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Is it just me, or do a whole bunch of websites that were down seem to be back up?
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20 June 2009
Is it just me, or do a whole bunch of websites that were down seem to be back up?
19 June 2009
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Chris threw out the idea today that we should all have a celebratory "ring in the curfew" party. Elle and I agreed with lukewarm enthusiasm it wasn't a bad idea (hardly something worth celebrating, but people and drink do occasionally make Things better). Cam nonchalantly pointed out that many places, including The After, would be closing at 11 so that the workers would be able to get home before curfew.
"No problem!" boomed Chris. "Plenty of time for a few after-work drinks, right?"
Guy had a point.
Wish I could say it was a good time, but the atmosphere was a bit subdued. The owner of The After was noticeably irked, flinging drinks around at the bar with little regard for fullness or accuracy. This rubbed off onto his staff, which threatened to rub off onto us.
"He's likely to lose a lot of business because of the curfew," Cam explained, nodding sympathetically to the owner.
Elle's eyes widened in understanding as she sat up straighter, brushing a strand of candy-apple-red hair from her forehead. "Not much nightlife for bars to support now, I guess...."
Chris frowned into his beer, flakes of foam hiding in his goatee. I just shrugged, never having been one for barhopping in general.
Cam congratulated us, noting that our curfew ads were airing nationally together with one or two other groups' work. he said his higher-ups were pleased with the effort, detail, and common-interest approach our projects showed. We toasted to that, but the cheer lasted about as long as the round did.
At about 10, the mood in the place had deteoriorated to the point where we were all ready to give in to the loss of our nighttime freedoms and just move on with it. Chris doggedly ordered one last round for good measure, the bar's owner giving a half-smile in appreciation. Afterwards, stepped outside, said our goodbyes and stumbled, to varying degrees, our separate ways.
And so I find myself here, killing time, doing a New Year's Eve-esque countdown. 5, 4, 3, 2, 1....
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18 June 2009
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Maybe you've heard the saying before, 'Idle hands are the devil's plaything.' Or something like that. Grew up down south, buckle of the Bible Belt, where if you listen to the wrong (right?) people, there were few things that WEREN'T the devil's plaything. This one stuck in memory though, because it actually makes sense.
Maybe you grew up with one of those hippie uncles, the one your parents would always talk about in hushed tones when they thought you weren't around, though really they wanted you to only think you weren't supposed to hear because they actually wanted you to learn that living THAT way was unacceptable.
That was a mouthful. Keyboardful. Whatever.
Anyway, maybe you had an uncle like that. Maybe he hit the eggnog pretty solidly one Thanksgiving and starting rambling about how he'd managed to avoid being pinned down and controlled by The Man unlike all the other sheeple in his family. Maybe you cried yourself to sleep after learning your parents could have screamfights with their brother just like you and your brothers and sisters did.
Maybe that was just me. But I digress. Point is, maybe there's a bit to what he had to say. And maybe he was also proof that the old adage we started with had some truth to it as well.
People with jobs, especially in a time of crisis, are too busy doing said jobs, too busy providing for themselves and/or their loved ones to stir up much trouble. Now, should these selfsame people be lacking in employment, well then.
Hadn't been paying much attention before, too focused on my own personal issues and problems. But it's getting to the point where it's starting to seep through my self-absorbed fog. People milling about the streets, the apartment complexes, shuffling, varying levels of furtiveness. The increase in both number and intensity of the glances at my wallet and my person when I'm able to buy my choice of the week's groceries.
Maybe it's just in my head. I mean, I mention it tonight because they mentioned it tonight on the news. Unemployment still sky-high, desperation reaching similar levels. Unemployment centers overwhelmed. Government programs unable to keep up. Situation unlikely to improve. People unable to make payments.
So many "un-"s.
As we get more and more removed from the attacks themselves and things enter a new sort of consistency, the sense of community and fear of a greater evil both dissipate. In its stead comes a more personal fear, the individual's self-preserving fear. At least, that's what I assume. Fortunately, this is merely an academic study for me. I'm one of the lucky ones.
Relatively speaking.
Still, it's nearing the point where I have to shoulder my way through the downtown streets, watch my step for loungers on the sidewalk, and feel a growing need to keep assuring myself my wallet's still in my pocket.
In potentially related news, curfew starts tomorrow. Don't forget, yeah?
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17 June 2009
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Picking up where I left off: the downside of sleep-deprivation-induced loopiness. Namely, seeing boogeymen in all the dark corners. Ghosts in your peripheral vision. Figuratively speaking, however. It's a bit different now that I've gotten some rest, but these phantasmic thoughts won't stop spooking me occasionally.
So we know now first-hand the deportations are real. And we know they're happening now. What else is kicking in now? Yeah. So why do I think the two are related?
Been keeping up with the local news?
Anybody else think there's been surprisingly little reaction to the deportations? And yet there was a report today about backlash "apparently over the enforced curfew," as the reporter put it. The voice-over, non-live-on-the-scene reporter. There's no other reason to assume they're protesting curfews over high gas prices, overcrowded public transportation, or horrible late-night TV lineups.
I'm just wondering if people are starting to react now that they're on slightly more stable footing, feeling a bit more confident and all. And that the curfew is, in part, a check to keep things in control should news over the deportations explode the way I'd expect it to.
I dunno. If it's even true, it may not even be a bad thing when you think about it like that.
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16 June 2009
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The similarities between coffee and oil are non-insignificant. Both are black liquids that, with varying amounts of refinery, become fuels. Both are largely imported, and the loss of either would lead to social instability and dramatic downturns in production and efficiency.
Conspiracy theorists need to look closer into this relationship. Notice how despite these obvious correlations, in times of crisis gas prices skyrocket while coffee remains generally steady? They know. They know that as long as we have the coffee to get us through the inconveniences of public transportation or pump-gouging, we will persevere.
Look I've been awake forever just bear with me here.
Sleep deprivation is a tool I hadn't explored before in my work and maybe it is something I should look into more. Some people call it loopy, I prefer to say I develop free-associative cognizance. But much like the Schwartz, it has an upside and a downside. For better or worse I get both.
Let's focus on the upside. We wrapped up the curfew project today. Got the now-trademark thumbs-up from Cam. Took a two-pronged approach to the situation. See, here's what I think. I think people generally fall into one of two categories. One where they have a family they care for, and one where they don't have a family they care for (be it really annoying in-laws, or lack of other live-in family members).
Prove me wrong. You can't. I win.
So for the family people, it's easy to push the whole "protect the homestead" ideal. "In these troubled times," background images of wanton destruction, "you may feel lost and helpless. Powerless against tomorrow. But you can help." Background images of random generic families of all colors and numbers, living in vast mansions to tiny apartments. "Help us protect your house. Your family. Your source of comfort and security." Background image of American flag. "Help us Hold Down the Fort."
Credits: Writing, me. Voice, Chris. Images photographed by Elle. Edited by Cam. It's the Hold Down the Fort campaign. Named it myself.
Look, told you I was tired dammit.
Now for those with whom the previous message wouldn't find resonance. They're the hard sell. The night owls, the free folk. At first, wanted to be more direct. Couldn't come up with anything and was getting frustrated. Decided we should just tell them 'look this is the way things are so just bite the proverbial bullet so that you don't end up biting a real one.'
Cam didn't go for that script. (It should be noted Chris seemed a little disappointed he wouldn't get to voice it.)
It wouldn't work, Cam reminded me, simply because it'd build resentment and that's what we're trying to avoid at all costs here. But then I was like, wait, let's change the tone then. Less belligerence, but still the same message. I mean, it's not like we can reason with a lot of these people. If they don't want to like it there's nothing we can say to change that. But if we convince them it's in their best interests...state the situation as-is, and explain the repercussions we'd like to avoid. Namely, the bullet-biting. He shrugged, his way of saying 'put it together and we'll take a look.'
"Nobody wants to be home on a Saturday night. Nobody wants to change their lifestyle due to the cowardly actions of others. But we need your help putting an end to the threat. Clear the streets before midnight. Help us rest assured the targets in our sights...are the right ones."
Cam nodded, and now Elle and Chris move on to the audio/visual aspects of it.
Now wait, you say. Those sound like TV or radio ads. What about the text ads? We're using those to focus on the details of the program. The punishments and whatnot, the stuff that'd take away a bit of the goodwill we're trying to build with the commercials. Cam put those together while we worked on the above spots.
So that's the upside of the (sleep)deprivation. The downside we'll discuss tomorrow, barring any intervening shenanigans.
Crashing starts...now.
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15 June 2009
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So, don't know why yet, but they're trying to hurry us up with the curfew materials. A bit of urgency that seems beyond the usual government (lack of?) efficiency.
Working way too many hours to come up with something good with everybody. All a bit stressed. Only thing I have is the facts: Goes into effect Friday at midnight (Saturday if you wanna be technical). Mandatory punishments: first offense is one month house arrest with surveillance. Second offense is six months. Third is a year's jail time. All minimums too.
This isn't gonna be an easy sell. Back to work tomorrow, far too early. So damn tired.
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