Folklore Review: John Henry

Gather round boys and girls as I tell you a story about the greatest railroad worker of them all, John Henry.

We all remember this American folklore of the strongest man alive. An African American by the name of John Henry who races against the very machine that would seek to put him and many other railroad workers out of a job. The race tragically ends with John Henry triumphing over the machine but ultimately dying.

I have been mulling this story around, in my head (dangerous place to be), for some years. Each time I can not help but draw significant parallels to the deep divisions between the southern states and the northern states.

First, the protagonist, John Henry, is a recently emancipated African American man carving out a living, in the south, by working for a newly expanded railroad company (historians would debate whether the tale actually took place in Alabama or West Virginia. Also, many historians claim John Henry was born a slave.).

This blurb alone illuminates who John Henry represented in this folklore: the southern states. His agrarian work style (blood, sweat, and tears) paralleled the equally agrarian economy of the south. Additionally, the fact that John Henry was a former slave directly correlates with the southern state's newly emancipated yet still primary work force.

Next, the railroad machine that will ultimately supplant John Henry and his fellow workers. The machine is touted as having the ability to perform the same job as a human worker but faster and cheaper.

Our second character is clearly an illustration of the northern states. The north's industrial nature was very intimidating to the southern state's way of life, and after the Civil War the south became more and more industrialized.

So, the clash of these two characters is not merely the struggle between John Henry and the railroad machine, but the struggle for the south to maintain its way of life in the shadow of the north, after the Civil War.

Unfortunately, John Henry dies at the end of the folk lore. This could be representative of the south losing the Civil War, a perceived end to the southern (agrarian) way of life, or just a declaration of the southern will and spirit. I do not pretend to have all of the answers. However, it is interesting to look back at stories we took for granted as children, and possibly discover something more as adults.

Next up: Why you can draw certain parallels between the Smurfs and communism.

God bless you.

Comedians, like Dane Cook, in my opinion, are equivalent to modern day prophets (less in the biblical sense and more in the analytical or commentative sense). Stay with me on this one! They take ordinary life and make "scientific" observations to which they craft around a meaning or a "punch line."

This video, in particular, contains some very interesting observations regarding God and atheism. Enjoy.

A three hour tour...

Well we just flew in from Vegas and boy are my arms tired (cue high hat and snare drum).

No seriously, I slept the entire flight. It was like time travel. I went to bed at 11pm and I woke up at 6am, but I had only been sleeping for THREE HOURS!

The flight to and from Vegas is odd: It takes 5 hours to get there (we left at 8pm Eastern and got there at 10pm Pacific) but on the way home it took 3 hours to get back (we left at 11pm Pacific and got home at 6am Eastern). I guess, the jet stream hooked us up with the express ride home!
Regardless, it took a whole day to get back to normal. The Jet lag was fierce!

With all that said, we really enjoyed our last day out there. We drove out to Red Rock Canyon and The Hoover Dam. What was truly wonderful, was the creative dichotomy of the two landmarks. In the one hand you have a true testament to the awesome constructive power of God and the inherent beauty within,

and in the other hand you have awesome constructive power of man and the inherent beauty within.

One observation while at the Dam: I could not believe how low Lake Mead was. I heard that they were letting some water out, but "some water" was an understatement. It is neat how the color of the rocks under the water are so different from those above.

All in all, the trip was a success. My client was very happy with the time we had together. The Palms was a lot of fun. However, if you are looking for a theme casino with lots of "things" to do, you had better book a room at Caesar's Palace or MGM. The Palms is more for partying with famous people and being seen. Their casino floor is small and they do not offer many games. Their pool is even more cramped. But, if you want to see naked inebriated girls stumbling across the casino floor after getting kicked out of the pool for skinny dipping at 4:30am, then the Palms is for you (true story, by the way).

Interestingly (and almost commonsensical), one common thing the locals would tell me, time and time again, was that this is a terrible place to raise children. I could not agree with them more. It would be impossible to instill any sort of moral fiber into an impressionable mind if they were to grow up in an environment where anything goes at anytime of the day. In fact, I do not think that even at my worst I could have lasted very long in Vegas. It is no wonder that Vegas touts one of the largest homeless and poverty stricken populations in the entire United States.

In the "City of Sin," the sin is not cheap!

UPDATE 3/31/2008:

I appear to not be the only one shocked and awed by Lake Mead's current state of affairs.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1724411,00.html

E85 Ethanol Baby!

Work has me in Vegas this week (I know, how will I survive?). Many great things have already happened:

1. Our flight was direct and incident-free


2. Work is great!


3. Alyssa is here with me!


4. We are staying at the Palms!


5. Its Sunny and 80 degrees all week!

This is the view from our room.

The Palms is "AWESOME" (see New Orleans Mardi Gras video)! Plus, its just far enough off "the strip" to not get caught up in the masses of people crowding the streets.

The itinerary for tonight is shopping/eating on "the strip" and perhaps some quality time in the Palms poker room.

I did notice a "sign" of our ever evolving times...

Unleaded is $3.29 9/10 per gallon

Diesel is $3.97 9/10 per gallon

E85 is only $3.16 9/10 per gallon!!!!

Now, I was always under the impression that E85 Ethanol was much more expensive than regular unleaded gasoline. In fact, whenever I meet someone with a "flex fuel" vehicle, I always ask them if they actually run E85 Ethanol. Most tell me, "No. It is too expensive."

REEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLY?

One other crazy observation I have made, in the short time we have been out here, is that the mountains surrounding Vegas are truly breathtaking (beautiful gift from God!) and they have snow!!!! Its just crazy to think I am melting down here on street level, but, if I just spy the mountain ranges, I can practically see skiers shredding the slopes (too hazy for a pic of the mountains, at this time. Maybe tomorrow?).

Alright people, work is done for today and now it is time for play!

Peace, Love, and Vegas Baby!

Hand in your homework...

So, who is ready for a revolution? I cannot think about/read The Grapes of Wrath without wanting to just Rage Against the Machine (hence, assignment numero due).

It seems too commonplace that the people of our world are victims of oppression (financially, physically, emotionally, etc...). Whether it is by Big Government, Big Business, or Big... Anything, history has shown us that benevolence is a trait not often concurrent with power and money.

However, there are a few who have dedicated their lives to balancing out the equation. Some with money: Bill & Melinda Gates. Some with fame: Bono. Additionally, some with power: (insert pious political official). Charity is the great equalizer.

I have attempted to be more charitable in my own life. Not only in my giving but in my living. I have tried (and am still trying) to adjust my prejudices against those who are "worse off" than I am. If that means handing out bottles of water to the transient on a highwayexit ramp, or helping the homeless combat veteran with some bus fare, or even paying for the groceries of the single mother fumbling for enough money to pay for said groceries; than, believe me, that is the least I can do. It is our duty to help "the least of these," by rejecting the stereotypes and prejudices of society and getting back to a Steinbeckian way of life.

When is the last time you knocked on your neighbor's door and asked to borrow a cup of sugar?

Especially now, in this Easter season, when we celebrate the Resurrection of the Greatest of All Counter Cultural Rage Against the Machine Revolutionaries, Jesus Christ (more on this in a later blog); we too should follow His teachings of charity and love in order to build us up and through us the communities we live in.

I pray that you can all find love in your heart for your fellow men and women regardless of race, citizenship, or social class.

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Rosary Beads.

Silence!!!!!! I kill you (not really).

This guy is hilarious!

Heeeeeeeeeeere's Jimmy...

Take two...

Not much time to remark on anything today, but I will leave you with homework (groan...):

1. Read the Grapes of Wrath... and ask yourself what happened to Tom Joad
2. Listen to "The Ghost of Tom Joad" (covered by Rage Against the Machine)
3. Analyze the economic principle of "supply and demand" and its ramifications on modern day issues like immigration, oil, and the war on drugs.
4. Enjoy your Easter.

Until next time... Peace, Love, and Rosary Beads