December 12, 2008
Four For Friday
Q1 - Smokin': What do you think of President-elect Barak Obama's decision to smoke cigarettes... Who cares, it doesn't affect his ability to lead; I care because kids will smoke as a result of his example; it bothers me, but as long as he does it in private, I'm okay with it; something else?
Q2 - Books: Did you read any memorable books this year/books you'd recommend reading?
Q3 - Take Notice: What do you think people tend to notice about you? Related... Is there something else you wish they'd notice instead?
Q4 - Winter 2008/2009 Movies: Australia, Four Christmases, The Transporter 3, Nobel Son, Frost/Nixon, Punisher: War Zone, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Milk, Defiance, The Tale of Despereaux, Yes Man, Bedtime Stories, The Reader, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Hurricane Season, Marley & Me, Will Eisner's The Spirit, Revolutionary Road, Nothing Like the Holidays, Seven Pounds, Valkyrie, Bride Wars, Possession, The Unborn, The Brothers Bloom, Notorious, Paul Blart: Mall Cop, He's Just Not That Into You, Pink Panther 2, Push, Confessions of a Shopaholic, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience... which movies are you most looking forward to watching this winter?
Posted by Mikal at December 12, 2008 9:52 PM
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Q1 - Smokin': Mical I cannot understand how smoking "bothers" you when you so vehemently proclaim your adoration for a film whose opening scene depicts a male minor sitting naked on a lazy boy waiting for an undressing female minor to sit atop him for a sexual encounter resulting in the impregnation of a child by a child. What is bothersome about a 46 y/o adult male who has been elected to the highest ranking office in the United States of America having a cigarette in public or private? Should having a glass of wine or a beer with dinner be reserved for private so kids will not drink as a result of adult example? Should all bars and advertisment for alchol be banned as bad example? Should all smokers hide in closets because it bothers people? Smoking is legal if you had not yet heard? I am a million times more concerned with parents who not only allow but happily cart their kids to McDonalds for the ever so healthy Happy Meals than I am of an adult smoking, and God forbid in public! I would love to see a study on diseases caused by Alcohol vs. Smoking vs. Fast Food.
Wow. OK. My replies are on my blog, linked. I'll just add that I didn't read the first question the same way the first, anonymous, responder did at ALL!!
I don't say this often (ever?), but I appreciate the thought you put into your weekly questions, and I enjoy putting my reactions into words. The questions are timely, varied, and obviously of personal interest to you, but I don't get the sense of your personal feelings by a skew of the wording.
So. Thanks, Mikal.
Wow is right, Cat, but this isn't the first time in the history of mankind that someone has made a wild assumption or an "Affirming the Consequent" argument (e.g., "If A then B. B. Therefore A!")
To the anonymous comment leaver above... For the record, I did not state an opinion, yet, on the Obama smoking question (Q1); I simply asked the question (if you haven't noticed, that's what I do here with my Four For Friday entries... I ask questions).
Bottom line: You can't accuse me of denying the antecedent without first knowing where I stand on the issue!
I am the anonymous responder (not intentional). I agree with Cat 100% well done on the FFF. I also agree that A to B to A was not the best course to take. My reaction/comment is to the "I care because kids will smoke as a result of his example; it bothers me, but as long as he does it in private" is an A to B statement. If A Obama smokes then B kids will smoke as a result, is an opinion, but its okay if he hides in a closet. I am not meaning this rude at all, quite the contrary I really enjoy your questions and comments I am just quite surprised by the private part. Next time the American people elect me President of the US I will decide what people can/should do in public or private, Ummm, Nope...
1- I don't think its a big deal in terms of his ability to be president. I think he's retarded for smoking in this day and age, but that's a different issue.
2- Abridged Atlas Shrugged. I couldn't take the diatribes of the full version and I consider myself an avid reader.
3- The first thing most people comment on is my height. After they know me, most people probably categorize me first as smart. I like smart, its not 100% genetics, whereas the height I didn't do anything to earn.
4- I'd probably watch any of those; right now its far more about finding a worthwhile who to watch one with.
Tracy,
I think you're still not getting it, said nicely. I write questions and sometimes offer possible answers as the part of the question itself. Then, people such as yourself and others leave answers. Me providing the following as options does not mean that is what I think (you don't know what I think until I answer the question myself):
- Who cares, it doesn't affect his ability to lead;
- I care because kids will smoke as a result of his example;
- it bothers me, but as long as he does it in private, I'm okay with it;
- something else
Do you get it now?... above are possible answers I provided for people to use as a prompt in answering the question for themselves... the semicolon clearly differentiates each possible prompt, and to assume that any of those are how I feel--without first asking--is the wrong approach, in my opinion.
Mikal
Mikal, thank you for putting it nicely! Kudos for the well written question and five Hail Mary’s to the atheist for penance. Bravo to you for making your living as a writer, if you know of a market for ignorant jerks keep me in mind :)
1. As long as smoking is still legal and he does not inflict second hand smoke on others, I see nothing wrong. I cannot see how smoking will affect the way he runs the country.
2. The most memorable book - My Sister's Keeper
3. People usually comment on my hands and my nails (and it's always a good comment). I wish people could judge all of us by what's inside, not outside.
4. I'm not much of a movie goer, but I would like to see Marley & Me.
Q1 - Smokin': I think President-elect Obama's decision to smoke--regardless of whether he is in office or not--is his choice and his alone (taking into consideration of course a number of factors, including but not limited to: what his wife and doctors have to say about it, how it impacts those around him the most, and how it appears to others). At the end of the day though, unless his clothing smells from cigarette smoke and he doesn't do it in front of the media, it doesn't really matter.
That said, do I personally believe his decision to smoke is a foolish one? For sure... with all the data available--not just "suggesting" but confirming--smoking cigarettes is dangerous to your health and to the health of those who consume second-hand smoke for prolonged periods of time, one would think he would make a more inspired choice. However, this is the same person--as were his two closest competitors for the Presidency--who ran for and won a seat in the U.S. Senate knowing full well that in just a matter of month after his victory he'd be ignoring his job responsibilities in pursuit of another elected position. This is to say, there are far more concerning things on my mind--like people running for and winning elected positions only to abdicate their responsibilities to their constituents because of another opportunity (like running for a higher office or promoting one self or accepting a position in at the Cabinet level while still serving in an elected post elsewhere). Of course there's more that bothers me about politics but you'll have to wait for my book to come out to read about it (you know, the book that's in my head and that no publisher will ever want to sign, print, publish and promote).
Q2. Books - It's a tie between "BLA BLA: 600 Incredibly Useless Facts" and W. Edwards Deming's "The New Economics" (2nd edition). Did you know Rhinoceros' horns are made up of compressed hair, and that a measure of dispersion is by itself not an indication of achievement? (I'll let you guess which of those comes from which book.)
Q3. Take Notice: That I'm a large, husky sorta fella. Nothing; I'd rather go unnoticed (but not in a self-loathing sort of way... rather, as in a fly-on-the wall, up way high where no one can get at me with a rolled newspaper or magazine, just so I can sit and listen and observe and not be noticed so I could observe and enjoy people being themselves).
Q4. Winter 2008/2009 Movies: My interest appears in parentheses after each... Australia (want to see it but only if it's really cold and cloudy outside), Four Christmases (saw it; thought 2.5 of the 4 were funny), The Transporter 3 (saw 1 and 2; will wait for 3 to come out on HBO or NetFlix), Nobel Son (want to see it), Frost/Nixon (really want to see it), Punisher: War Zone (no interest whatsoever), The Day the Earth Stood Still (intrigued, in the same way I am about a train crash), Milk (really want to see it), Defiance (really want to see it), The Tale of Despereaux (no interest), Yes Man (want to see it), Bedtime Stories (want to see it), The Reader (want to see it), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (really want to see it), Hurricane Season (?), Marley & Me (really, really, really want to see it), Will Eisner's The Spirit (no interest, not on your lief), Revolutionary Road (?), Nothing Like the Holidays (will wait till it comes to HBO or NetFlix), Seven Pounds (really, really, really want to see it), Valkyrie (want to see it), Bride Wars (looks funny but not sure), Possession (?), The Unborn (?), The Brothers Bloom (want to see it), Notorious (somewhat curious), Paul Blart: Mall Cop (I'll wait), He's Just Not That Into You (want to see it), Pink Panther 2 (never, not on your life), Push (looks interesting), Confessions of a Shopaholic, Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (never).
1. I'm sure he's not the first president to smoke. He says he's trying to quit, but we all know how tough that can be, especially with the added pressure of being CIF of the Free World. I don't like that he smokes, but it won't have a huge impact on what I think of him as a person. We all have our vices.
2. "Middlesex" by Jeffrey Eugenides. Good story.
3. They notice that I am petite and always comment on it. Also that I'm quiet. I wish they could see that I do have a "wild" side, but I guess it only comes out at certain times, so it wouldn't always be obvious.
4. Australia, Milk, Seven Pounds.
Q1 - Smokin': My mother smoked during the first half of my life. I couldn't stand it. So as long as Obama doesn't smoke around me, I really don't care.
Q2 - Books: Haven't done much reading lately, other than these lame-o management books they make me read at work (What is self deception? Thinking that the book you wrote about it is worth anything... or maybe thinking you don't need to read books about self deception. Hmm...) But my all-time favorite remains Starship Troopers by Robert Heinlein.
Q3 - Take Notice: My ever-present arm sling. I'd rather they notice the rest of my incredibly hot body.
Q4 - Winter 2008/2009 Movies: The Day the Earth Stood Still is the one I most looked forward to, mostly because I am a fan of the original and saw from the trailers that they kept Gort in it. Watched it opening night, loved it. Even Keanu Reeves couldn't destroy it.
Q1 - Cigarettes are of the devil. They are a symbol of hell on a stick. And Barak Obama is basically saying he supports the devil by smoking them. He might as well where horns on his head and paint himself into a demon. I see right through his trickery. I know a follower of Beelzebub when I see it, and self abuse is the first step. SATAN = naughty choices. I fortunately am pure of naughty choices.
Q2 - I read a lot of memorable books, but I can’t recall which ones.
Q3 - People always notice my peerless beauty…I wish they would notice my suave sauntering. It’s quite remarkable.
Q4 - Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience!!! Why would I even need to explain my reasoning.
First time participating ... but my contribution is up! :)
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