Monday, June 30, 2008

Friday, June 27, 2008

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Monday, June 23, 2008

Why I beat the dead horse...it keeps kicking





Two places I feel close ties with have made national news recently. This opens the door for conversation on a couple points.

Curious George
The owner of the bar cited his right to freedom of speech.
I agree, he has a right to make the shirt, I will defend him on that. I would like to add for those who do not know the area, Marietta
(where the shirt was made) is not a country hick town. It is an affluent suburb of Atlanta chalk full of houses that have retained their value despite the housing crisis.
The shirts sold out.
Is racism really a thing of the past?



Obama Sock Monkey
My daughter has a sock monkey. The maker of the Obama version has ceased production, apologized, and claims it did not realize this doll would be offensive.
Even if the manufacturer was simply unaware as they claim, this one hurts.

To be unaware that referring to a black person as a monkey is the height of ignorance. It shows a complete lack of historical knowledge and a complete blind eye to the experience of millions of black people.
Reading the responses to columns dealing with this story in both the Deseret News and Salt Lake Tribune have sent me into a funk. I should know better, as these comment sections tend to attract the fringe who are simply trying to get a rise out of readers, but the tone was more than disappointing.
The idea is repeated that the outcry was unfair, because Bush is called a monkey all the time and “the left” are not upset by this.
Do I really need to explain why this is not a case of unfair double standard? Have political lenses really made empathy this out of focus?

Do black people need thicker skin or do white people need to knock it off?

Sunday, June 22, 2008

Gordon B.

This was done from my seat, 4 rows from the stand. He kept looking right at me either thinking I was some great note taker, or he was more likely wishing I would stop doodeling and pay better attention.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Friday, June 13, 2008

Who are they??



Back by popular demand
Who are they?

Thursday, June 12, 2008

The Flip Side


The Flip Side

Apathy does not make one a racist.

People tend to care about things that affect them. Pet owners care about animals, auto workers care about unions, surfers care about clean water. The more secure a person’s life becomes, and the more dominant the culture, the more influence and freedom that person enjoys. As a person, or group, grow in power and freedom there are less and less outside forces that can truly affect them. In this situation an individual can choose what hey want to care about.
Whales
Trees
Darfur
The World Bank
Cancer
Diabetes
Vaccinations
Autism
Racial Equality
Homelessness
Pick whichever one you feel some passion about and lend a hand, give a dollar, or sign a petition. As a general rule racial equality does not hit” close to home” with the greater white populace and it is therefore not a natural choice of issues to care about. It is just one of a list of things a person can choose to spend some spare time on, if they get around to it.

Now this applies to black people as well, but the list of things that hit “close to home” is usually different. Issues of race are real and ever present. Anyone who is knee deep in an issue finds it hard to understand why someone else may not care.

Racial issues are historically antagonistic and those who are affected are emotionally invested. Wouldn’t it make sense that a person thus embroiled may harbor some resentment toward those who sit on the sidelines? It takes an uncommon perspective for such an individual to sit back and realize, “I am just one cause, on a list of causes, that white person can choose to care about.”

It may be a more natural conclusion, to a person who has experienced, and been taught, that white people don’t like black people, that white’s inaction may be more devious. If the black person has no personal interaction with white people how would they know any different?

Is this conclusion fair to the white person? Absolutely not, but it is understandable.

Apathy does not indicate racism but it does take extra effort and awareness for a black person to understand this… but why would one put in extra effort to understand someone who isn’t willing to do the same?

John Wesley (lake) Powell


Sunday, June 8, 2008

Who am I?


This person's photo has been reproduced worldwide more than nearly any one else in history. Of course it wasn't this photo that is famous but I'm sure you have all seen his picture before. Since this pic is somewhat obscure and my artwork is always in question I'll even start you off with a hint. His pictured activity is tied deeply to his native nationality.

Who is this?

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Supply and Demand


Large or "big box" retailers wield enough power in the market to dictate policy including "buybacks". This is when an item is not sold, for whatever reason, the manufacturer is required to buy the product back at the retail price, therefore freeing up valuable shelf space for other products. This shifts the risk of sales back to the manufacturer who is then incentified to advertise thier products, and the retailer, to ensure goods move off shelf to consumers and not back to the manufacturer.
This is also where discount warehouses obtain stock. They purchase this "overstock" at huge discounts due to the manufacturer's inability to absorb the cost of re-shipping and storing buyback product.
This lack of risk and fixed costs, allows the big box to expand rapidly, therefore expanding it's influence and also it's ability to dictate price. This is why WalMart is inexpensive and everywhere.