Mr T's rants and ravings

This is funny. One publisher’s view of how Apple (or at least Steve Jobs) would have published the Harry Potter book. A great insight into how Apple marketing happens but probably wouldn’t work for anything or anyone else.

Imagine a candidate for president whose supporters kept telling people how good it is for white males that they are running. Think about people saying “it is inspiring” or that it would be helpful to white males to have “one of their own” in the White House. Think about that for a minute. Really think. I’ll wait.

OK now does that sort of thought make you really want to vote for that person? If you were female or minority would those thoughts fill you with hope and excitement about that candidate? Or would you be thinking “that person is being supported by racists and sexists” and fill you with some dread? Be honest now. If you were black and someone said “this candidate is a great step forward for whites in this country” would you be more of less likely to support that candidate? Be honest now.

I suspect that like most people in this country today if a candidate (or his supporters) presented being white or being male as a reason to support them if would turn many people of and would turn off most people who were not white or male. And yet we have Maya Angelou talking about Hillary Clinton and making a big deal of the fact that she is a woman. And lots of people talking about how inspiring it is for African-Americans that Barak Obama is running. I’m not sure why I should think anything other than that many of the supporters of both candidates are racists or sexist.

I really think we need to get beyond the point where gender or race matters. We need to get to the point where gender and race become non-issues. Why is it worth mentioning that a candidate is female but not that one is male? To some extent novelty is involved of course. But really isn’t bring up gender (or race) when it is or at least should be inconsequential actually perpetuating stereotypes? Should we really be expressing surprise that a woman or a racial minority is in such a position? I think not. There are few times indeed when race or gender really matters. Whenever we bring those attributes into a discussion when they should not really matter we perpetuate the exaggerated
importance of these really unimportant differences.

I don’t vote or not vote for a candidate because of their race or gender. I don’t see those things as important. Why do so many people think they are? Why should I care about the color of a candidate’s skin? Why should I care about their gender? And why do so many self-proclaimed liberals constantly bring up race and gender as reasons to vote for or against someone? Conservatives seem so much less racist and sexist to me than liberals. More and less are relative terms of course – both parties have some racist and sexist attributes BTW.

But the more explicit racism and sexism of the Democratic Party is one of those things that constantly turns me away from them.

So did you buy it yet? Mrs. T and I were there at the Water Street Bookstore in Exeter for the special midnight opening. My plan was to take it home and read it right away. I figured that I could get it finished by breakfast. Alas age seems to be catching up with me and by 2:30AM I was tired and having trouble concentrating. I decided it make more sense to finish it after a good night’s sleep. So with dreams related to the story I slept.

Good thing it was Saturday and I have an understanding wife. I read much of the day. And then, alas, I had to put the book down for a while to bring my nieces to a friend’s house. An hour and a half lost. When I returned home I continued to read as I cooked steaks for dinner. And then more after dinner. With 90 pages left I had to put it down again because I had committed to go to a birthday party. Ahhh!

At the party there were more than a few people who were in various stages of reading the book. One person, the main organizer of the party, had purchased the book but made a decision not to start reading it until after the party was done. Probably a good decision on her part as the book would have been a huge draw from the party planning.

And then I was home and an hour later the book was read. A bitter sweet time. I loved the story but it was sad to realize that the series is over. The story of Harry Potter has been told. At least the book was 769 full pages of interesting, well-written story. It seemed like it went fast but it did take time. I hate books that are too short. But what now?

I may read this one again. I don’t often re-read books but I have re-read several of the Harry Potter books. There is so much in them – so many details – so many plot lines – so much to take in.

Well at least there are two more movies to come. It will be interesting to see how they play out. The recent movie was pretty good. But of course there is much to much in the books to include everything. Perhaps I’ll read books five and six again.

If anyone is actually reading this I want to let you know that I am blogging about my vacation at my other blog. I arrived in Iceland this morning and will be here until early Tuesday morning when we fly to Norway.

http://www.liveside.net/blogs/main/archive/2007/06/20/search-for-anything-with-live-search.aspx

OK I should have written this days or weeks ago but maybe it will help for next year. A survey says that 25% of fathers only want a hug and some peace and quiet for Father’s Day. The actual number is probably much larger than that. By all means tell Dad you love him and do it like you mean it. That doesn’t usually mean buy him a big gift. There are generally three groups of people involved in Father’s Day gift giving and I have suggestions for all three.

Children Without Their Own Money

Usually these people really love Dad but are aided and abetted by their mothers. Here is a clue – Dad has the credit cards, the check book, the ATM card and he knows how to use them. If he hasn’t bought something that he really wants or needs that is almost always because he don’t think the family can afford it. He’d rather blow the money of food, the mortgage or perhaps college tuition. So if you are going to spend money on Dad it better not come out of money he was going to use for those things. “Here Dad, we bought you a new drill press” seems great but is really and truly a mean thing to do if that drill press is going to show up on Dad’s Home Depot credit card bill.

Make Dad a card. Give him a big hug. Give him several. Clean the yard, clean your room, do something that Dad usually has to do or that you usually drive him crazy by not doing. Let him watch what he wants on TV. Let him take a nap. Get him a snack. Don’t spend his money on him. Oh and breakfast in bed? There is a reason Dad is still in bed. It’s Father’s Day for Pete’s sake; let the man rest.

Kids With Their On Money

Yeah, you can buy Dad something he wouldn’t buy for himself. As long as Dad doesn’t get the bill. But think about your Dad a little. Chances are he doesn’t need clothing. If he really likes clothes he will shop for himself. If you don’t like what Dad wears and think he has lousy taste this is a strong indication that you should not be buying him clothing for Father’s Day. Remember – this is a day for telling Dad you love him not for telling him “Dad you dress poorly and have bad taste.” Think hobbies. Think about what he does in his spare time or better yet things that will give him spare time. Maybe take him out to dinner. Or if you are a good cook invite him over for a meal you cook. Might as well make the day easier for mom as well. And don’t let Dad clean up either. You could also pay a bill for him – with your money! What can you do to make Dad’s life easier or take away some stress? That will make him happy.

If he wants to take a nap – let him. And oh by the way, he’d still like a hug.

Wives

The first big clue for wives is up there with the one for Children Without Their Own Money – don’t spend money on him. If you must buy something for Father’s Day buy some really sexy outfit for yourself, wear it and seduce Dad into doing that sort of thing that resulted in him becoming a father in the first place. If this doesn’t make his day your marriage has other problems and a big gift isn’t going to help. This will gross out the kids by the way so wait until they are asleep or they go home.

Let Dad sleep in. Protect him for the kids waking him up for his night’s sleep or his nap. Oh and think about what you like and don’t like about Mother’s Day. How much do you appreciate someone saying “Leave [chore] for another day” If you want to make Dad’s day either do or get the kids to do something Dad would otherwise have to do.

In general the goal of Father’s Day should be to show Dad that he is loved. That doesn’t often require spending much money and it never ever requires spending Dad’s money.

[Note: All Dads are different. Your Dad may be very different. Based on what I know about some people who may read this, your Dad may even be really different. This post is presented with no guarantees. Follow these suggestions at your own risk. Any resemblance between what is written here and any specific individuals is coincidence.]