(1) Let’s not pretend this isn’t something serious – it is. This flu strain is new – and no one has been vaccinated or immunized against it. Given how fast and easily the “regular” flu spreads every year through a population that has built up defenses against it – it is cause for concern. Look at some past (deadly) flu pandemics, and there is definitely the potential for this to get ugly – so siding on caution doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.

(2) While I do think the media, as usual, took this story and ran it up our behind – creating more panic than there needed to be, I think the US Government (except for Biden’s bonehead comments), the World Health Organization and most other government agencies acted prudently. They were put in a tight situation – one could liken it to Katrina – a brewing storm in its early stages – definitely a threat but no one really knows to what degree. A week ago (and even today) no one knew how deadly this strain could become – and no one will know until its infected tons of people. The US Government didn’t sound off the panic alarm, but waived the red flag reminding us all to be mindful of spreading such a disease. This is the only way to control such an potential outbreak less going berserk – by reminding each one to be a little more diligent about washing hands and staying home if sick.

(3) There is still cause for concern – while a few hundred cases is chump change (I agree) – we’ve done a good job at slowing the transmission so that we can get our arms around this thing (and build up a network to fight it if it does go nuts). These things have the potential to get seemingly quiet and then go vigilantly on us. Probably won’t happen, but again, good to be safe, because the reality is that it does have the possibility (again, look at some past flu pandemics ).

That being said, the media has gone overboard, no doubt. I love how they create the Swine hysteria headlines/stories one day, then the next their headlines are questioning if it’s all overblown. It’s like a two-fer-story; creating one story spawns another. But that will never stop, unless we stop letting them do it to us.

“In business and politics a man must carve and maul his way through men to get to be King of the Mountain. Once there, he can be great and kind – but he must get there first.”

The title of this book is a link to Shakespeare’s Richard III – which opens with “Now is the winter of our discontent made glorious summer by this son of York; and all the clouds that lowered upon our house in the deep bosom of the ocean buried.” This is (future king) Richard celebrating an upturn in his family’s fortunes – basically saying that our dark days are behind us (winter) and the future is now turning bright. It begins his accession to the throne, which he briefly attains, through murder, manipulation, and treachery.

The Winter of Our Discontent’s main character, Ethan Allen Hawley, makes a similar shift to achieve material desires. At the start of the novel, Ethan is a moralistic, but ordinary, man. Like his father and grandfather before him, Ethan is fair and honest in a world that has increasingly become materialistic and corrupt. He is married with two kids, working as a clerk at a grocery store his family used to own. He failed early at business – losing the grocery store and what was left of his family’s land in the town (except his house) – which created a chip on his shoulder that everyone in town seems to want to wedge deeper. His family harps on him about their lack of money and status in the town. The town banker questions what Ethan is doing working as a clerk. Ethan’s boss stresses business prowess and the need to “look after number one.” A local vender even offers a bribe and kickback to Ethan for some business, as “everybody’s got a right to make a buck.” Ethan is an outlier in the town his family essentially founded – as the old is constantly being moved out for the new, and Ethan is stuck looking into the past.

Ethan begins to tire of being the town doormat – and like most of the town before him, begins to break down and rationalize that morality is relative. He asks if “the eaters (are) more immoral than the eaten? In the end all are eaten – all – gobbled up by the earth, even the fiercest and the most crafty.” He questions what one gains by being a moral individual, when we all share the same fate. With the help of an opportunistic amateur fortune-teller, Ethan rebuilds himself in efforts to capture the respect of and successes of those around him – like a snake “changing its skin, part dusty and ragged and part fresh and new.” He falls in line with those around him – letting his animalistic nature control his behavior.

He is able to make this change naturally, and he gains success and wealth outwardly but finds that he has morally depleted himself in the process. He manipulates his childhood friend, now a drunk, into giving Ethan his (very valuable) land in exchange for enough money to drink himself to death. He reports his boss (the grocery store owner) to the government as an illegal immigrant, so he can take back ownership of the store. He even contemplates robbing a bank before fate intercedes. All these actions are rationalized by Ethan, as “all men are moral, only their neighbors are not.” These actions let him achieve the wealth and status that he feels he’s been missing, but he finds it unsatisfying given what he had to give up. Ethan realizes that even in a relative world, there are still acceptable and unacceptable moral standards for oneself.

Ethan is finally both taken over the edge and then brought back by the future – his children. His son, Allen, has inherited the same moral standards of those around him, having plagiarized his essay in an essay contest. Ethan is disgusted – and at this point realizes his hypocrisy – that while he has justified immorality within himself (due to relative moralism), he finds the same behavior in others detestable. His daughter, Ellen, saves Ethan by representing moralistic hope in the future – a light that has not gone out, and in the end, Ethan puts his own needs aside in order to provide hope for the next generation.

A good story that underlines what Steinbeck considered the “moral flabbiness” spreading from corporate America to everyday American life during the 50s (and 60s). Through Ethan we experience the collapsing of a moral man into the relative morals that has overtaken everyday life. The message Steinbeck is sending is a relevant one – that no matter what relevant morals are prevalent in society, it is up to the individual not to fall into a relative moral trap, but to be guided by a constant set of absolute morals.

The weakness of the novel is in its characters and relationships, which are lacking in my opinion. The novel’s characters, beyond Ethan, are trivial and not well developed – seeming to only be there to prove a certain point. Part of this probably stems from the fact that most of the book is told from Ethan’s point of view – but even he appears to be lacking something, specifically in his relationships. His only connection is with his past – he has no connection with his wife or his kids – their interactions seem contrived. The only connection he makes is at the end – through the talisman, with his daughter – but it seems like a reach given their prior lack of depth. The relationships lacked to me – maybe this was how Steinbeck envisioned Ethan, but I thought his character (and others) could have been filled out better.

A lot of criticism of this book also stems from comparing it to his other works (mainly Grapes of Wrath) – which I have not read, but now plan to. I think that is a little unfair though – this book stands on its own, depicting its period with universal moral themes, and delivers its intended message.

See some pics of her here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Kjac229/Remy#

In a large pitcher or bowl, mix together the brandy, lemon juice, lemonade concentrate, orange juice, red wine, triple sec, and sugar. Float slices of lemon, orange and lime, and maraschino cherries in the mixture. Refrigerate overnight for best flavor. For a fizzy sangria, add club soda just before serving.

Good stuff.

Can we now admit the obvious? Sarah Palin is utterly unqualified to be vice president. She is a feisty, charismatic politician who has done some good things in Alaska. But she has never spent a day thinking about any important national or international issue, and this is a hell of a time to start. The next administration is going to face a set of challenges unlike any in recent memory. There is an ongoing military operation in Iraq that still costs $10 billion a month, a war against the Taliban in Afghanistan and Pakistan that is not going well and is not easily fixed. Iran, Russia and Venezuela present tough strategic challenges.

Domestically, the bailout and reform of the financial industry will take years and hundreds of billions of dollars. Health-care costs, unless curtailed, will bankrupt the federal government. Social Security, immigration, collapsing infrastructure and education are all going to get much worse if they are not handled soon.

And the American government is stretched to the limit. Between the Bush tax cuts, homeland-security needs, Iraq, Afghanistan and the bailout, the budget is looking bleak. Plus, within a few years, the retirement of the baby boomers begins with its massive and rising costs (in the trillions).

Obviously these are very serious challenges and constraints. In these times, for John McCain to have chosen this person to be his running mate is fundamentally irresponsible. McCain says that he always puts country first. In this important case, it is simply not true.

That being said, the Republicans will obviously go into this debate with some strategy – and while I don’t pretend to know what that strategy is (perhaps to bait Biden on?), someone on the Democrats side ought to figure it out and do their best to counter this. While I argue that Obama does need to be more aggressive, I think Biden in this case really needs to hold back some, or he walks a fine line between belittling her and pointing out her lack of readiness for the VP.

On a side note, I (and others) thought that it would be difficult for the Democrats to push the experience issue with Palin given Obama’s short experience. However, I think the more Palin talks, she actually stregthens Obama’s experience – as she shows someone who is obviously not ready to lead, and Obama looks more than capable next to her.

Of course – if you’re a McCain supporter – you thought McCain won. If you support Obama, you thought he won. Bottom line is the swing voters. Nothing new was really said, but I thought Obama came off as more presidential – and obviously more thoughtful than McCain, who seemed to just be trying to jab at Obama all night and score “debate points”.

But at the end of the day, you can swing the debate any direction you like, and the media will. Nothing really changed from this debate – no huge screw ups or revelations.