Get Out the Vote

This is something that I discussed in a previous post, but with the election coming up, I find myself thinking about it more and more. This November, a lot of people will not bother to vote. I can understand the reasoning in a lot of cases, but it's something that bothers me greatly.

One thing that bothers me is the same as when people do whatever they can to avoid jury duty. They're willing to reap the benefits of living in this country, but can't be bothered to engage in the responsibilities inherent in citizenship.

But mainly what gets to me about refusing to vote is the concept of voter apathy. The idea that your vote doesn't count. Fortunately, this trend is changing, albeit slowly. The last few election cycles, at least during Presidential elections, has been the highest then it was since the 60s, but we're still seeing around 40% of people not going to the ballot. But there's still a lot of people who don't think their vote makes a difference.

I disagree. For starters, by not voting, all you're doing is ensuring that your vote doesn't count. The best way to make sure your voice isn't heard is to stay silent.

Try a little thought experiment here. Say voter turnout this year is 55% (slightly less than 2012). That leaves 45% not voting. Now imagine, for the sake of the argument, that most or all of that 45% aren't voting because they think both Trump and Clinton are poor choices (and I think this theory might have some validity). Now imagine they think that a third party candidate would be a great choice for President, but they are staying home because they think voting third party is throwing your vote away. Just think if that 45% decided to head to their polling place on or before November 8th, and they all voted for that third party candidate.

I'm not saying that person would win, but it would definitely change things. People would perceive this so-called two party system differently. People might reconsider the power their vote has. Clinton or Trump might still win the majority and thus the White House, but they might not feel so secure in the Oval Office.

Now, I'm not saying that if you vote third party it'll fix all our problems. I'm not even telling you that toy should vote third party. Make your own decision. Vote for who you think is the right candidate. You don't have to go with the lesser of two evils. If the person you want isn't on the ballot, write them in. Vote however you want, but for Heaven's sake, vote for someone. It's something to consider.

And if you don't vote, don't try and tell me it's my fault that the system is full of corrupt politicians. I'm making an effort here, which is more than you did.

-Long Days and Pleasant Nights

Dragon Ball Z

90% useless

Earlier this year, a movie called Lucy came out. I only saw the previews for it, so I can't comment on the film's quality. But from what I did see, the basis of the movie is that the titular character can perform amazing feats because she's using more than 10% of her brain. My first thought upon hearing that was "people still believe that nonsense?"

As has been explained countless times by people more qualified than me, and will probably have to be explained many more times, humans do not only use ten percent of their brains. We use all of our brains, same as we use 100% of our stomachs, or 100% of our eyes. We don't use it all at the same time, true, but even then, more than ten percent is used at once. You're using more than ten percent of your brain right now, as you read this. You use more than ten percent even while you're asleep.

This ten percent fallacy, while it crops up occasionally in (usually soft) Science Fiction, seems to get the most press in the realms of mystic pseudoscience. Hemp-wearing, patchouli-smelling New Age Retro Hippies from Sedona, if asked, will likely tell you that the untapped 90% of the brain contains untapped abilities that can unlock the true power of the human psyche. And then they'll try to sell you a book to read, seminar to attend, and/or herb to smoke that will help you achieve your full potential. It usually turns out that just one isn't enough, either. One has to wonder why, if they've plumbed the secrets of the cosmos, they still have to worry about crass concerns like money.

And if  you think about it, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Whether you believe in evolution, the Book of Genesis, aliens dropping monoliths on the planet, or whatever, why would we be walking around with organs that are 90% unused? That's extra weight we don't need slowing us down, energy our bodies need being wasted for no reason. From a purely biological sense, it would be an albatross around the neck, hindering our survival. The world simply doesn't work that way. If we really only used 10% of our brains, then our brains would be 10% of the size it actually is. That or we'd be extinct.

One last thing, there's a related idea that says if we were to use 100% of our brains, it would transform us into some sort of superman, possibly even a being of pure thought. Unfortunately for us, there is a time when the human brain is 100% active: during a seizure. And I don't think anyone would consider that to be the pinnacle of human development.

 -Long days and pleasant nights 

If it is broke, don't fix it

I can't stand it when someone posts an article about a politician doing /saying something stupid, and following it with "and this is why I don't vote." No, you don't vote because you're lazy and complacent, but let's put that aside for the time being. The logic of the statement boggles the mind. You don't want to fix the system because it's broken? What kind of sense does that make?
Then there's the people who say "Well, the other side is just as bad." Let's follow that line of thinking for a moment. The statement assumes that there are only two Parties. If you think the Democrats and the Republicans are both idiots, then what about the other options. Consider being a Libertarian (a real Libertarian, not the guys in the GOP who day they're Libertarian). Or a Socialist (again, a real one).
"Now wait a minute," you may be saying, "I might as well throw my vote away as vote for a third party candidate." It certainly looks that way when you watch elections on television, especially at the Federal level. But here's two things to think about. There's no law saying that it has to be a two Party system. In fact, the two Party thing is a rather recent occurrence. And even if it is easiest to have only two candidates, they can still be done, by nosing out one of the two current Parties.
Can't be done? Consider this. The majority of eligible Americans don't bother voting. Which means they either think the country is perfect the way it is, or they're weighed down by despair-based apathy. Considering the way these people bitch online, I'm going to assume the latter is the case. Imagine if all those people picked another Party to back, one that fulfilled this requirements for responsible government. We could have an actual Revolution on our hands.
But back to the original point, those people who say they don't vote because things aren't being run the way they like. Imagine if that method was applied to other situations. Say your car breaks down. You have it towed to a mechanic, who tells you he'll look it over.
You wait a while, and eventually he gets back to you.
"Your alternator is broken," he says.
You ask "How much is that going to cost to fix?"
But the mechanic shakes his head. "I'm not going to fix it. I'm not going to replace it, either. The other ones are just as bad. They all break eventually."
"Well, can I drive my car without an alternator?" You ask.
"Absolutely not," the mechanic says. "It won't even start without an alternator. Now go home." You stare in bewilderment, but he will say nothing more on the matter. Perhaps he even insults you for trying to fix your car.
Later that day, you see the mechanic has posted pictures of your car online with the caption "This is why I don't fix cars." You write your own post, complaining about how you had to get your car towed to another mechanic, and you had to get a taxi home. Within minutes, mechanics from across the country are telling you that you have no right to whine about your car, because you're the one who got it that way. They state that they also refuse to fix cars as a form of protest against cars that break down.
Yes, it all makes so much sense.
-Long days and pleasant nights

Lies and jerks

Ever notice the little ways we try to hide things from other people? I'm not just talking about that guy you know who can never admit he or she is wrong, I mean the small stuff we all do every day.
Like when someone calls you up and says "Oh, I'm sorry, did I wake you up?" And you lie and assure them no, you're always up at 3:30 am on a weekday. Why do we do that? Are you afraid of offending someone who just dragged you out of bed to tell you that episode of "I Love Lucy" that you like is on. I do it myself, and I have no idea why.
Then there's the people who don't want to admit that they didn't
Or, soaking of the person who can't admit they're setting what about people don't want to admit they don't know something, but are so obvious that they must be doing it in purpose. I used to work with this one woman who anytime she got a question answered, would say "I already knew that, I just wanted to see if you knew." She'd say it with a smile like she was kidding, but if you pressed her, she would insist that she already knew.
Then there was this guy who called my phone and asked to speak to someone who wasn't me, let's call him Phil.
"You have the wrong number," I said.
"No, I don't," he said. The implication seemed to be that he didn't dial the wrong number, I had the wrong phone.
"Yes, you have," I said.
"Are you sure Phil's not there?"
I assured him I was positive, that I didn't even know anyone named Phil.
"Look," he said, "Can you just ask if Phil is there?"
I said "I'm the only one in this car."
He muttered something unflattering about me and hung up.
I read somewhere that people tend to view situations as the result of personality traits in others, but with themselves they consider the circumstances. For instance, if someone is rude to me on the phone for reasons beyond my control, like in the above example, I think that guy is a jerk. But if I was the one venting my spleen on someone who didn't deserve it, I'd say "Well, I've been having a rough week, what with my car breaking down and all the trouble I've been having at work..."
Ever since I read that, I've tried to be more understanding of other people. If someone cuz me if in traffic, I tell myself maybe he didn't see me or is in a hurry for a perfectly good reason, rather than assuming he's a reprehensible pile of filth.
It didn't so me from cursing him out when it happens, though.

-Long days and pleasant nights

Back, Maybe

I see it's been almost a year since my last post. The two or three people who actually read this thing may be wondering why I've been away for so long. Simply put: I've been busy.

I don't usually discuss my personal life here, unless I'm relating an anecdote or similar. I'm going to break that format for the moment, so I can explain why I've been neglecting my writing, and why I've been the happiest I've been in my life.

Her name is Amarilys Lily, and she is my other half.

I used to think it was hyperbole, or worse, sentimental nonsense when people said thing like that. I used to think I'd be alone the rest of my life. That light at the end of the tunnel starts looking awfully distant after 30+ years. I used to think love like you see in the movies was a pretty fantasy invented by foolish dreamers. I used to think a lot of things.

The last year has been an amazing, dizzying, scary, impossible ride to places I told myself didn't exist. Intoxicating and sobering all at once. I discovered that I hadn't forgotten how to dream, merely forgotten why I should.

So forgive me for being away, and forgive me if I do it again. I'm in love, dammit, and I wouldn't take back a moment of it for anything.

I love you, Amie.

-Long days and pleasant nights 

The Hotel Room

I had an idea for a series of commercials that some chain of hotels, like Holiday Inn or Best Western, could do. It follows the basic format of celebrity endorsement, with a twist that I think will be very successful. Here's a sample run.

EXT. HOTEL

A nice shot of the outside of the hotel, in bright sunshine, with a few scattered clouds

DESK CLERK
Thanks for choosing us, sir.

INT. HOTEL LOBBY
The camera shows a side view of SHAQUILLE O'NEAL receiving a hotel key from a young female DESK CLERK

DESK CLERK
Here's your key. I really hope you enjoy your stay, Mr.O'Neal
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL accepts the key

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Thank you, I'm sure I will.

DESK CLERK
Tommy will show you to your room.

DESK CLERK gestures off-screen. SHAQUILLE O'NEAL turns. The camera changes to his point of view to show TOMMY WISEAU, dressed as a bellhop. Cue theme to The Room.

TOMMY WISEAU
Oh hai, Shaq!

Camera cuts briefly to SHAQUILLE O'NEAL, looking bemused.

TOMMY WISEAU
So let's go to your room, hah?

INT ELEVATOR
TOMMY WISEAU struggles to get luggage cart into elevator.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Do you need a hand with that?

TOMMY WISEAU
Don't worry about it!

INT HOTEL HALLWAY
SHAQUILLE O'NEAL walks down the hall alongside TOMMY WISEAU, who's pushing the slightly damaged luggage cart.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
So then he says, "If I'd known you were on the Lakers, I would have charged you double!"

TOMMY WISEAU
Hahaha, what a story!

INT HOTEL ROOM

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL enters his room, followed by TOMMY WISEAU. The camera is focused on the two actors, not showing the room.

TOMMY WISEAU
Well, here you go!

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Thanks, but isn't this unusual for a hotel room?

Camera cuts to shot of the hotel room, which is dressed to resemble the apartment from The Room.

TOMMY WISEAU
It looks just fine to me. Anyway, enjoy your stay in THE ROOM.

Cut to splashscreen of the hotel's logo.

INT Hotel Room

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL fishes in his pocket for something.

SHAQUILLE O'NEAL
Oh here, a little something for you...

TOMMY WISEAU
Don't worry about it! A-hahahaha!

FADE TO BLACK as TOMMY WISEAU continues to laugh.

-Long Days and Pleasant Nights