#178 Musings Beyond the Bunker (Monday October 25)
Good morning!
A potpourri of news this morning…
FOOTPRINTS IN NEW MEXICO
A piece of news may have slipped by in the midst of coverage of the pandemic, the efforts to limit our democratic institutions and elections, the economy, and the continued infighting in Congress.
Proof yet again that science and the pursuit of knowledge bring surprises and sometimes upend previous assumptions is a bunch of footprints. The date of mankind’s first presence in North America has been pushed back over 20,000 years. In an area that was once a swampy area along an inland sea, the footprints of teenagers and young adults were preserved and have been found. Not only were the footprints discovered but by their being interspersed with those of a giant sloth, scientists determined that the group of humans were out hunting the sloth, showing a lack of fear of these animals.
It may not change the world, but little things like this remind me that knowledge, while not always power, nonetheless is powerful.
USC PARTNERS WITH A CASINO
It almost seems like an Onion headline. In yet another example of how USC can bring about yet another self-inflicted injury, it has signed a partnership agreement with the Pachengo Indian Casino. According to the university, the gift will be used to establish “a university-tribal education alliance” and will create an annual scholarship fund. If this were all it did, that would be great.
But the agreement goes further and into dangerous territory for an institution that purports to be an institution of higher learning that has turned the corner from some of its more ill-advised decisions of recent years. The Pachengo Resort Casino is now “the Official Resort & Casino of the USC Trojans.” Had the gift stopped at funding an academic program and scholarships, the visibility of such a gift, including naming it for the casino might be justifiable (although I’d argue it should be named for the tribe and not for the profit-making venture).
I’m not a prude and I wouldn’t outlaw gaming. I would, however, argue that it is an industry that preys on people’s greed, desperation, and lack of knowledge of statistics. It is well known that many of the folks that go to the Panchengo or Morongo casinos are spending their paychecks and often leave destitute. Many of these people suffer from gambling addiction, which is a disease just like alcoholism and drug use. A university ought not have an “official” casino, any more than it should have an “official cigarette,” “official cannabis store” or “official malt liquor.” It is a terrible message and it is a “partnership” that cheapens the university’s brand (which has suffered more than its share of scandals and setbacks over the past few years).
In another example of the moral bankruptcy of the institution, here’s an Op-Ed in the Los Angeles Times from earlier this week, penned by three women who were molested by Dr. Tyndall in the Student Health Center: https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2021-10-18/usc-and-prosecutors-owe-the-public-a-full-account-of-sex-abuse-inquiries
Does anyone really believe the Board of Trustees will ever authorize release of the “independent investigations” undertaken by O’Melveny and Gibson Dunn, which they promised would provide transparency and a full accounting? Not a chance.
MANIPULATING REAGAN “FOR ALL MANKIND”
The more I think about For All Mankind, on Apple TV+, the more I liked it. It’s a great “what if” drama that is plausible and fascinating. Definitely well done and worth the watch. That said, I was disturbed by the inclusion of “real life” people in places where they weren’t. Deke Slayton didn’t die in space; Ted Kennedy was not elected president. But where I had a difficult time was the fictional conversations done in the voices of famous people, all while showing photos of them on-screen. But then they went a step further, manipulating speeches and press conferences to seemingly “put words in the mouths” of people—words that were never spoken. I sat and watched Ronald Reagan, Ted Kennedy and others standing at lecterns giving speeches they never made, their lips in sync with the words. It was eerie, other-worldly, and untruthful.
It is one thing to have historic figures speak the words of screenwriters through actors. It is, to me, unacceptable to have the words actually come out of the mouths of these people. The “deep fake” is something we’ll see more of. Putting words in the mouths of the people from the past is concerning. When it is done (which it will be more and more) with people currently in our political sphere, it will be worse.
Yet another way in which I think technology makes something unreal appear to be real. And that’s not helpful. Still, watch the series. It’s fun.
PITCHERS AND CATCHERS REPORT IN LATE FEBRUARY
The Dodgers had a great season, with a whopping 106 wins and a deep playoff run. Now they can join the Angels looking toward this Spring. Through multiple unfortunate injuries to key players, the Trever Bauer disaster (perhaps this was orchestrated from volunteers from USC’s administration), and some mismanagement of the pitching corps, the team is relegated to “only” having made the National League Championship Series. But they ran out of gas. Between the Atlanta Braves and the Houston Cheats (with all respect to their storied fans—I’m looking at you, Mark Berman), I’m going with the Braves, Tommahawk Chant and all (although I’ll still root for the mighty Jose Altuve every time he comes to bat).
Have a great day,
Glenn
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