This might be funny if it weren’t so utterly pathetic and disgusting. A recent survey of high school seniors in Oklahoma revealed a startling lack of basic civics knowledge in the state. I mean a real, real lack of knowledge… as in only about 25% of the students polled could name George Washington as the first President of the United States.

In observance of… ahem… Constitution Day, the conservative think tank Strategic Vision, based in Oklahoma City conducted the survey, lifting 10 questions from the actual citizenship exam.

According to the INS, roughly 92% of the immigrants who take this test pass it on their first attempt. In comparison, according to Strategic Vision, less than 3% of the students surveyed passed the exam. 3 freaking percent. Talk about a national embarrassment. These questions should be gimmies by the time you’re a high school senior. These are 10 of the most basic questions about civics that any 8th grader should be able to answer.

Think I’m exaggerating about just how simple these questions are? Take a look for yourself. Here are the actual survey questions and the percentage of Oklahoma high school students that got them right.

What is the supreme law of the land? --- 28%
What do we call the first ten amendments to the Constitution? --- 26%
What are the two parts of the U.S. Congress? --- 27%
How many justices are there on the Supreme Court? --- 10%
Who wrote the Declaration of Independence? --- 14%
What ocean is on the east coast of the United States? --- 61%
What are the two major political parities in the United States? --- 43%
We elect a U.S. Senator for how many years? --- 11%
Who was the first President of the United States? --- 23%
Who is in charge of the Executive Branch? --- 29%

A similar survey of high school students conducted in Arizona recently yielded results equally as abysmal as those in Oklahoma.

Undoubtedly, many people are going to point the finger of blame at the public school system. That just seems to be the default position of many people… among them, conservatives who believe we should be privatizing public education. And while the public school system isn’t without its own share of inefficiencies and ineffectiveness, the results of these surveys imply, at least to me, something far larger and far more disturbing.

How does one get through 12 years of schooling and not be able to name George Washington as this country’s first president? That implies to me, a very willful ignorance and a complete and utter apathy toward this nation’s history and our government. This isn’t just a problem with the public school system… this is a problem that runs much deeper than that. A problem that I believe, begins with the families. In fact, though I do believe that our public school systems have many, many issues, I personally think that a lot of the problems with the education, or lack thereof, that students are receiving today can be addressed through a really radical concept called… get ready… parental involvement. I know, I know… I said it was a crazy and radical idea. However… that is another rant for another day and one I will most assuredly be getting to soon enough.

You might be wondering why I’m making such a big deal or even care about the results of these surveys, right? Well, I personally think that the implications of these surveys are truly frightening. These kids will be voting… they will be helping to decide the future of this country, laws that will impact every single one of us… and yet they know next to nothing about basic civics, about the basic history of this country. I don’t know about you, but that scares the crap out of me. That somebody who doesn’t understand the most basic nuts and bolts of our country’s governmental machinery will be helping to make decisions that will possibly have a far-reaching impact on *my* life… yeah, that terrifies me.

And I don’t know about you, but it strikes me as not just sad and pathetic but also incredibly ironic that Oklahoma and Arizona… two of the reddest of the red states… homes of the chest-thumping, flag-waving uber-patriots who demand honor, reverence and respect for this country’s heritage and history… apparently don’t know a damn thing about this nation’s heritage or history.

I understand that people have the right to be absolutely ignorant in this country. I just wish that so many people didn’t exercise that right with such zeal.

Just wanted to give you all a quick shout to say Happy, Happy Halloween and Samhain Blessings to all of you out there in LJ land! I hope that whatever you're doing, you're being safe and having a fantastic time! So anybody care to share their plans for this most festive eve?

We are having a nice home-cooked dinner followed by some trashy horror flicks. On the docket are some movies I've never heard of... seems that all of the classics had already been rented. Apparently this idea is not a unique one. Shocker that. Among the viewing choices tonight however are Dead Snow... Wrong Turn 3... The Shortcut and Staunton Hill. Mindless brain candy and sure to be trashy but hey, it's Halloween, it's allowed, right?

I hope that everybody is having a wonderful evening whatever you happen to be up to!

Happy Halloween and a Blessed Samhain to you guys!

( A Samhain Poem I Like... )

*** Well, it was a week, wasn't it? Some good, some bad and some WTF? I suppose not every week is going to be all rainbows and sunshine. Nor is every week going to be darkness and chaos. Most things seem to balance themselves out in the end anyway. Balance is a good thing.

*** I'd like to thank my feline for waking me up so I could watch the sunrise. It's only Saturday and sleeping in is far overrated anyway, right? The repeated slappings, walking all over me, standing on my head and meowing directly into my ear is so very much appreciated. Apparently, when the feline is hungry, nothing else matters. Cest le vie... got the coffee started early and had a productive morning.

*** So Michael Vick is coming to Oakland this weekend. Call me sick, but I'm looking forward to seeing what my Bay Area brethren might have in store for the scumbag. The denizens of the Black Hole aren't exactly noted for their hospitality to begin with... and when you couple that with years and years of frustration/rage brought about by a football team that couldn't beat a team from St. Agnes' School for Blind Girls and a villainous figure like Vick... well... this could make for some must see TV indeed.

*** Raise your hand if you're as sick of hearing about balloon boy as I am.

*** I'm having some trouble with the first topic for therealljidol. The topic is "Empty Gestures" and an idea immediately popped into my mind but it's a little... heavy. It's actually a lot heavy. And I didn't really want to write something that was a downer. But I've been trying and trying to come up with something that's a bit lighter and nothing's popping in my head. Oh well... guess I'll just write the only piece that I have in my head and see what comes of it.

*** Speaking of therealljidol, there really are some fantastically talented writers out there. And fast. It seems like 5 minutes after the topic went up, the entries started pouring in. As it stands right now, I think there are over 100 up already. I wish I could work that way... but I don't. I have to work my mind around the topic... and that usually takes a couple of days... before I can even begin to write. But some of these people are so freaking fast! And the quality of some of these entries is really sort of intimidating, quite frankly. But I suppose that's why I signed up in the first place... to push and challenge myself, right? I'd like to give this thing a good, long ride and not get tossed out early. Here's hoping I can do that... so expect me to be whoring myself out hard for votes. I'm gonna need all the help I can get.

*** Went to see Paranormal Activity last night. Aside from periods of motion sickness (think Blair Witch Project) and firewench's account of a heart attack in the theater she had gone to to see the movie, I've heard nothing but good things about this flick. Though strangely, the fact that somebody suffered a heart attack in the theater sort of adds to the mystique in a sick, twisted way doesn't it? Supposed to be very, very scary, creepy... which is something I love in a movie. I was pretty excited to see it. Alas, it seems that all of Long Beach was pretty excited to see it as well since the showings last night were sold out. Bummer. Well, I'm planning on taking another run at it today so we shall see. I really, really, really hope it lives up to the hype! firewench's hubby has raved about it and since he and I have some similar cinematic tastes, I have hope indeed!

*** For the first time EVER I have picked against my beloved Raiders in the weekly football pool. It's never mattered how bad they sucked, I always picked my team as a matter of principle. But after seeing that they couldn't cover a 19 1/2 point spread last week, I just threw my hands up in disgust. If I can't have a decent football team, I want the money dammit. The spread this week is 14 points... and I just don't see them covering it against Philly. So I picked against my team. *sadness* But hey, it's about money at this point since wins look like they'll be few and far between.

*** Let your mind drift back in time... recall those ancient history banks to say... 2 weeks ago when it was announced that Obama had won the Nobel Peace Prize. Remember that? Remember the onslaught of right-wingers lining up to scream about how meaningless the award is and how it really means nothing at all? I remember wondering aloud to a friend of mine how long she thought it would take before those same right-wing trolls began carping about the fact that George W. Bush should have been given the Nobel. Sure enough, here it comes... Here is Sean Hannity saying that Ronald Reagan AND George W. Bush should have won the Nobel Peace Prize. In the case of Regan... well... I tend to think that the death squads he helped fund, train and equip in South America that went on to murder countless thousands as well as trading arms to Iran that were used to kill a lot of folks in Iraq during their war not to mention the overthrow of democratically elected governments that didn't happen to agree with his administration's political point of view might sort of put a damper on the case of a Nobel PEACE Prize. In the case of George W. Bush... wouldn't giving that scumbag a Nobel Peace Prize be kind of like giving a porn star an award for chastity and virtue?



*** And lastly... weather permitting, let's GO HALOS!!! Beat those Wankees! My boys looked horrid last night. Absolutely craptastic. But it's a new day and with it, a new chance to put a smackdown on those Wankees.

*** Hope everybody is having a fantastic weekend!!!

Well, I suppose I've procrastinated about as long as I can... okay well, technically, I could procrastinate a couple more days since the "official" deadline isn't until Wednesday, but better to get it over with sooner I suppose. So here is my official Week 0 submission for therealljidol Season 6...

( Cut For Your Own Protection )

This is my Week 0 entry for Season 6 of therealljidol... "Introduction". If you subjected yourself to it in its entirety, I give you my thanks and my apologies! And if you get the chance, go take a look at some of the other seriously fantastic intros being posted. There are some fantastically talented writers in this here show.

Well Fall has certainly come to Southern California… I can only really tell because it’s not 4 billion degrees anymore and the mere act of thinking doesn’t cause me to break into a sweat. It’s actually been pretty chilly, which suits me just fine. In fact, it makes me one happy boy. Now if we could just get some rain, I’d be bouncing off the walls.

The change in temperatures has not gone unnoticed by the feline companion either. Instead of being a little furry puddle of sweat-soaked fur, he’s suddenly come alive… super-spastically so. He’s found new and creative ways to torment me. I am absolutely positive now that he spends the afternoon while I’m slaving away at work to keep him in kibble drawing out elaborate plans to screw with me. His favorite this past week was to first prevent me from falling asleep for as long as possible and to then wake me up roughly 15 minutes before my alarm went off with claws strategically placed in my mouth, nose and eyes. Every. Day. This. Week. Yeah, tell me that wasn’t planned. And once he’d managed to wake me up, he’d merely give me the “well, since you’re up, get me my breakfast” look. It makes me cringe to think what he’s got in store for me next week.

So in honor of my cat… my longtime furry little friend who had me cranky and seriously considering feline-o-cide last week and who undoubtedly has plans to do more of the same this week, I present to you a list of people that I am officially Wishing to the Cornfields!!!

*** The guy that pulls up to somebody’s house… at 6 am on a Saturday morning and instead of walking the 10 feet to the front door decides to honk the horn to let them know their ride has arrived. And continues to honk forever until their passenger finally decides to come out. Oh what I wouldn’t give for a hand grenade or rocket launcher sometimes.

*** The dude in the office that can’t seem to operate that complex piece of machinery that flushes the toilet. Dude seriously… I’m glad that fiber is quite obviously such an important part of your diet but do we really need to *see* that it is? Nasty.

*** That guy who, while sitting in the parking lot that is the 91 freeway, jumps out of line and races up the shoulder, honking and giving the finger to everybody until he can manage to wedge his way back into traffic. Hey, asshat… it’s because of people driving like YOU that probably caused the accident which is causing us to sit in that nasty traffic snarl in the first place.

*** The space invader in the grocery store that doesn’t seem to understand the concept of “personal space” while standing in the checkout line. I really, really don’t need to feel your breath on my neck and your hand on my ass, dude. Seriously.

*** The co-worker that blows right through that line of tasteful and appropriate topics of conversation in the workplace. I so don’t need to know that your tampons aren’t absorbent enough nor do I *ever* need to hear the phrase “I sprung a leak” fall out of your piehole ever, ever, ever again. Makes the non-toilet flusher seem so much better by comparison.

*** The drunk neighbors who decide that 2 a.m. is a great time for an impromptu karaoke jam-fest. Seriously guys, Extreme’s “More that Words” is a horrible enough song already but when all you’re doing is repeating the first verse and the chorus over and over and over again, it just takes it to a whole new level of suck.

*** The dude walking into 7-11 that lets out a monstrous belch that seems to last half an hour and changes tone several times before he’s done. Yeah, stay classy.

*** The mother who lets her children run free and unfettered through the grocery store, knocking things over, pulling things off of the shelves and even breaking a glass jar of jelly… and then looks at me like I did it. Yeah because with my 10-foot long arms, I reached all the way over there and threw a jar to the ground because I enjoy nothing more than framing 5-year olds. Try a little thing called… parenting.

*** The dude with so much ass-crack hanging out the back of his pants that you could park a bike in it. And if that weren’t disturbing enough in and of itself, it looked like the dude was smuggling Chewbacca in his drawers. One word, man… waxing.

To the Cornfields, all of ‘em!!!

So… anybody ya’ll want to wish to the cornfields? Speak and be heard!

And just to end things on a light note, I offer this clip for your pleasure. It seems that there is are trees in Africa that produce a fruit that when ripened these party animals just can't seem to get enough of... take a peek!



Hope everybody's had a fantastic weekend!!!

So as I knew that the sign-ups for this season of therealljidol had to be closing in on us, I started to get all fired up about it. It's that whole "thriving on competition" thing again. And with the announcement this morning that sign-ups were beginning, I immediately began to waffle. This definitely isn't the same as strapping on the cleats and playing some ball... this is putting your words, a little personal piece of yourself out there to be judged by others. It's definitely infinitely scarier.

I had actually managed to get over that fear when last season's Idol started and jumped into the deep end of the pool. But two weeks in, I realized that I just didn't have enough hours in the day to do everything I needed to do and devote my time to this as well. So unfortunately, after two weeks in the competition last season, I had to pull the plug. Not exactly the glorious ending I'd had in mind when I signed up in the first place.

And now that I have a better handle on my life and my time, I've been looking for a way to fire up those creative engines again. And what better way to fire them up than by... well... firing them up? I don't think I'm going to be able to *think* my way into getting the creative wheels turning again. I've simply just got to *do* it.

And so... for a shot at redemption, at least in my own mind, for having to cap myself last season. ("redemption" meaning actually staying in the game until I'm voted out) I am officially tossing my hat in the ring, my penny in the pot, my ass in the fire... or whatever other metaphor you prefer... for Season 6 of LJ Idol.

I'd love to give it a nice, long run and get as far as I possibly can in the game. I'm hoping to push and stretch myself creatively. I want to find that writing voice I seem to have misplaced somewhere along the way. And I think this is one way to go about doing just that.

So... I'll make sure to drop my Idol entries under a cut so as to not inflict any damage upon unsuspecting souls. You're welcome to scroll right on by or stop and read them. That's all going to be up to you, dear readers. But being that this contest is vote-driven, there will be times I am going to be begging, pleading and otherwise whoring myself out for some votes... Just so you're forewarned. :-)

Well... I guess that about covers it. I'm officially in for the season... however long that may last for me! Wish me luck ya'll!

Today was a really great day. After trying to get our schedules to synchronize for a while now, the wonderful newport2newport and I were finally able to connect for some lunch this afternoon. She's every bit as wonderful and inspiring in "real life" as the person I've gotten to know all this time here on LiveJournal. We met at a restaurant in Old Town Orange called PJ Abbey's. It's really a unique and interesting place. It was once an old church that's since been converted into a beautiful and quirky little restaurant. It still has the old stained glass and the old pews have been turned into booths. I was half-surprised that I didn't just burst into flames as I stepped through the door. But I'm very glad I wasn't reduced to a little pile of ash as the wait staff was excellent... they were always there to refill our coffee cups and the food was fantastic. Time seriously flew by as we chatted about this and that. We chatted a lot about writing... and she gave me some great insights and tips which I think will serve me very well going forward with my own work. Great conversation, great company and she brought me some great coffee beans which I am very much looking forward to grinding up in the morning. It was a terrific way to spend an afternoon and I'm looking forward to doing it again! Thanks for a great, great afternoon newport2newport!!!

Tonight I went to see a movie called Pandorum. The previews I'd seen looked pretty good. I thought it was going to be a sci-fi/horror flick along the lines of Alien. In some ways it was... I thought they did a pretty good job of building tension and suspense. But it was very, very different from Alien overall. It was a good brain-candy kind of movie... if you go in merely looking to be entertained, I think you'll enjoy it. The plot wasn't very complex and the characters weren't overly deep but for what it was, it was entertaining. It had some pretty decent jolts that got the heart pounding and like I said, they did a fairly decent job of building some tension and suspense. Not a GREAT flick by any stretch of the imagination but good, fun, mindless entertainment.

There was a preview for a movie though, that I am really intrigued by. It's called The Fourth Kind... I'm sure the premise... alien abductions... is bound to turn a lot of people off, but it's based on the archived footage of a shrink that videotaped sessions with her patients up in Alaska who all claimed to have been abducted by aliens. Here's the synopsis...

1n 1972, a scale of measurement was established for alien encounters. When a UFO is sighted, it is called an encounter of the first kind. When evidence is collected, it is known as an encounter of the second kind. When contact is made with extraterrestrials, it is the third kind. The next level, abduction, is the fourth kind. Modern-day, Alaska, where-mysteriously since the 1960s-a disproportionate number of the population has been reported missing every year. Despite multiple FBI investigations of the region, the truth has never been discovered. Here in this remote region, psychologist Dr. Abigail Tyler began videotaping sessions with traumatized patients and unwittingly discovered some of the most disturbing evidence of alien abduction ever documented. The Fourth Kind exposes the terrified revelations of multiple witnesses. Their accounts of being visited by alien figures all share disturbingly identical details, the validity of which is investigated throughout the film/

The film is apparently interlaced with the actual footage that Dr. Tyler shot of her sessions... I think it's intriguing. Here's the official trailer for the movie...



What about you guys? Where do you come down on the alien abduction debate? True? A hoax perpetrated by a bunch of people seeking attention?

So what are you guys doing this weekend? Whatever it is, I hope that everybody is having great one!

It all starts with an idea. You could have gotten it anywhere... a book, a movie, a conversation, a story in a magazine or newspaper, possibly even a song lyric. Sometimes you don't even know where that idea came from. But you have it. It's stuck in your brain like a splinter and you know you just have to do something with it.

So the question is... what do you do with it? How do you take that one little nugget of an idea, that skeleton of an idea and begin hanging some meat on the bones? How do you start fleshing out that one little sliver of an idea and start turning it into a viable and complete plot? Is there a specific process that you use?

It's been a good, long while since I got the creative writing side of my brain working and the wheels have a pretty thick layer of dirt, rust and grime all over them. And I'm trying to figure out how to knock all of that crap off and get those wheels good and greased and running smoothly again. Or at least as smoothly as they are able to run. I'm trying to get myself used to writing... y'know... creatively again after having pretty much shut that part of my brain down for a long, long, long time. It will be nice to be able to just make stuff up again instead of having to thoroughly source everything. Facts just aren't as fun as fiction sometimes, are they? Ask the right-wingers in this country... but I digress... The point being that I really, really, really want to indulge that creative side of my noodle again.

So now that everything I write doesn't have to be completely researched and thoroughly sourced out, I want to start writing what I want to write again. I have that barest nugget of an idea that I'm excited about but am struggling as I try to re-learn how to build something from that foundation... well... I suppose it wouldn't be exactly accurate to call it a foundation yet. Perhaps it would be more accurate to call it a... vacant lot? A vacant lot that I want to build a foundation and then a house upon.

So how do you do writerly folks out there do it? What works for you? How do you move from that vacant lot that is the opening sliver of an idea to laying the foundation that is a viable plot to your story?

Okay, have I abused that metaphor quite enough yet? :-) Seriously though, I'm very curious about the processes you go through as you take an idea... from where ever you may have gotten it... and turn it into a viable plot. This one little bare nugget of an idea is burning a hole in my brain but I seem to have forgotten how to turn that idea into something solid. Any tips, pointers or guidance you can throw my way would be immensely appreciated!

Hope that everybody is having a fantastic weekend!!!