Aaaaaand, I’m back, perhaps….

So, this blog’s been dead for a year. It was barely alive to begin with. The victim of neglect from birth, it died already stunted and malnourished. And for the most part I’ve been content to ignore it’s rotting corpse while I focused on trying to secure gainful employment.

Now that I have said employment, the idea of a creative outlet looks appealing again, and doesn’t weigh on me like some sort of burden: the blog I should be writing, to show everyone how great I am, to solidify my “brand” [vomits in mouth a little], to get that job.

Mainly, I now find myself reading insane amounts online at the aforementioned new gainful employment, and feel I should actually be doing something with all the information I’m coming across. And I’ve always thought I should take time to write a bit about all that I read anyways (the book reading, as well as the internet reading). So I guess that’s what I’m going to use this as: a tool for me to organize, direct, focus and reflect upon all the stuff I read.

And also to post any videos in which I appear. Wheeeeee!

An Attempt to Explain Occupy – in Six Words.

As mentioned a while ago, I’ve been working with the newspaper group at Occupy DC. I haven’t written much about it, I think I’ve been letting the experience gestate before trying to comment.

Curiosity, in theory a typical journalistic trait, first brought me down there. Since then, a lot of people have asked me to explain it. I’ve tried a lot of explanations on different people, but I seem to always run up against some sort of wall. So in a final attempt, I’ll try to describe it in more familiar vocabulary.

Occupy is networking. For poor people.

Ok, maybe its not just poor people. It’s the poor and others who are generally disenfranchised. But that’s not as snappy a phrase, so I’ll just stick with the one above.

I hope, for example, this analogy goes some way to explaining why there’s no “list of demands.” After all, when was the last time you went to a networking happy hour that resulted in a list of demands? Right. Never. You come away with new contacts, new ideas, new plans for future projects.

Occupy Congress protesters gather for the general assembly outside the Capitol on Jan. 17

No one thinks its weird for people to physically gather to discuss everything from advertising to entomology. The professional and academic worlds have long understood the importance of face to face contacts. But when people gather to discuss and express their dissatisfaction with our country’s (and world’s) economic order the response is, “Yeah, but what are they doing?” or “But can’t they organize over facebook?” And I strain to suppress an eye roll.

Also, consider the “lack of focus” criticism still (still!?!) being bandied about. Let’s say you’ve got an archeology conference going on; people are going to be presenting papers, and moderating panel discussions on widely divergent topics within that field. Can you imagine someone asking of an academic conference: “Yeah, but what’s the one, main, you know, point?” Right. It would be absurd. Similarly, people are going to come away from Occupy and move on in all directions – on everything from sustainable agriculture to student debt forgiveness to national health care – and that’s totally acceptable.

My 2012 Wish List – Cuz I don’t do resolutions

A good friend once told me that in moments of personal transition, when things feel unstable, chaotic, ill-defined, she liked to make a wishlist – “like you’re writing a letter to Santa Claus” – about what you want out of life in that moment.

So – what’s my 2012 wishlist? Not surprisingly, it revolves around one thing – a job.

After a month visiting in Spain, and 3 months back looking for work, I’m still do not have steady employment. There’s probably a lot of reasons for this. 1) Journalism’s still a tough market, even in D.C., even with a master’s. 2) We are still in the midst of economic crisis, right? Of course that’s it. 3) Oh, yeah, I am incompetent when it comes to networking. I am sociable. I like people. People like me. But I freeze when it comes to forcing social contact for the sole purpose of furthering my career interests. This excuse/explanation doesn’t go very far with people in D.C. where networking actually seems to take priority over genuine human interaction, but there it is.

So after my initial job search stage, I realize my strategy needs to change. Sending resumes and cover letters isn’t going to do it, that is clear. It’s time to get out and shmooze in 2012. (A little piece of me dies while I write that). But what will I be smoozing for? Well, that’s where my Santa Claus list comes in. I’ve always found it a helpful exercise in the past. So here goes – what do I want for 2012?

A job that:

• Allows me to use my brain.

Please, please, let me use my brain. One of the greatest frustrations that led me to leave Spain was the fear that my brain was actually atrophying from disuse. Not that teaching English or writing and presenting at MobuzzTV was brainless work, but that it was like walking circles around a track when I wanted to try my hand at a marathon. The context in which I was doing those jobs was just, by their nature, limiting, with no room for growth. I don’t want a job that challenges my sanity, I want one that challenges my intellect.

Occupy D.C. – Take 3 – “Does the revolution need a copyeditor?”

You could see the learning as it was happening. For the first time I was getting to see all the processes I had studied about in social theory books in practice.

So, I’ve had little success following the local Occupy group. And today I’m gonna give it another go.

I went down on the very first day actually. I stood in the cold and drizzle under a tree wearing summer clothes, everything season-appropriate still packed away in boxes after my return from my trip to Spain in September. There were only about 20 people, and it was far from clear what it might become. I tried to talk to folks, but there was something awkward about it. Maybe I had had some starry eyed-vision that I’d go down there and it would be all smiles and open arms and instant discussion of radical politics. I don’t know. But what I did know is that I had a cold and it was raining, and although I can deal with discomfort and I can walk across the north of Spain with blisters, I hate being cold. (I admit it, I’m weak, blame it on being raised in Northern California). I thought, OK, I’ll be back.

Impromptu Library at McPherson Square

Take two was a couple weeks later, the day of widespread protests. Upon returning to McPherson I was pleasantly surprisied at the number of tents, the budding library, the bustling kitchen area. Aha, I thought, here’s something I can get into. I stayed for the General Assembly and learned the hard way that these things drag on, but was inspired to see and feel the atmosphere of inclusion.  And even by the end of the GA that night (which was largely made up of new attendees) you could see the process naturally streamlining itself as people figured out what was and was not worth bringing up, what to save for Committee meetings, etc…You could see the learning as it was happening. For the first time I was getting to see all the processes I had studied about in social theory books in practice (I wrote my undergrad thesis on anarchist theory after being exposed to it in Spain and being annoyed that it wasn’t ever mentioned in classes on political theory and organization).

The PreOccupation with Marginalizing Occupy Wall Street.

I haven’t figured out where I can buy locally produced laptops made with 100% sustainably mined, domestically produced materials yet, so until that happens, I’m stuck with a Mac. That’s doesn’t make me a hypocrite.

So – today is supposed to be a big day of action for protests around the globe. I was trying to get to Freedom Plaza by noon to meet up with Occupy DC, but sadly am stuck in a cafe at 11:45 still waiting for someone I was supposed to meet about a possible job at 10:30. Ah well.

But I’ll pass by later. Anyways…

First thought – something that got me riled up a couple days ago – a criticism of Occupy Wall Street that seems to be making the rounds these days. It was mentioned in the article about Steve Jobs that I ranted about earlier this week. It goes something like this:

“Protesters are protesting corporate greed. But they use products produced by corporations. I’m so clever for pointing that out. They are so stupid. Let’s not engage in any sort of meaningful debate and stop thinking at this point. Stupid protesters! Look! That guy’s wearing Nike!”

The above-linked article linked, in turn, to the photo below.

Sigh.

Yes, those stupid protesters. Because we all know there are only two paths one can take in this life: either you buy a product and automatically and unconditionally embrace every single practice of the manufacturer, or you boycott. Right?

The Cult of the Steve Jobs (and a bit of Hugo)

I am a thinking person. So, actually, no, I don’t have to sit back in awe of Steve Jobs and pat him on the back for being a jerk. I can actually manage complex thought. I can admire his creative genius and at the same time temper it with well-reasoned criticism of his many failings.

Photo: Matthew Yohe via Wikimedia Commons

I didn’t know much about Steve Jobs’ personal life or personality. I didn’t (and don’t) really care. I know I love Apple products, but I also know I have qualms about their business practices, and I definitely know no one should feel suicide is the only escape from a bad manufacturing job.

When Jobs died, predictably, first there was the tsunami of fawning obituaries. Then, there was cautious criticism. Then there was Gene Marks at Forbes who decided – no, f**k it, I don’t care if someone did something bad, they’re rich so I’ll idolize them anyways. Ok, so that’s a bit of an oversimplification. (But not much.)

After Ryan Tate at Gawker (who I having a sneaking suspicion wrote at the Daily Cal when I was at Berkeley) wrote a pretty straightforward look at the darker side of Steve Jobs’ legacy, Marks decided to go ahead and defend, well, being an a**hole.

I know, edgy right? Way to buck what’s acceptable by doing something daring like defending “being a jerk.” Except it isn’t. It’s the opposite of edgy, it’s feeding right into the cult of corporate wealth, born of our looooong puritanical history of seeing wealth as some divine judgement on our characters.

Marks writes:

Jobs had an extra little something going on that further separated him from his peers:  He was a jerk.  Good for him.

…I’m not a jerk like Jobs was. Which is the biggest reason why I’m just a moderately successful business guy, and not a super billionaire.   That’s because being creative and hard working isn’t that uncommon.  Being a jerk is.

And in response to a story about Apple threatening an employee with immigration trouble for possibly leaking information Marks gushes: “Wow, the Apple Gestapo.  I love that too.”

Which pretty much gives you the idea.

Happy Indigenous People’s Day!!

So, I’ve taken the opportunity on this day off (though every day is a day off when you’re unemployed!) to get back on that blogging horse.

And so I just wanted to write a note about Columbus Day, Indigenous People’s Day, and severely disappointing journalism.

A lot of people posted comments, from sincere to snarky, on Facebook today in reference to Columbus Day. It’s a day when I glow with a little pride for the place I’m from, the San Francisco Bay Area – because in Berkeley (I’m from neighboring Kensington) they don’t celebrate Columbus Day, they changed it to Indigenous People’s Day.

I feel lucky to have been from a place that’s willing to do things like that, to make the rest of the country stop and think. But of course, the rest of the country won’t stop and think if it’s not reported in a way that provokes thought. Which brings me to this  the New York Times article (if it can be called that, it’s rather teensy, perhaps “note”) on the decision to change the day, from back in 1992.

It’s a gem. Let’s take a look:

Oct. 12 is no longer Columbus Day in this city known for political correctness. From now on, it will be Indigenous Peoples Day, and city officials have designated the whole of 1992 as the Year of Indigenous People.

“Berkeley wants to celebrate the important place that indigenous people hold in this country,” Mayor Loni Hancock said at a news conference on Friday. “Their societies and philosophies flourished long before Columbus arrived, and they continue until today.”

And right off the bat, the writer sparks my ire with the knee-jerk reference to Berkeley as a center of “political correctness.” Contempt inspired in the first line, well done! Why does it irk? It’s lazy. It’s a person saying “hmmm, what’s the first stereotype the average person unthinkingly relates to Berkeley? Political correctness! I shall now equally unthinkingly repeat that.”