Christopher L. Hedges's Blog, page 2

Given the Chance Would You do it Again

Someone asked me recently if I had to do it over again would I still have written Average Joe’s Story: Quest for Confidence. The truth is I don’t know. The achievement of getting published was a rewarding one, but it had some serious drawbacks. Besides the time required and the financial commitment, there was my publisher’s weighted recommendation of becoming active on the various social media platforms.

Originally my objection to blogging, Facebook and Twitter was the investment of time that was required. After the past couple of weeks my objection to social media has become the countless trolls that reside there.

I was scrolling through my timeline when I came across a post from one of my social media acquaintances. Generally I like reading this acquaintance’s posts because he is willing to take on controversial material in a civilized manner, a rarity I find in the e-world. However, it wasn’t one of his posts, but one of his comments that caught my eye. In his comment this acquaintance attacked a friend of mine who posted a comment that the acquaintance took exception to. The acquaintance’s problem was that he chose to to post about an issue he had an emotional connection to, and as a result neutrality went clear out the window.

You can try to avoid the negativity that social media is littered with, but it really requires not having a presence if you truly want to avoid it. As a cancer patient that has had multiple surgeries and chemo regimens, and is hospitalized on average once every three months I treat negativity as detrimental to my health.

It’s the concern for my well being, that is assaulted by the negativity of the trolls lurking in the shadows of cyberspace, that makes me regret ever writing Average Joe’s Story. I had a conversation with a friend about the subject, and she blurted out, “Now a days people are just mean…I think we are on the verge of social disorder.” After taking inventory of the abundance of animosity that fuels the e-world I have to agree with her, and because I chose to be an author I’m now stuck with it.

© Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Special Operations’ Secret Intelligence Program

Killer Elite: Completely Revised and Updated: The Inside Story of America’s Most Secret Special Operations Team by Michael Smith

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Two things: this was a dry read, and it wasn’t truly about the hunting down of Osama Bin Laden. I anticipated the book being a dry read, but I was using it as a reference book for another project. So that really was a moot point for me. As for critics who bought the book expecting adventure and violence, I think you should take their negative reviews with a grain of salt because they’re attacking the book’s positioning more so than the content. They read into the title and made an assumption as to the content.

This book talks about the history of a covert military organization, referred to as the Activity. The Activity has had a ton of different names over the years, but it was basically a military intelligence department that was formed as a compliment to Delta and other Special Operations groups. It was founded by an SAS exchange program grad, like Charlie Beckwith, who saw a need for a group that focused on the intelligence gathering capabilities of the SAS.

The book goes into the history of the Activity from inception up to its contributions to the war on terror. In my opinion part of the negative feedback that the book has gotten results from the glamorous perception of intelligence portrayed by Hollywood. This book gives you the reality of the intelligence community not the romanticized James Bond version.

There were two important, but seldom talked about facts I did take from Killer Elite. First, the level of animosity, sabotage and territoriality between different branches of the military, different departments within the service branches and complimentary organizations like the CIA can lead to mission failure. This book is filled with stories of pissing contests that display leadership’s unwillingness to compromise, communicate and collaborate for the greater good. This is a terrifying notion considering the scope of duties entrusted to the military and intelligence community.

Second, I’m aghast at the misuse and abuse of such specialized assets, and the creative ways in which they can be organized to obscure oversight and accountability. I understand the need for discretion when it comes to national security, but this book leads me to question the practice of black programs. I also look at how higher ups in the chain of command don’t really understand the tools that they have at their disposal and as a result groups like SEALS, Delta, and the Activity are at risk of being burdened with assignments that they were never designed or intended to undertake.

I found this to be a slow, but interesting read. I think if you read between the lines and in conjunction with other books on special operations you will have a more complete picture of the subject matter.

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 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

What Really Happened in the First Gulf War

The Fist of God by Frederick Forsyth

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I picked up The Fist of God when I purchased three other Frederick Forsyth titles. I added this book to my shopping cart because I thought its subject matter would be helpful for background in the screenplay I’m writing. In that respect the book stimulated my creativity, and helped me think outside of the box. I think that is mainly due to the level of research and detail incorporated by Forsyth. The detail makes the story feel authentic.

There are several story lines Forsyth included that I liked, with a slightly new spin. One of these story lines involved the spy ring in Iraq.

When I talk about loving the details Forsyth breaths into his novels, they can be seen everywhere, but in this case it was his characters’ development I focused on. I’d be interested to know how much backstory Forsyth puts on paper. There is one scene where he talks about two characters in their youth. Forsyth tells the reader how they caddied for a Mr Thatcher and his wife, a women who was interested in politics. It was an interesting way of adding additional connection between important characters at an earlier point in their lives. It also let me pull off into an unrelated tangent that had me considering possible backstory that Forsyth may have omitted.

I will say that I was a little disappointed in the ending of the book. Forsyth put some spins into the ending that I didn’t see coming, but the ending as a whole felt rushed. The loose ends were all tied up, but I felt it was like the author said, “Okay. I need to get this done before I blow my page count.” I think an additional chapter or two could have been included to smooth out the ending, but he’s the New York Times best seller and I’m the guy who’s struggling to sell my first book.

All in all The Fist of God was an exceptional read, and I highly encourage you to give it a look if you are interested in historical fiction, suspense/thrillers, or mysteries.

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 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Did Trump Fail in the First Debate

I was a little disappointed in Trump’s performance in the first debate. I think he got goaded a little bit by the moderator, and he took the bait. He spent too much time on the defensive on comments he made, and not enough time focusing on solving problems.

It doesn’t help any when you have moderators that want to turn the debate into a ratings side show by zeroing in on any subject they can think of other than the important issues (Jobs, unsustainable government, population division, illegal immigration, healthcare, and poverty are the points that need to be discussed. Flip flopping on a point of view and tabloid spats are distractions). The moderators’ tactics shouldn’t surprise me though because politics as portrayed by lamestream and career politicians is a well orchestrated illusion. Keep the people entertained and distracted while you saddle them with another self serving politician who doesn’t have the intestinal fortitude to change a diaper let alone to stand up to special interests.

The moderators actually asked Trump about special interests when they asked, “Why run as a Republican after donating so much to Democrats over the years?”

“Because I give them money and they are there for me when I need them to be.”

That’s one thing Trump knows how to do, and he’s willing to call out the entire system on, gamesmanship. Republican or democrat, career politicians are in it for themselves, and most definitely not for you and me. Lets be honest, even if Trump wins he’s losing money. For four years he can make only a micro fraction of a percent of what he would make by running his company. So unlike the blood suckers who do this for a living he must have an ulterior motive for running for President, like his claim of making America a great country again.

The moderators also managed to bring up the question of four of his companies going bankrupt. Trump clarified that point. He was never personally bankrupt, and of the hundreds of deals he has closed, in four instances he took advantage of the rules that are in place, just like every other successful businessman has. The moderator’s retort to his comment was, “What about the banks that lost financially, and had to layoff employees as a result?”

At this point I wanted to jump through the TV and knock somebody out. Financial institutions this day and age are parasites, and I have no pity for them. I can’t keep count of the number of people, whom I personally know, have been financially decimated by the corrupt and predatory practices of Wall Street. After those frauds and predators were bailed out with our tax dollars they made significant profits before repaying the government one red cent. Simultaneously they denied loans to small businesses that would have stimulated the economy, and rejected residential loan modifications, foreclosing on houses. No I don’t feel an ounce of empathy for the banks that lost out on a deal that fell apart here and there, and neither should you.

Politics is big business, and in business there is one absolute truth, follow the money to locate loyalty. Like Trump said when his loyalty to the Republican Party was brought into question, a politician pledges his loyalty to his lobbyists and donors. In this election I’m willing to listen to the guy that doesn’t need to run around with his hand out begging to sell out his constituents for the 13 pieces of silver it takes to become President.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Voting with my Wallet

I’ve tried getting into shape on several different occasions this year and ended up in the hospital as a result every time. My expeditions to the emergency room were all due to complications relating to ten pounds of tumor mass in my abdominal cavity.

In an attempt to find a form of exercise that was less hazardous to my health I sought out a community swimming pool. How hard could that be in Florida? Well living on a fixed budget with next to no disposable income it’s harder than you’d think. I basically had two option, the YMCA and one other community pool.

I would’ve liked to have joined the Y, but it was about $150 over priced for me and that is with a 30% discount. So I joined a community pool for a total of sixty hours. I spent $220.00 on a year pass to a community pool, the equivalent to a month and  half of disposable income. So on August 1st I bit the membership bullet, and on August 3rd I canceled it.

I showed up fifteen minutes before the pool was supposed to be open on Sunday the 2nd. There was no sign of anyone there, except one other swimmer who was waiting too. I decided to go for a short jog/walk while I waited for the magical moment of the pool’s opening ceremony. To my surprise the gates were firmly secure at 12:06, six minutes after the facility was supposed to be open. The skies were overcast and there was a slight drizzle, so I sat in my car till 12:30 checking for lighting with my phone, there was none. I finally went home and stared at blue skies from 12:50 to closing time at 3 pm.

” Were you open yesterday?”

“No.”

On August 3rd I went back and asked the manager if they were going to be open because it was another rainy day. She told me to call back at 1 pm; there was lighting in the air, only one strike forty miles off shore, I checked. I came back at 1 pm, the gates were open, I signed in and went for a swim. One of the life guards asked me to come sign some paperwork after I was done with my swim, and I obliged.

“Were you the one that was here earlier?” inquired the manager.

” Yes.”

She handed me a sheet with times on it.

“You’ll need this,” she said with a touch of attitude.

With an equivalent amount of resentment I asked, “Why didn’t you open yesterday?”

“There was only two people here, and it wasn’t worth it to me to open for just two people.”

“I’m canceling my membership effective immediately.”

I’m canceling my membership because you stole one day of my life. If I was her boss I would have fired her on the spot. She stole from customers because she felt inconvenienced. Had I been a member for a month or more it might have been a different story, but she couldn’t bother on day two.

I could understand it being difficult to find a pool in say Idaho, in the dead of winter. It shouldn’t be a challenge to do in St. Pete, Florida unless you have a manager who really just doesn’t give a damn, like the one I dealt with. When you do find someone who doesn’t give a damn about you as a customer you have to vote with your wallet, it’s the only power we Average Joes still posses.

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Truth About Little Grey Men

After seeing CNN’s rolling headlines today (8/9/15) I have come to shift my opinion on a very controversial subject, the truth about little grey men.

For the majority of my life I’ve thought the mysterious little grey humanoids were visitors from worlds far, far away. I still think they come from far, far away, but I think it’s a time and not a place.

I have come to the conclusion that the little grey humanoids are time travelers that have returned from the future to stave off disaster. In all accounts of interacting with these greys their characteristics remain constant; they’re little grey humanoids with no discernible sexual orientation and they communicate via extrasensory means, like telepathy.

To the common observer these beings, with their abduction of poor unsuspecting humans, may appear to be advanced scouting parties for extraterrestrial civilizations. In reality they are our great, great, great grandchildren traveling back in time to hopefully undo the damage we have caused.

“Unarmed black teen shot, and killed by a white police officer.”

The combination of our genetically modified food, and our desire to create racial division leads to all future humans becoming one shade of grey.

“Gender labels are being removed from a retailer because it is seen as possibly harmful.”

Our inability to defend our genders leads to genetic modifications that make all future humans sexless, and as a result of lacking sexual organs all future humans are test tube babies.

The fact that we have become so politically correct that we can’t hold a conversation leads to a change in genetic coding so that all the future test tube babies are born without vocal cords.

So the next time you hear an abduction story, don’t worry it isn’t the beginning of war of the worlds; it’s our offspring coming back to try and undo all the damage caused by their predecessors.

You can hope that these time travelers are able to bounce back and fix enough of our screw ups, or you can prepare for the fact that little Suzy will eventually be a three foot tall four fingered big headed bug eyed grey humanoid. However, if you want to avoid little Suzy’s fate it starts with not buying into the bullshit that is constantly served up by lamestream media, which is designed to get ratings by creating hate.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Playing God

There is a certain group of people that play God every day. Doctors may think they are God, but fiction writers play God, daily.

They may never admit it, but fiction writers think they are God, I know this because I recently joined their ranks when I started writing my first spec script. It doesn’t matter if it’s a novel or screenplay, Sci Fi or historical fiction, all fiction writers play God. I realized this as I was headed to a local Home-Expo with another author.

I was blabbing about the backstories of the first three characters I created for my new screenplay, and how the details slowly but surely brought the characters to life. When you build a complete character you have to know why he’s a hypochondriac, or how her parents’ beliefs influenced her choices. In building one character you may be creating countless interactions and events that no one ever sees, but are needed to substantiate your new character’s reality.

I had gotten to the point where I asked my fellow scribe, “Where do you draw the line?” Like a true Socratic disciple he replied, “How much do you need?” From our discussion we eventually dropped the subject at, “You have to eventually let them go.”

If you have created complete characters, given them a world to reside in and a goal to pursue, eventually you have to let the characters dictate the action of the story. Metaphorically a fiction writer plays God with the characters he pulls from the depths of his gray matter. The fiction writer breaths life into characters and determines the point of their demise.

So what do you do when you become omnipotent? Do you force the character to bend to your will, or do you take a step back and give your characters the freedom to express his or her freewill? Seeing yourself in a position of limitless power after creating a world is interesting. You start asking questions like “Why would I give someone freewill if it leads to atrocities?” or “Can good really exist if evil does not?” I think everyone should play God from time to time, if only to contemplate the more profound questions in life.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Writer’s Block is Bad, Productive Procrastination is Worse

There’s a line in Turner & Hooch that goes something like, “When you’re having a problem remembering something, think about something else and the answer will eventually hit you.” I was having trouble coming up with a solution to a problem I was having with a scene I was writing. I refuse to claim a cop-out like writer’s block, but I couldn’t find a solution that felt plausible, should this screenplay ever get purchased.

So I decided to follow Hollywood’s words of wisdom, forget about it. I turned off the computer and picked up a book; I was reading about Delta Force. Part way through the chapter I was reading Colonel Charlie Beckwith was discussing the frustrations the planners were having with certain obstacles with the rescue plan for the hostages in Iran in 1980. Beckwith spoke of instances when someone would return the next day with a suggestion, and that suggestion might resolve four or five problems the planning team was facing. Then the team would be off and running again.

Just like that, as Charlie Beckwith talked about miracle cures to problem solving, the solution popped into my head, like spontaneous creation. Interestingly enough the solution did more than solve a problem; it opened the door to an entirely new storyline to explore.

By solving one problem I created an entirely new problem that is significantly more dangerous for me and my A.D.D., OPTIONS. I don’t truly suffer from writers block, or I haven’t thus far. My problem is that I suffer from Productive Procrastination. When I don’t want to work on something I locate another task of equal importance, and work on that instead of the task at hand. The solution that I came up with is broad enough that I could actually start brainstorming a second screenplay, potentially throwing me off schedule for a week or two, which I did.

Solve one problem and create a new one. I guess you are damned if you do, and you’re damned if you don’t.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

My Frustration with the Expert Epidemic

I think I’ve pinned down what frustrates me with the expert epidemic.

My friend Robin is an expert in marketing. In those dark years before the internet Robin sold advertising for newspapers, magazines and TV. She worked with clients on how to setup and present themselves at trade shows to be more effective. She has worked with major corporations as well as mom and pop shops. In the advent of the internet Robin has learned about social media, google analytics, and keywords. Robin knows marketing. She easily could setup shop as the “Marketing Expert”, but she doesn’t. On a daily basis Robin practices her trade working with clients as a marketing professional.

Now let’s look at this new breed of expert. In essence they can declare themselves to be experts in anything. In fact they can have as much if not more experience than Robin has in marketing in their respective field of expertise. The difference between Robin and this new breed is that Robin is primarily a practitioner, and the new breed are would-be teachers.

I think teachers, as purveyors of knowledge, are essential to society. Those sources of wisdom are the reason we continuously evolve as a species, but this isn’t teaching in the traditional sense. Traditional teachers instruct you on how to do something, why it is or isn’t correct, and how to fix any potential problems. Traditional teachers give you more background for the specific subject they are teaching, and they usually have some form of scale to indicate competency.

The new breed predominantly teaches you one system, the one they learned or developed, that worked for them. They will usually explain how it works, but I’ve never seen an expert walk you through the steps to take when their system fails. The new breed definitely doesn’t preform any quality control to ensure the students are proficient in what they’ve learned, or even qualified to be taking their course to begin with. No these experts mass produce students with no discernible standard of quality.

In the world of publishing, self publishing experts provide hopeful authors with just enough information to be dangerous. These authors are encouraged to share their stories with the world, and are provided with the knowledge of how to do so. Unfortunately society is inundated by books ranging from masterpieces to the unbearable. In the case of the unbearable it may have had the opportunity to be polished into a masterpiece had the author not bought into the self publishing expert’s pitch that anyone can, and should become a published author.

Had that author refined his or her manuscript, worked with a published author, sought out a good editor, and gone through beta testing then working with a self publishing expert wouldn’t bother me. Sadly that’s really unlikely to occur; most people take the self publishing course then publish.

The majority of the new breed that fills the ranks of the expert epidemic are more concerned with lining their pockets than the ramifications of their actions. This attitude is the crux of my frustration. Luckily when the number of customers, who’s results are mediocre or worse, begins to rise the expert’s disciples will begin to exit the market. If an expert’s results are brought into question, eventually, he’ll fade away thanks to the Laissez Faire System.

In the end it’s my hope that all of the charlatans are weeded out, and we are left with the real experts, the professionals like Robin. I just wish I didn’t have to live through the expert epidemic to get to that day.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

The Expert Epidemic

How long do I have to wait for this expert fad to die down? It feel like wherever I look there is a new self appointed expert who is trying to extract money from the masses of people whom desire to be successful at some given task.

I was listening to a conference call over the weekend where I was learning how to write a profound screenplay. It was an interesting introduction to the subject matter, but like clockwork as the call ended the sense of urgency was employed. The perception of scarcity and a limited time price discount were dangled in front of the callers. That conference call was a classic technique taught by Brendon Burchard of providing a taste of good content. At the end of the call the full course the complete course is offered for sale. To help hook the fish a limited time price discount is offered. To entice anyone who might still be on the fence a false sense of scarcity is created by telling everyone the online class is filling up. The truth is that class can be as big as the expert wants it to be. It is really a meticulously crafted system of getting someone from potential buyer to paid customer.

Experts in any field conceivable, self publishing, script writing and even under water basket weaving are trying to convince potential customers to invest in their courses, products and seminars. Don’t get me wrong I’m not anti sales, but I am anti the peddling of false hope. I find it despicable for anyone to exploit someone’s hopes and dreams for personal gain. In this instance I didn’t need any coaxing to buy into the upsell class. I had decided to buy well before the expert ever made the pitch.

However, this was the second pitch-fest I sat through in one week. The first was organized by a self publishing expert who organized 37 interviews with 37 other experts over the course of ten days. I listened to a couple, but I got tired of the pitchathon real quick. This was another lesson that is taught by Brendon: create content that s essentially a cross promotion where two experts reinforce each others value.

Perhaps I’m alone in my frustration of living in a world full of interchangeable expert drones who are only differentiated by their market niche. Here is one question I have. If experts are such experts in their respective field of expertise why have they moved into selling their expertise? Is it that the experts know that what they are trying to sell isn’t that profitable? I mean do you see Harrison Ford, Denzel Washington or Julia Roberts teaching acting classes? No! They are busy being actors.

The expert epidemic may be here for good, but I’m praying it’s a fad that will eventually die out because at this pace it feels like we have an abundance of experts and a shortage of doers.

 

 © Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com, 2015. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Christopher L. Hedges and AverageJoesStory.com with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.