts
speculate on humankind’s future in the light of Planet Earth’s
diminishing reserves of nonrenewable ‘industrial-base’ resources
combined with an increasing threat of significant changes in the
Earth’s climate. Vigorous leaders and their technologies in aerospace
industries and industrialized nations generally are well into
proposing options, including eventual replenishment of our
diminishing, nonrenewable substances from beyond our existing
frontiers in interplanetary space, and, by technical writers, in time
on to the interstellar realm.
I've updated my future history blogs, based on the above, a few times
over the years. The current versions are online in two blogs:
Part One (context) 'Space faring and Resources, a future history' is at:
http://spacefaringandresources.blogspot.com/
Part Two: (a novel) The Interstellar Slingshot Revisited' at:
http://slingshotrevisited.blogspot.com/
Mike Moldeven has published a futuristic fictional novel on future space tavel and where technology can take us. He has been a student of this subject for years. This is his guest blog on Gatz Sez. Enjoy!
The Shapes of Things to Come
'Space faring,' a term recently added to the world's dictionaries is an
approaching reality and deserves recognition by humankind generally.
'Space faring' is analogous to 'seafaring', defined as: 'the use of the
sea for travel or transportation.' Thus, a simple definition for
'space faring' would be: 'the use of space for travel or
transportation.' The phrase 'space faring nation' appears, however, to
imply much more. It is used to describe societies or nations capable
of building and launching vehicles into Earth orbit. Some use a more
strict criteria, defining space faring nations as those that can build,
launch and return manned space vehicles. Space faring requires space
vehicle assembly and launch facilities, as well as advanced
astronautics, and a program to train astronauts. The problems of life
support must be solved in proportion to the distance traveled. There
has still not been a manned mission outside of the Earth-Moon system.
The ambition of a space venture to Mars and return is persistent and
considered achievable, even inevitable, by many of the world's
scientists and philosophers.
An associated and vital term to 'space faring' is 'space logistics.'
‘Space Logistics:’ is the science of planning and carrying out the
movement of humans and materiel to, from and within space combined
with the ability to maintain human and robotics operations within
space. In its most comprehensive sense, space logistics addresses the
aspects of space operations both on the earth and in space that deal
with:
‘- Design and development, acquisition, storage, movement,
distribution, maintenance, evacuation, and disposition of space
materiel
‘- Movement, evacuation, and hospitalization of people in space
‘- Acquisition or construction, maintenance, operation, and
disposition of facilities on the earth and in space to support human
and robotics space operations
‘- Acquisition or furnishing of services to support human and robotics
space operations.’
Why is 'space' and 'space logistics' literally vital to the destiny of
humankind? Scientists, engineers, philosophers and other experts
speculate on humankind’s future in the light of Planet Earth’s
diminishing reserves of nonrenewable ‘industrial-base’ resources
combined with an increasing threat of significant changes in the
Earth’s climate. Vigorous leaders and their technologies in aerospace
industries and industrialized nations generally are well into
proposing options, including eventual replenishment of our
diminishing, nonrenewable substances from beyond our existing
frontiers in interplanetary space, and, by technical writers, in time
on to the interstellar realm.
I've updated my future history blogs, based on the above, a few times
over the years. The current versions are online in two blogs:
Part One (context) 'Space faring and Resources, a future history' is at:
http://spacefaringandresources.blogspot.com/
Part Two: (a novel) The Interstellar Slingshot Revisited' at:
http://slingshotrevisited.blogspot.com/
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