the oil spill

When we play Russian roulette with our eco systems like we do with every offshore oil rig, we're not just biding our time until we mutilate our environment, we're also taking huge chances with the economies that depend on those environments. The Gulf's economy, what's left of it, is going to get screwed nine ways to Sunday by this spill. Even if you don't care about wildlife and think God put other living creatures on this planet for us to slaughter willy-nilly whether for food or fun, you should at least care about the way the spill is going to hurt the fishing and tourism industries. No one wants to swim in a wasteland or eat Maine lobster in the Big Easy. Anytime we put the environment in danger, we put ourselves in danger, period. So stop sneering at clean energy, Republicans, and understand that it's not just foreign oil we'd be smartest to stop depending on, but all oil. At the end of the day, offshore drilling is NOT worth the inevitable (and this spill was inevitable) price.

Martinique

My parents are coming tomorrow. Fellowship season is underway. I am not getting the amount of reading done required to finish 100 books in a year. Not that that's particularly important.

I've been reading Wideman's Martinique book, and I'm not loving it. His book is unfocused (purportedly on purpose) and he talks about Martinique almost solely through his lens of guilt at being "white" by being wealthy enough to go there as a tourist and having a Caucasian girlfriend. All of the history of slavery seems to converge upon the island, and he refuses to see a single islander as anything more than a byproduct of that terrible history. They do not appear to have any other qualities, and Wideman, so dismissive of fellow tourists, says he feels as if he is in a dream, yet I doubt the Martinicans feel this way, that they so box themselves in.
Yes, slavery is and its history remains a critical aspect of the development of Martinican culture, identity, and economic development, but it's not EVERYTHING. Germany and Germans are not all about Nazis. China and the Chinese are not all about Communism. Yes, the tourism industry with its catering to the upper-class, which in this case is largely European, can feel like not too far a leap from days prior. But Martinique is not the only place in the universe where a person's day job is to cater to someone of another race who has more money. This is practically universal. If you want to write a sociological study of tourism and what it means to Caribbean islands or Pacific islands or minorities in any given nation, do it. But don't throw all that weight on Martinique and call it a day.

I have to go to the gym, get my hair cut, clean my car, submit by CBS app, and go to Santa Monica today to pick up an air mattress and see Hot Tub Time Machine with a friend.

a good day

I had kind of a good day today. Did two hikes in the Walking L.A. book -- High Tower and Highland Bowl and the Whitley Heights one. Kind of killed me, but it was cool, and I also went to Lucky Devils for lunch, which was delicious. Found a Modern Library copy of Sons and Lovers in the giveaway cart at the Studio City library. May or may not go to a screening at the Fox lot tonight. Depends on if my exhaustion dissipates.

Goals this weekend: laundry, finish Modern Family spec, and go to the gym for a little bit. Maybe make some waffles since I accidentally bought 1% milk and I only drink skim...

regarding this awesome day

I love April Fools' Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!







Gotcha! I actually hate it.