Tommie's Dilemma

Siam Delight

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Mon, 28 May 2012 12:11:00 +0000

In my mind the best Thai restaurant on the North Shore is Siam Delight in Beverly. I have tried most of the other Thai or Asian-fusion restaurants in the area and my vote is with Siam Delight. The food is always made fresh with quality ingredients and most of all with care.

My favorite dishes are the Crystal Pad Thai, Panang Curry, Massaman Curry, Bangkok Wings and the Country Fried Rice.

I have already made one trip this week for lunch to have some Crystal Pad Thai and I am sure I will be making another trip before I leave the area.

Colorblind Continued... Subprime Mortgage & Race

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 22 May 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Final stat: "One study in 2006 found that even high-income black and Latino borrowers were more likely than low-income whites to wind up with a high-cost loan, and up to half of the subprime loans given out over the past several years went to persons who could have (and should have) qualified for lower rates. In New York City, as just one example, black households with annual incomes of $68,000 or more are five times more likely to have a subprime mortgage than white households with similar or even less income. On a mid-range loan of $350,000, this means that black borrowers will end up paying, on average, over $250,000 more in interest over the life of the loan than their white counterparts."

- Tim Wise, Colorblind

Colorblind

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:45:00 +0000

Colorblind by Tim Wise
My rating: 4 of 5

As a friend and avid reader of Tim Wise, I am always excited to get my hands on his books and he has yet to let me down. Colorblind is another great piece of work that is focused on the notion that being colorblind is good for our society and that the election of Barack Obama has solved racism in this country.

As you can probably guess if you have read any of Tim's work or follow this blog you know that the notion is more than flawed, it is flat out wrong. We have not solved racial equity in this country, nor is a colorblind approach the right way of working toward the goal of a fully inclusive and equitable society. Tim breaks the book up into three chapters:

1. The Rise and Triumph of Post-Racial Liberalism
He tells the story of how liberals began writing and promoting policies that were specifically post-racial beginning in the 1970s as they were hoping to avoid the tensions of the 1960s. They started to push the idea of raising all boats with the tide, instead of specifically targeting groups.

2. The Trouble with Post-Racial Liberalism
This strategy may sound fair and effective, however it is easy to forget the privileges of some and the past/current oppression of others. When it comes to unfair housing, education, and healthcare policies it is not as simple as trying to lift all boats. These policies have in fact only encouraged the increasing economic gap and racial gap.

3. Illuminated Individualism: A Paradigm for Progressive Color-Consciousness
The third chapter is what really makes this book. Tim clearly articulates an alternative to both of the current personal and public policies of conservatives and post-racial liberals.

Here is Tim's vision, one that I could only hope for and I will conclude this post with:

I propose a new paradigm for both public policy considerations and private personal and institutional practice: an approach I call illuminated individualism. While conservatives have long pushed for a complete disregarding of group identity in favor of a focus on rugged individualism and personal achievement, and liberals like Obama have promoted a collective national identity under a “one America” motif, herein I suggest a third option. Illuminated individualism seeks to respect the uniqueness of all persons and communities—and thus not to assume that racial identity or country of origin, as in the case of non-citizens seeking to become residents, automatically tells us what we need to know about a person and their background—while yet acknowledging the general truth that to be white, a person of color, indigenous, or an immigrant continues to have meaning in the United States.

In other words, we are neither merely individuals, nor merely Americans. Race continues to matter. Only by being aware of that meaning and resolving to view individuals and communities as they really are—which requires acknowledging their languages, cultures, traditions, and racialized experiences—can we actually hope to build the kind of democracy that treats all persons fairly and equally. And just as important, only by illuminating our own individual and community uniqueness—including our personal biases—can we hope to check the tendency to disadvantage and exclude, which sadly is still far too common. Illuminated individualism then suggests a number of policy options and practices, at both the public and private level.

Corporations are NOT People

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sun, 13 May 2012 19:35:00 +0000

Corporations Are Not People by Jeffrey Clements
My rating: 4 of 5

Clements gives clear and concise reasoning why corporations are in fact not people. He demonstrates how corporations now have more rights than people. Clements gives a historical account of the corporate personhood movement and how some of it's earliest and strongest members are in the Judicial system including the Supreme Court. Over the course of 40 years these conservative, super free market activists have slowly eroded our system of protections and regulations to give corporations supreme power and influence. This corporate personhood movement culminated with the Supreme Court's Citizen United decision stating that corporations are people with free speech and other rights. Because of this decision corporations are able to spend unlimited funds to control elections.

The last chapter of the book and the resources/appendix pages are dedicated to activists, giving them concrete actions they can take and organizations they can join to help overturn Citizens United and adopt an amendment protecting people. So far, a number of states have passed the People's Rights Amendment.

Clements is a cofounder of Free Speech for People, a national, nonpartisan campaign to overturn Citizens United and pass the People's Rights Amendment (below).

The organization that I have had the most contact with is the Move to Amend.

Amendment XXVIII

Section I. We the people who ordain and establish this Constitution intend the rights protected by this Constitution to be the rights of natural persons.

Section II. The words people, person, or citizen as used in this Constitution do not include corporations, limited liability companies, or other corporate entities established by the laws of any state, the United States, or any foreign state. Such corporate entities are subject to any regulation as the people, through their elected state and federal representatives, deem reasonable and as are otherwise consistent with the powers of Congress and the States under this Constitution.

Section III. Nothing contained herein shall be construed to limit the people's rights of freedom of speech, freedom of the press, free exercise of religion, and all such other rights of the people, which rights are inalienable.

Silversun Pickups Drop Neck of the Woods

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Wed, 09 May 2012 17:42:00 +0000

One of my most anticipated albums of 2012 is out today: Silversun Pickups new album Neck of the Woods

Check out their first single today!

Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 22:03:00 +0000

Dreams by Derrick Jensen
My rating: 4 of 5

As the title suggests, the book is about dreams, but more broadly about how mainstream culture, specifically religion and science have stripped away our connection with "alternate sides." Jensen uses this book to show that if people can believe in religion or science -- why is it not plausible to believe in the meaning and personal connection of dreams or "other sides." Jensen compiles stories and arguments encouraging the reader to open their mind.

He makes the reader wonder, maybe science and religion does not have an answer for everything; maybe science is just another religion; maybe both "religions" held by "true believers" are what has brought the planet to a crisis point; maybe counter thinking is what's needed in order for us to find the answers.

With still 100 pages to go in the book Jensen states why he decided to write it, "I'm writing this book because I think there are other possibilities. I think that physical reality is important. I think it is beautiful. And I do not think it is all there is. I think there are other sides with whom we can interact as surely as we can interact with our nonhuman neighbors, who are not our inferiors nor our superiors, but who are simply different, and whose lives are as valuable to them as ours are to us. And I think we need to respect those other lives, on this side and on others. Is that so difficult? Is that so reputation-destroying?

If I could sum up this book in one word, it would be this: listen."

I AM NOT TRAYVON MARTIN

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 17 Apr 2012 19:00:00 +0000

I discovered the following video on my friends Facebook page and after watching it I felt compelled to share. This brilliant and concise 3 minute video is of a young white anti-racist activist talking about white activism around the Trayvon Martin protests.

Elephant Walk

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Elephant Walk is a fantastic small group of Cambodian and French restaurants with locations in Boston, Cambridge and Waltham. At it's Waltham location the restaurant is also a Benefit Restaurant®, committing 3% of their sales to a poverty-fighting nonprofit each month. That's 3% of every meal, every bite, every sip - eat-in, takeout, and delivery. The restaurant not only puts out high quality food but also supports high quality sustainable giving. Since September 2009 through March 29, 2012, the Waltham restaurant has distributed to local, regional, national, and international nonprofits more than $134,000! That's literally putting your money where your mouth is!

(Elephant Walk Waltham lounge)

We went on a Friday night last December after one of Amber's foot doctor appointments. We walked into the Waltham location around 5pm without a reservation and we were lucky that we went early, otherwise you really need a reservation. The interior of the restaurant has beautiful modern Asian feel. We sat in the lounge picture above and it was a cute area for couples to sit on a Friday night. The best part of this place is that it's good qualities didn't stop at the decor but continued into the kitchen.

(iPhone pic of Crevettes Amrita entree)

Though the place is both French and Cambodian, Amber and I ordered off of the Cambodian side of the menu. We had the following:

STARTER

NATAING - Ground pork simmered in coconut milk with sliced garlic, crushed peanuts and chili pods; served with crispy jasmine rice...7.95

ENTREES

CREVETTES AMRITA - Natural shrimp sautéed in a lightly sweet and spicy Cambodian satay sauce with coriander, cumin, cardamom, galangal, cinnamon, ginger, peanuts, star anise and lemongrass; with button mushroom, red bell pepper, onion and scallion…17.95

CURRY DE CREVETTES - Curry with natural shrimp, asparagus, baby bok choy, eggplant, snow peas, red bell pepper and yellow squash…17.95

All of the food was light, fresh and flavorful. The ground pork appetizer was addicting, Amber's entree, the Curry de Crevettes was a different take on curry and my entree (pictured above) was amazing.

The Campaign Manager

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The Campaign Manager: Running and Winning Local Elections by Catherine Shaw
My rating: 4 of 5

The Campaign Manger runs through just about everything a candidate or campaign manager would need to know before starting a campaign. The book goes through all of the techniques and strategies that a campaign would need to cover (planning, fundraising, marketing, volunteers, GoTV, etc.). So far, I would say that this is the book to pick up if you are interested in running for office or will be staff on a campaign.

Soma: Urban Dining North of Boston

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 18:54:00 +0000

The North Shore is packed with great restaurants and if you can't tell by now I am a bit of a foodie. My first post was on the Gelato Harbor Cafe and now my second stop is in the town I currently reside in Beverly.

Soma is one of my favorite restaurants in Beverly, especially for lunch. Amber and I have had their take on a catfish wrap, chicken wrap, greek pizza, and chicken under a brick. By far the appetizer that we have enjoyed the most is their version of fried calamari with a spicy marinara, fried hot peppers and picked onion. However, we tend to do lunch (take-out) on Saturday's, Amber get's either the $10 catfish or chicken wrap with fries, and I get their $9 meatloaf entree which comes with two sides. Lately, I have been getting a double order of their mac and cheese (I think it is the best around) and it normally costs $5 as a side, so I essentially get $10 worth of mac and cheese and that doesn't even include the meatloaf. Needless to say, it is a pretty sweet lunch deal.

If you haven't check out Soma, don't let the extremely tinted windows scare you away. Once inside you will be greeted with friendly service, modern decor and great food (from wraps to pizza to entrees).

Pacifism as Pathology

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Thu, 22 Mar 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Pacifism as Pathology: Reflections on the Role of Armed Struggle in North America by Ward Churchill
My rating: 5 of 5

Back in 2005, while I in college Ward Churchill was scheduled to speak at Wheaton. However, the event never happened when a controversy broke out about an essay he had written shortly after 9/11. The decision by the college to not bring him because of the controversy was scrutinized and protested by fellow students. Our college newspaper wrote a cover story about the controversy. I still have a copy of that article and re-read it the other day after finishing the book. What I forgot was that I received some unfriendly e-mails from locals asking me if I was behind the Churchill event. For once, it wasn't me or an organization that I was a member of that planned the event. As a result of all of this, I never had my chance to hear Churchill speak and less than two-years later he was fired from University of Colorado - Boulder.

Pacifism as Pathology is a classic piece of work in social movements and resistance struggles. Churchill lays out an incredibly logical argument that "all out pacifism no matter what" is a strategy that will always fail. He examines past movements, cultural events, and atrocities that have happened on pacifist watch and were only resolved through either a combined approach or an all out violent struggle. The pacifist ideal of never inflicting violence on another, never going down to that level, and believing that you can talk anyone out of anything is proven to be irrational and ineffective. In fact, Churchill proves that most pacifist, particularly in North America, come from privilege and comfort, never having to fully understand the plight of the Third World or other relative conflicts.

Personally, I am a non-violent person, and I was even the leader of the Wheaton Non-violent Coordinating Committee, but I am not a pacifist. I do believe in non-violent resistance, but I am not naive enough to believe that it is the only way, nor in many cases the most effective way for a resistance, a movement, or a revolution.

Gelato Harbour Cafe

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 01:09:00 +0000

The Gelato Harbour Cafe is modern and funky little gelato cafe and panini shop in Danvers, MA that opened up this past October. Amber and I have been meaning to check this place out since we love gelato/sorbeto.

Let me start off by saying that I can be a bit of a gelato/sorbeto snob. Though the place serves gelato, sorbeto, paninis, wraps, smoothies, pastries and breakfast items we went in around 3pm yesterday after a late lunch, so we didn't try anything other than the sorbeto. So I can not attest to anything other than the sorbeto, though the gelato looked good and they have quite a variety. Unlike a lot of places that carry gelato, this place has more than four options, in fact it had a case full of them. I got my favorite flavor of sorbeto, mango and Amber went with strawberry and lemon. Amber really liked it saying it was "kind of like having a strawberry lemonade" and I thought the flavor of mine was fresh and smooth. The prices are also low for a gelato place as we got two mediums for just under $7.

Overall, the place opened up during an odd time of year but now that the spring weather is here, Amber and I plan to make it a regular treat. The gelato is made by Dolce Freddo Gelato in Newburyport and Methuen so if you are up that way -- it's a good idea to stop on by.

What a Nice Day

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 03:00:00 +0000

Yesterday...

The day started off with a great conversation with my dad on his birthday as I sat out on my front porch. Then I took Amber to another surgery follow-up and it looks like her foot is finally making some progress, now that the infection has subsided. Though I still worry about her going to Florida for a trade show in a couple of weeks. After her appointment we grabbed some buffalo burgers with cucumber salad and baked beans at Bison County. On our way back to where I parked the car I noticed a cool independent new/used bookstore. Amber gave me the "ok" and we checked it out. Amber knows how much I love a good used bookstore and we haven't been getting out much (yes, for us a used bookstore and lunch is "getting out") since her foot surgery. So we ventured into Back Pages Books and I picked up a copy of Pacifism as Pathology by Ward Churchill, with a new preface by Derrick Jensen. It is one of the few books of Churchill's that the library doesn't own.

http://www.backpagesbooks.com/

As I handed the book to the owner he remarked, "Wow! I didn't know we had this -- it's a great book." I joked that maybe you should tell me it's not available and he put the book under the counter and joked back, "what book." So after a little banter and just $6 later for a new copy of the book -- we were on our way home.

The rest of the afternoon I spent reading in my backyard with the 60 degree sun keeping me warm and Maya chewing on some sticks and playing with her ball.

The Colbert Report: Rush Limbaugh Apologizes to Sandra Fluke

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Wed, 07 Mar 2012 22:00:00 +0000

Too good, had to share...

The Colbert Report
Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive

Slow Cooker Carnitas

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 14:52:00 +0000

Google was having issues last week so my blog template was down and for the time being I am back to my previous look. I wasn't in the mood this past weekend to write a post, but over the weekend I made another slow cooker pulled pork, however this time I did it carnitas style with smoked chipotles and a few other ingredients.

Four Cheese (Munster, Brie, Gouda and Fresh Mozzarella) Carnitas Quesadillas

How to Win a Local Election

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 18:18:00 +0000

How to Win a Local Election by Lawrence Grey
3 of 5

This is a how-to book for running local elections. How to Win a Local Election is really geared toward beginners and people who are interested in running for office, but it also provides a brief and easy review, along with a few new tips for experienced campaign managers, staffers, volunteers and candidates. It covers everything from the deciding to run, to planning and organizing a campaign, to hiring staff and volunteers, to producing advertising and materials.

The author provides supporting documents including a glossary, a list of local election offices and worksheets that will help you with your campaign. In fact, the book even comes with a CD with a copy of the included appendix documents. These documents would be particularly helpful for the first-time candidate, manager or volunteer as they provide an initial template.

Overall, the book acts as a good overview or review, depending upon your experience level, to get elected to local office.

Feels Like Spring

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

I know it is not quite spring yet but this "warm" winter in New England has felt a little like spring. Maya has been rolling in the grass and smelling every square inch of soil, so it must be close. In the spirit of spring, I have put up some macro shots of some flowers and berries.

The Ecology of Imagination in Children

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 00:33:00 +0000

The Ecology of Imagination in Children by Edith Cobb
My rating: 3 of 5

The overall message of the book is powerful: that children are innately connected to nature and the power of that creative imagination flows through us into adulthood. In her interpretation, the well-being of an adult may be traced back to their connection with nature. I think that she is on to something but more so, her beloved friend Margaret Mead thought so as well as she provides the introduction to the book, which is the last that Edith Cobb would ever write. The text is scientific, poetic and challenging, and all of that is done in just over over 100 pages.

Super Bowl Pulled Pork

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:05:00 +0000

Amber is recovering from foot surgery and I know when I am recovering from anything and feel trapped at home the main thing I think about is food and having enough of it (well that is really me all the time but I think I am worse when I am feeling bad). So I went grocery shopping on Friday and picked up a bunch of things that Amber likes along with something new for me to try cooking at home. I broke out my slow cooker (which I haven't used in over 3 years) and decided it was about time I made my own pulled pork. So I picked up two boneless pork butts, each about 3 lbs ($1.99 a pound) and an onion ($.60). I already had garlic, BBQ sauce and all of my dry rub ingredients at home. I went online and got some inspiration from a couple of recipes, but none of them completely fit me so I customized it. Here is my recipe:

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork

Ingredients

· 5-6 Pound(s) pork shoulder (pork butt, Boston Butt, etc.) Boneless or Bone-in

· 1 medium large onion

· 3 cloves of garlic

· Dry Rub

o Salt

o Pepper

o Paprika

o Cumin

o Dried Oregano

o Garlic

o Cayenne Pepper

o Brown Sugar

o Ginger

· BBQ Sauce

· Water

Prep

1. Mix spice rub in small bowl, set aside.

2. Rough cut onion and garlic cloves.

3. Massage dry rub into meat. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap; put in bag or bowl and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Cook

4. Put half of the onions and garlic cloves at the bottom of the crock-pot.

5. Place the pork in the crock-pot (if the pork has been cut into two portions put the rest of the onions and garlic cloves in between the two portions or if it is just one cut of meat put them on top).

6. Fill the crock-pot about half way with water.

7. Cook on low for 8 or 10 hours.

8. Make sure that the lid can close completely after putting in meat.

9. Let meat cool in a large bowl and shred meat into a serving bowl.

10. Add sauce to taste.

Notes: I didn't use too much sugar because the store-bought BBQ tends to be pretty sweet. In the future I might try adding a touch of liquid smoke and white pepper. Also, as for the dry rub I am a cook not a baker so I never measure just do what makes sense to you so that you can coat the meat. Lastly, with a few modifications this recipe could be made into Mexican Carnitas, but that is for another time.

Final Product

Empire of Illusion

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 15:12:00 +0000

Empire of Illusion: The End Of Literacy And The Triumph Of Spectacle by Chris Hedges
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second book in the past month that I have read by Chris Hedges. The first, Death of the Liberal Class was a great read. The Empire of Illusion was also enjoyable but the first couple of chapters I found to be plagued by what I call the over-Gladwell (in reference to Malcolm Gladwell, specifically his book Blink that I found to be filled with too many examples that were just too long, dragging the book down). However, his last couple of chapters save the book and his last one entitled "The Illusions of America" was powerful.

The focus of the book is on the concept of celebrity. How our culture has gone from in depth reading, facts, investigation to one that embraces TMZ, politicians as figures and infotainment. We have lost our desire for the liberal arts and for reading and writing and instead care about meaningless things like celebrity culture, reality television, soap operas (male and female), sports, entertainers, politicians and commentators. Our culture now embraces spectacle over reality.

I can't pretend that I haven't fallen victim to our culture's socialization. I have my vices, but I am working on them and still trying my best to stay educated and informed.

I leave you with an excerpt from his last chapter, "The Illusions of America:"

"The more we sever ourselves from a literate, print-based world, a world of complexity and nuance, a world of ideas, for one informed by comforting, reassuring images, fantasies, slogans, celebrities, and a lust for violence, the more we are destined to implode...

The worse reality becomes, the less a beleaguered population wants to hear about it, and the more it distracts itself with squalid pseudo-events of celebrity breakdowns, gossip and trivia. These are the debauched revels of a dying civilization. The most ominous cultural divide lies between those who chase after these manufactured illusions, and those who are able to puncture the illusion and confront reality. More than the divides of race, class, or gender, more than rural or urban, believer or nonbeliever, red state or blue state, our culture has been carved up into radically distinct, unbridgeable, and antagonistic entities that no longer speak the same language and cannot communicate. This is the divide between a literate, marginalized minority and those who have been consumed by an illiterate mass culture.

Mass culture is a Peter Pan culture. It tells us that if we close our eyes, if we visualize what we want, if we have faith in ourselves, if we tell God that we believe in miracles, if we tap into our inner strength, if we grasp that we are truly exceptional, if we focus on happiness, our lives will be harmonious and complete. This cultural retreat into illusion, whether peddled by positive psychologists, Hollywood, or Christian preachers, is a form of magical thinking. It turns alienation and anxiety into cheerful conformity. It turns a nation that wages illegal wars and administers off-shore penal colonies where it openly practices torture into the greatest democracy on earth.

The world that awaits us will be painful and difficult. We will be dragged back to realism, to the understanding that we cannot mold and shape reality according to human desires, or we will slide into despotism. We will learn to adjust our lifestyles radically, to cope with diminished resources, environmental damage, and a contracting economy, as well as our decline as a military power, or we will die clinging to our illusions. These are the stark choices before us."

Red State Socialism

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 00:54:00 +0000

I came across some impressive statistics produced by taxfoundation.org that one of my friends posted on Facebook and I just had to share.

http://taxfoundation.org/taxdata/show/266.html

Wintry Moon Rise

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 03:03:00 +0000

We had our first real snow fall of the season. By the time the sun started rising the sky had cleared. On my morning walk with Maya I noticed that the moon was out in full force and the cold tones were prominent. So I hurried back home, grabbed my camera, and took my first picture of 2012.

Wintry Moon Rise

INSIDE JOB

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:35:00 +0000

Rich, White Men Still Rule the World!
After watching this film you will clearly see that white men completely control the world, (even though in terms of population they do not dominate) because of globalization they have a stranglehold around the entire globe.

Rating Agencies
"The three rating agencies, Moody's, S&P and Fitch made billions of dollars giving high ratings to risky securities. Moody's and S&P get compensated based on putting out rating reports and the more structured securities that they gave AAA ratings to -- the higher their earnings would be for the quarter. Imagine if you worked for the New York Times and you said look if you write a positive story I will pay you $500,000 and if you don't I will give you nothing."

Too Big to Fail
After the financial sector bailout of 2008, where it was determined that the banks were "too big to fail" yet they did -- we have actually come away from the crisis with BIGGER BANKS and FEWER OF THEM. How does this make sense? Where is the regulatory reform we were promised? It is never coming, not with the $5 billion lobbying power the financial sector brings to the table. It is now only a matter of time before this all happens again.

Inequality
"Inequality of wealth in the United States is now higher than in any other developed country." American workers responded by working longer hours and going into debt.

High Education Fails
The problem with Business/Economist Professors sitting on boards of Major Financial Corporations and being highly compensated to the tune of $300k to $1m is it is like, "A medical researcher writes an article saying, 'to treat this disease you should prescribe this drug.' It turns out that the doctor makes 80% of income from the manufacturing drug." You know you can't trust their word and it is typically monitored in their industry, yet it is completely allowed for Professor to collude with Financial Institutions.

No Action Taken to Correct the Financial Sector
Not one executive has been prosecuted, while Europe put legislation in place to end the bonus culture in their financial sectors. The Obama administration did nothing. Instead they have kept the same people in power that caused/watched over the meltdown: Ben Bernanke, Timothy Geithner, and Larry Summers.

Frustration
One of the most frustrating films I have ever watched -- it makes you want to reach through the screen and strangle the people talking.

Most Anticipated Albums of 2012

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 00:59:00 +0000

2012 looks like it will be a great year in music! Over 15 musicians I follow will be putting out albums this year. You can check out the list below along with a sample song from each artist. Give 'em a listen.

Spring/Summer 2012

How to Destroy Angels

Metric

Our Lady Peace

Passion Pit

Sia

Silversun Pickups

The Xx

TBD 2012

Arcade Fire

Bloc Party

Grizzly Bear

Jose Gonzalez

MGMT

Mumford and Sons

Muse

Phoenix

Raine Maida

Most Viewed Posts of 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Tommie Watson) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 22:56:00 +0000

Tommie's Dilemma has wrapped up another year of eclectic posts and since it is the last day of the year it makes sense to do a little year in review.

1. Actual Distribution of Wealth (Apr 6)
(Graph) The top post of 2011 was about the US economy and more specially about the wealth gap facing Americans. It is actually one of my shortest posts (in terms of text) so maybe that tells me something, but with the two strong graphic displays it doesn't call for much explanation.

2. KUSI News False Attack Piece EMPOWER San Diego (Apr 19)
A ~~news~~ hit piece done by a conservative San Diego television news station that falsely attacked the organization I helped found.

3. Amber's Sunset Eyes Photo Shoot (May 17)
(Image) A couple of shots taken while Amber was sitting on a bench overlooking Magnolia Beach during a beautiful sunset. With my model's help I tried to get the sun to reflect from the center of her pupil as her eye was turned toward me. It took a little patience but I think the effect worked.

4. Macro: Animal Eyes (Aug 6)
The first test pictures that I took using my new Macro lens -- two of Maya and one of a Long Hill Reservation toad.

5. The Politics of Experience (May 25)
My brief review of psychologist, R.D. Laing's great read about experiences, behavior and inter-personal relationships.

6. Trent Reznor Wins Golden Globe (Jan 17)
(Image) Much to my surprise, my favorite artist won the Oscar for The Social Network score, but the post that generated the most hits was his win a month prior at the Golden Globe's.

7. Changing The Way You Think About Water (Mar 6)
Is a review of the book Blue Gold: The Fight to Stop the Corporate Theft of the World's Water and of the documentary film Flow. Both tell of the impact global water corporations have had on the world's water supplies.

8. Turkey Photos: Hierapolis (Nov 18)
(Image) Our trip to Turkey dominated the blog for the last two months of 2011 and our visit to Hierapolis was a fan favorite.

9. Political Ponzi Scheme (Jul 4)
My 4th of July post about our polarized political ponzi scheme set up by both parties.