Author: Marilynne

Seeking Perfection

Seeking Perfection
acrylic painting on canvas/ 20” by 24”/ $ 399.

I have decided that perfectionism can be a curse. (Please don’t let my doctor hear that.) I imagine Olympians are not interested in this line of reasoning either. But as a parent and business woman I find that perfectionists create problems.

When I first started my museum in Michigan I hired an exceptionally talented woman to direct our education programs. She worked hard developing class curriculum and demonstrations that she gave to spellbound visitors. Her difficulty was in working with a team of people, many of whom were not as quick to grasp issues or creative solutions. She paid attention to what other staff was engaged in and was certain that she could do their jobs better. As a result of her disappointment in those she worked with she tackled evermore projects. Eventually she burnt out and quit.

This woman taught me an important lesson. It is important to maintain perspective by assessing progress periodically rather than daily when evaluating overall performance. I realized that people make mistakes and getting angry or being unforgiving is not a way to improve achievement or moral. She made me realize that my job as administrator was to teach, prod and inspire others to improve.

I noticed many workers arrive on the job reluctant to try new approaches because they feared failing or getting fired. They were docile and in the shadows as they went about their work. Their perfectionist brains clamored loudly saying, “ you won’t succeed if you try a new concept . . . you are a loser.” Perhaps these individuals were ridiculed at one time or another for spending time on “crazy or unproductive,” ideas. Maybe they had parents who told them, “you don’t do anything right! You will always mess up. That’s just the way you are. ” Those words are likely to produce insecure and timid adults afraid of tackling new ventures.

Or, they may have been more of a risk taker but lost money trying to get a new venture off the ground. Perhaps their self-image was destroyed and they became fearful of trying once more. At times public pressure keeps people from testing solutions to problems. Politicians are of good example of those who fear that “the other side” will be quick to say an idea won’t work. Opponents look for power plays and the media has great fun elevating potential failures to lofty heights even before they are tried.

The difficulty with the above scenarios is that failure is often a precursor to success. Scientists experiment with ideas over and over again, making adjustments because of failures. Years can be spent pursuing an idea even though disappointment results often face the investigator.

In 1937 a Bell Labs scientist named George Stibitz used relays in a demonstration adding machine. The same year a German engineer built his Z2 computer using telephone company relays. Building on these trials David Packard and Bill Hewlett played around in their garage, overcoming one failure after another before inventing the 200A Audio Oscillator, a piece of test equipment for engineers. In 1940 Walt Disney Pictures took a risk by ordering their 200B model to test recording equipment and speaker systems for newly equipped theaters in order to show “Fantasia.” Each of these entrepreneurs spent hours taking risks, often failing before developing societally useful applications.

I wonder what their families thought of their early frustrations. Did they say, “Honey, what you are doing is well and good but you need to spend your time making money to support our family.” Did they turn to their friends and say, “ She’s such a nurd, never doing anything practical!”

Penicillin was accidentally discovered by Alexander Flemming, Professor of Bacteriology at St. Mary’s Hospital in London. In the 1940’s he had just returned from a holiday in 1928 when he went to his lab. Sorting through petri dishes of Staphylococcus bacteria (the one that causes boils and sore throats), he noticed something strange in one dish. In a spot where a bit of mold was growing the Staph colony had disappeared. It took ten years of further study and research at Oxford University to turn what Flemming discovered into a life saving drug.

These men focused on their goal even though they did not achieve immediate perfection. They were curious and pursed a dream. They didn’t worry about what everyone else was doing or saying, but concentrated on their own work. As they looked for answers they weren’t stymied by perfectionist insecurities.

My life too has been filled with failure but each one taught me something to treasure. Though I keep wanting to help my children avoid my mistakes I have come to realize that they need to reach out and learn on their own. The best I can do now is support them in their endeavors, overlook their failures and encourage them to use boldness in following their ambitions.

http://www.computerhistory.org/timeline/computers/ – history of the computer

Art work is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com

Do respond below with your thoughts.
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For sale on Amazon by Marilynne Eichinger: The True Story of Streetwise, overcoming homelessness and beating the odds. Go to AMAZON .

State of Flow

Achieving Flow

Acrylic on canvas / 18” by 24”/ $ 260
When are you the happiest?

Do you believe most people are happy? Are you? Take a moment to consider those moments you experienced pure joy, when glee and pleasure embraced you, and ask yourself what precipitated that feeling. No, I am not talking about sex, though that too can be satisfying. Instead remember more instances that provided extended contentment and comfort. Why do you think you felt so satisfied?

Was your pleasure dependent on money or was it caused by an activity you engaged in? Psychologist Abraham Maslow tried to understand what contributed to feelings of fulfillment. He started with a pyramid explaining motivation. With basic needs at the base and aesthetics at the peak, he claimed that survival needs have to be satisfied first. Only when basic concerns are met, like food, shelter and love, does a person become motivated enough to fill higher levels leading to self-actualization.

In my late 20’s I was comfortably situated with most of my basic needs met. I started playing the flute thinking I would attain a degree of excellence. Every day I practiced dutifully and even played with musicians who didn’t mind accompanying a novice. Eventually a few friends and I formed a chamber music group. Most of the players had learned their instruments as kids. They were good and relaxed at what they did and best of all tolerant my awkwardness. Though I played for eight years I never achieved a level of comfort. Playing the flute was always an effort in concentration and I found it impossible to lose myself in the music.

Painting is a different matter. No longer am I self-conscious about what I am doing. I picked up a brush over thirty years ago and gave myself over to the process even when completed canvases were marginal. I never thought about becoming a master artist but more about practicing so I could put the images in my mind on canvas. After a great many years, I executed a picture that appeared magically and effortlessly on my canvas. It was a mystical experience. I was immersed in pure creation with no thought of myself. It was a wonderful feeling that left me with an internal glow. What happened?

Hungarian psychologist, Mahaly Cxikszentmihalyi was fascinated by Maslow’s work and took his findings a step further. Mahalo provided a scientific explanation for peak experiences. After studying the happiness factor in thousands of people he developed a concept defined as a “state of flow.” It occurs to those who are so completely absorbed in an activity that they achieve a loss of self-consciousness. It is as though they are in an emotionless state yet total control of what they are engaged in. A monk might call it reaching Zen, a perfect state of equilibrium.

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, founder of the positive psychology movement, began his research by studying artists and other creative people. His subjects found the process of creating more important than the finished work itself. During times of intense focus and innovation they entered a “flow” state in which Mahaly identified seven factors:

1 You’re completely involved in what you’re doing: you’re completely focused and concentrated.
2 There’s a sense of ecstasy–of being outside of everyday reality.
3 There’s a great inner clarity: you know what needs to be done and you get immediate feedback on how well you’re doing.
4 You know that the activity is doable, that you have the necessary skills to complete the task successfully.
5 You lose your sense of self and all of your worries and concerns drift away.
6 You lose track of time and you’re completely focused on the present moment.
7 There’s an intrinsic motivation—whatever produces flow becomes it’s own reward.

Not content to stop there Mahaly broadened his research base to encompass various socio-economic groups engaged in a wide variety of jobs, hobbies, and sporting activities. He analyzed those who involved in what he calls high-flow activities. Their goals required them to be motivated enough to practice in order to obtain skill and concentration. By being focused in their efforts they were more likely to develop long term happiness than those engaged in low-flow activities such as video games, internet surfing and socializing. In other words, hard work pays off while low-effort enterprises often contribute to depression and poor self-esteem.

In another study Mahaly worked with American teenagers. Social activities were rated and correlated to different levels of happiness. Being alone rated the lowest level while activities with friends rated highest. His colleagues were surprised to discover that those who spent more time pleasure reading had lower levels of happiness that those involved in social activities. They concluded that feeling good about the self, excited, proud, sociable, and active are necessary conditions for a flow experience and the strongest predictors of long-term happiness.

Why? Dr. Csikszentmaihalyi explained in a Ted Talk that the nervous system is incapable of processing more that 110 bits of information per second. Listening to someone speak involves processing 60 bits per second which explains why it is difficult to pay attention to two people talking at the same time. When completely involved in the process of creating you don’t have enough attention left over to monitor how your body feels, whether you are hungry or not, or thoughts about your next task. In other words, you become “zoned out.” You flow.

Flow is studied by psychologists world-wide and applied to all types of professions with similar findings. Streetwise, now a journeyman industrial painter, tells me what it is like to be on on the top of an eighty foot water tower. His sense self-awareness disappears as he expertly moves his brush back and forth without distraction. Work feels effortless even when hanging fearlessly over the edge. In those moments he is in a state of flow.

Developing goals, striving to achieve them, learning to focus and finally attaining competency is the formula for reaching a pure state of being, of living “in the zone.” Dr. Csikszentmihalyiu says that learning how to get there quickly so you can enter flow more often leads to the most productive and creative state of mind in which to work. It is a key to well being and an important component of happiness.

Are you one of the fortunate people who have experienced a state of flow? How long does the feeling last? Does it spill over to the rest of your life and make you happy?

Do share your story below.

References:
http://www.simplypsychology.org/maslow.html – Maslow’s hierarchy of needs.

https://daringtolivefully.com/how-to-enter-the-flow-state – How to enter the flow state

http://www.pursuit-of-happiness.org/science-of-happiness/getting-in-the-flow/ – about Mahaly Cxikszentmihalyi and a state of flow.

https://daringtolivefully.com/how-to-enter-the-flow-state – How to enter the flow state

Art work is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
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For sale on Amazon by Marilynne Eichinger: The True Story of Streetwise, overcoming homelessness and beating the odds. Go to AMAZON .

Gossip and the Media

The Chairman
mixed media on canvas/ 20” by 16”/ $399
Ever wonder how Mao Tse Tung got into into power? He was not loved by the establishment and once in office was feared by the very people who originally supported him.

Gossip and the Media
How many times have you heard people say, “I don’t want to fail.” When you hear those words it is often from a person who is trying hard to succeed. Their efforts may be pushy and the individual willing to ignore the social implications of what they are doing. There are also larger number of people who give up their dreams without striving because they are so afraid of the fallout from failure. They do not try and therefore never learn from their mistakes. They are afraid of gossip fallout and and a media that loves to expound on failures. Strangely publicizing controversy can turn vinegar into honey for a dedicated entrepreneur.

I certainly failed many times over. It would take more fingers and toes than I presently have to count the many instances of trial and error that ended poorly. Luckily, I had enough presence in mind to say, “well that didn’t work, what should I do next.” I try to learn from my mistakes especially when alternative viewpoints make sense. I’ll share a story from my book, Lives of Museum Junkies, that will be published this August.

My adventure began when I visited executive offices in Lansing, Michigan to meet with corporate and education leaders to discuss the idea of starting a new science museum. I wanted to raise funds for a hands-on education center and was not having much luck. One of the men I spoke to was the director of the YMCA. He emphatically told me I would fail because, “in Lansing there are only two things that matter. One is sports and the other is sex and you are not involved in either.” His comment was incredulous to me but I tucked it away to be recalled later.

“One day, with not much to do, I relaxed in my chair reading a magazine article about how the Playboy Bunnies visited communities to engage in sporting events against local celebrities in order to raise money for charity. My brain started churning and I remembered what the director of the YMCA said: “Sports and sex would be the secret of success.”
The Detroit Playboy Club was close enough to Lansing that I immediately called their manager. Much to my amazement, without hesitation or questions the Bunnies agreed to visit and play basketball against our community businessmen.

Days became exciting once more. I began to telephone every well-known chief executive I could think of and asked for his involvement. In the 70s they were all men and no-one declined. The game was on with a who’s who of local participants that included the mayor, president of MSU, superintendent of schools, CEOs of various manufacturing companies, real estate developers, the head of Oldsmobile, and state politicians. When the local newspaper learned of the event the game to became a feature.

One problem — a big one — reared its ugly head and I was reminded of lesson #1, “Nothing ever occurs as you might imagine.” The early 70s heralded in the start of the women’s lib movement with books by Gloria Steinem and Betty Friedan circulating and being read by a wide audience. The equal rights amendment was headed to the states for ratification and organizations like Planned Parenthood and NOW were growing in prominence. In East Lansing a group of high school students and university women threatened to picket the Bunny Game. What had started out as a fun crazy event was turning into a political nightmare and we didn’t know what to do. Now we had the makings not of a feature but of a gossip column. In fact, the gossip columnist did pick up the controversy with gusto and had a great time splashing the story daily. A number of the men who held public office called to inform me that they were reluctantly compelled to back out of their commitment.

My stomach churned with worry and I started looking for ways to work with the women libbers, finally coming up with the idea of asking Michigan State University’s woman’s basketball team if they would be willing to hold a practice game against our local celebrities. I hoped that by involving the female team the newspaper would soften the Playboy image and make the game acceptable. Their coach agreed to the practice, and the celebrity men arrived for a grueling session. The women on the basketball team were of course fantastic athletes in perfect condition. Our men, many of whom were potbellied, had to be replaced every three minutes to ensure there were no injuries.

Our celebrity team enjoyed their practice game, but it was not enough to silence the critics. Ticket sales were sparse and we were prepared to fail when a miracle occurred. Thankfully for us (though tragically for a great many) we were rescued by Mother Nature. The night before the game the clouds exploded and it started to rain and rain and rain. The greater Lansing area was deluged with a fifty-year flood and all citizens not concerned with their own water-filled basements were called on to bag the river banks. Jenison Field House at Michigan State, where we were to have played, was swimming in two and a half feet of water, flooding the basketball court.

The Playboy Bunny Game had to be canceled. My sigh of relief is still being carried on the winds today. But the upside to the controversy is that the science museum became a known entity and on its way to becoming more than just an office in a public school. By now the entire Lansing community knew what was being planned and though many did not like the Bunny Game they certainly did support our idea for Impression 5.”

The museum got off to a start with the basketball game that was never played. I learned very directly that bad publicity as well as good can get you towards your goal. This experience is why I understand the phenomenon we call Donald Trump. It is why every time he says something horrible, his publicity increases and more people flock to his side. It is also how social beliefs get changed and evaluated. In my case, the women’s movement entered my consciousness for the first time. As the only female president of a science center I never thought about other women as I pursued my dream. Suddenly I became aware that I as well as others were fighting an uphill battle and we had to join together for a common cause.

Trump has brought to the forefront previously unspoken issues that need to be addressed. He appeals to an underclass of people who have been neglected and are angry. Whether Trump is the one to solve inequality problems I will not comment on in this article. But because of Sanders and Trump there is a good chance that the issues around trade and Wall Street will not go away.

A recurring problem is that when a politician is not ethical or has hidden agendas, once in power the outcome may not be what the voting public desired. A pattern of corruption can be found throughout the world in local as well as national political elections. Unfortunately, once in power the oligarch often controls the very media that helped him or her get elected.

I am not saying that people should barrel ahead and make news worthy waves whenever they want to accomplish something new. I am suggesting that an entrepreneur or politician has to persevere at times and look outside of the box by taking risks. Hopefully the cause is just and the promoter has intentions that will benefit society. A wise viewer listens skeptically to TV news gossip and digs to find the true intentions of the speaker.

References: Quote from Lives of Museum Junkies, by Marilynne Eichinger, presently being published by Inkwood Press. Look for an announcement August 2016.

Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Political Correctness meets Freedom of Expression

Afternoon Tea

Acrylic painting / 30” by 22”/ $399

What will be said over tea? Will talk be honest? Politically correct? Will problems be solved or understanding gained?

Political Correctness meets Freedom of Expression

A few weeks ago I received a comment concerning my newsletter about population explosion. The note came through my private email with a request not to publish the response because it was not politically correct. The writer commented that the Catholic Church is the problem underlying overpopulation. Her words made me stop to consider just what it means to be politically correct. What happens to society when thoughts become so constrained as to limit dialog?

I remember a club I once visited with a policy that excluded members from discussing politics. It seemed strange to me for the associates were friends. In another instance, an acquaintance belonged to a religious organization that instructs parishioners not to participate in activities or form friendships outside of the church. At home our own congressional delegates will not cross party lines to speak to each other. There is little desire for understanding or consideration of diversity in a search for consensus. In these cases the organizations have chosen an effective way to avoid conflict by sealing mouths to differences.

My experience in general is that people want to be polite and are therefore cautious. They may be loath to share beliefs if they think their companions will disagree. Instead unorthodox opinions are hidden for fear of ridicule or even rejection. Yet by doing so, they accept to live in a constant state of tension, stepping gingerly on egg shells as they navigate social situations.

But back to the question of what is politically correct communication? How can we navigate the quagmire of indoctrination, strongly held beliefs and disruptive actions? Let’s consider terrorism.

We have watched ISIS and Taliban extremists terrorize our citizens through both words and horrific deeds. Many Americans develop fears, and are willing to label all Muslims as extremists which unfairly places peace-loving citizens in the terrorist category. It some circles it is even politically incorrect to make comments that look for the causes of Islamic terrorism without being labeled soft or unpatriotic.

Those living in the Middle East may have another view of terrorism. Americans are often seen as the perpetrators by those facing drone attacks and bombings by U.S. planes. It follows logically that a someone living in an area experiencing such threats will develop a closed mind to positive statements about the United States. To them we are the enemy and it would be politically incorrect for one of their countrymen to say something favorable. A great many minds on both sides of the issue are completely closed to further discussion.

Political correctness in these cases is defined through the lens of each particular group. The word itself implies a certain amount of dogma about an unquestionable truth that is not open to opposing comments. Presenting views that are unaccepted by the audience often turns the speaker into a seemingly bad person. The speaker’s motivation may get challenged by a response that closes further conversation. Correctness by most compassionate people condemns hate speak and words that rile angry emotions.

So how does one discuss complex, emotional issues? What is the best way to express personal beliefs to those not wearing the same badge? Is there a way to have an honest dialogue about sensitive issues such as population control and terrorism? I do believe there is a way to use constructive methods to resolve personal, organizational and political conflicts.

Non-violent communication provides a hopeful path leading to peaceful and productive outcomes. It is a compassionate process that shares values rather than dogma. Actions become evaluated by how they contribute to life and the human needs they serve.

Discussion starts by exploring how and why hateful views are passed down within families and communities. By focusing on values participants quickly realize that most people want the same things. Desire for safety, security, health, housing, joy, food ,education, community, and justice is universal. Once these desires are acknowledged the process goes on to evaluate just how successful early teachings and biases are in meeting individual and group needs. By examining root causes of specific situations conversations can become richer and honesty is given a chance to thrive.

Non-violent communication provides a language that invites dialogue, thus enabling empathetic connections. It allows anger to be fully expressed and it promotes rapport in communication without resorting to hostility. This enabling vocabulary breaks down patterns that lead to anger and hopelessness. Feeling words are used to express emotions such as affection, engagement, gratefulness, inspiration, exhilaration and hope. Unsatisfactory expressions are avoided that might produce fear, confusion, embarrassment or tension.

I began this article by mentioning a woman who blames the Catholic Church for problems caused by overpopulation. Let’s consider how she might communicate without creating animosity.

She could start the discussion by stating her own fears and establishing an invitation for further dialogue. For example, “I am afraid that there are not enough resources to support the increase claimed in population projections. I believe water and land will be at unsustainable levels by 2050 and worry that such a mass of humanity will result in increased violence, wars and migrations. I don’t know where my family will find safety in such a world. Does this problem concern you?” It is difficult to get angry at such beginning comments for they establishes a safe forum for truthful expression that will not threaten friendships. It sets a platform for discussing the role of religion without producing dangerous emotions.

As conflicts spread across the globe and cultures continue to merge we need ways to accommodate understanding and compromise. If we are not going to be ruled by war then we have to find win-win alternatives. Books and workshops in non-violent communication are offered throughout the country. Like most things, honing listening skills and inviting dialog does take practice but the rewards of getting to know neighbors on a deeper level is great.

http://www.cnvc.org/about-us – Center for Non-Violent communication.

Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, 3rd Edition: Life-Changing
Tools for Healthy Relationships (Nonviolent Communication Guides) Third
Edition, Third edition Edition
by Marshall B. Rosenberg PhD (Author), Deepak Chopra (Foreword)

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For sale on Amazon by Marilynne Eichinger: The True Story of Streetwise, overcoming homelessness and beating the odds. Go to AMAZON. What is it like to live on the streets? How do we help so many young people escape a life of hopelessness?

Spring Has Sprung

Spring Has Sprung

When I was a kid I remember reading a poem that went like this:

Spring has spring
the grass is riz
I wonder where
my jacket is.

Every spring those words pop into my mind when with the first flower that peeks through the ground. I tried to discover who wrote the verse and came up with a big zero. Though often attributed to Ogden Nash or ee cummings, the poem has roots that go back further in time to an anonymous author.

Spring is sprung, the grass is riz,
I wonders where the birdies is.
They say the birds is on the wing.
Ain’t that absurd?
I always thought the wing was on the bird.

There is my favorite adaptation in Arnold Silcock’s Verse and Worse.

The Budding Bronx

Der spring is sprung
Der grass is riz
I wonder where dem boidies is?

Der little boids is on der wing,
Ain’t dat absoid?
Der little wings is on de boid!

And then – attributed to Ogden Nash though I can’t find proof.

Spring has newly sprung
the hills are full of grass
and along comes a billy-goat
sliding on his overcoat down the summer pass.

Whatever the words, they carry the joy, laughter and beauty of springtime and with it a reminder of the earth’s rebirth and the possibility of starting anew and having a second chance.

So often I dwell on problems confronting society that I forget that the universe is in a constant state of transition. I have to remind myself that political movements are cyclical, that family crises peak and somehow get resolved, and that those who help others are honored in return. Since time does not stand still and the earth will be here long after I am gone, I can only hope there care wise land stewards enabling my great, great grandchildren to enjoy the boidies and see that the grass is riz. Or perhaps we all must look inward and ask ourselves if we are doing our part to care for the environment.

http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_wrote_’Spring_has_sprung_grass_has_ris_I_wonder_where_the_birdies_is’ – sources for spring has sprung.

Your thoughts? please respond below.

Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com

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Just Say Please

Beginnings

Beginnings
Acrylic, 30” by 40” / $ 499

When families were cave dwellers they developed communal mores and ways of communication that enabled the entire group to thrive.

Just Say Please
At a party a while ago I observed a father jump out of his chair and grab his daughter’s cell phone. She was texting a friend when he explained that it was a rude thing to do in the midst of company. After giving her several warnings, all of which were ignored, he took action. I wish he was there remove the phone from the woman sitting next to me at a luncheon and lecture I attended this week. She never looked up from her device to even say hello.
I applaud this father. How many parents do you know are willing to teach their kids common courtesies and follow through when they aren’t practiced? How often have you heard children talk back to their parents in loud angry voices or pout until they get their way? Slouching, mumbling responses and dressing in a way that says,” I don’t care what you think!” is the norm in may households.

Teachers, school principals and parents have lost their authority and acquiesce when confronting their children’s demands. These same parents defend their offspring against reprimand and punishment from authority even when their child is at fault. Do you wonder, as I do, what this does to youth raised in this manner? Do they learn to respect others and develop boundaries for themselves?

A Nigerian friend of mine once told me that in his country if a child visited a friend’s house, the friend’s parents were more strict than their own. It was ingrained in the culture that you pay close attention to the behavior of visiting children. Attention to conduct is viewed as a sign of caring.

Watching the interaction of adults in our own country is often a lesson in how to ignore the needs of others. The likelihood that a traveler will get out of his or her seat on a crowded bus or train to give pregnant woman or elderly person is miniscule. Speeding, weaving in and out of traffic and road rage is practiced on our highways with regularity. And cursing is common, not only in the movies, on YouTube and TV, but among politicians and within many American households. Fuck you brings a laugh to comedians and rappers that is copied by the young but inflicts great harm to the comment’s recipient. As a child my mother washed my mouth out with soap if I uttered a curse word. As far as I can tell the concept of “do unto others as you would have others do unto you,” is gone from many American families. But what mores do Americans cherish?

When asked if the main values held by society are pleasure and instant gratification, according to debate.org, 85% of people responded yes to this query. When questioned further they said that most Americans think it is OK to do whatever you want, whether it is pushing people aside when in a line, closing a door in someone’s face rather than holding open for the next person, engaging in non-committal sex, or sitting alone doing nothing for hours a day. It is not unusual to find students arriving late to class unconcerned about the lack of respect they are showing their instructor. Respondents add that social media is a place that encourages narcissism where it is easy to post endless selfies that receive accolades from thousands of friends who are basically unknown to you.

The remaining 15 percent responded to the question by answering no, that values are simply evolving and that we are in a period of transition. They believe it is only the older generation who think they are deteriorating because they’re not what they used to be when they were young. What do you think about this issue?

Following is a quote by an unknown person. “In school they call it bullying but at work they call it upper level management. This statement to be true for many people I know and am continuously surprised that businesses believe they can maintain a committed workforce by treating their employees poorly. Taking into account the whole person is not only humane but it tends to increase an individual’s willingness to put forth effort. There are many conditions affecting those engaged in work.

According to Small Business Chronicle at the University of San Francisco, courtesy falls by the wayside when people have personal problems at home. Managers are advised to demonstrate courtesy by paying attention to their employee’s state of mind. Worksites are encouraged to institutionalize ways of celebrating good happenings more often (everything from birthdays to dedication and hard work). Managers are taught to say thank you and to sprinkle verbal acknowledgments liberally as a sign for respect for co-workers. These small courtesies should be practiced within the home as well.

Technology usage demonstrating insensitivity to others appears to be an escalating problem within the workplace. The University’s business school stresses proper use of English in emails, avoidance of slang and emotional statements, turning off personal cellphones during work hours, and wearing headphones when listening to the radio. Again, this is good advice to observe at home, especially during mealtimes and while having a conversation. Patience is a learned virtue. Responses to texts and phone messages can easily be postponed. What’s the big hurry anyway?

I could hardly believe my eyes when I read that State of New Jersey, Civil Service Commission charges $159 for a six hour class in respect and professionalism. The class includes teaching students small things like learning to say “please” and “thank you” and larger issues such as how to communicate decisions. Does it surprise you that people need to enroll in this type of course?

Why aren’t children being raised to be courteous? Who is to blame? Parents? teachers? Actors? Religious leaders? Politicians certainly set a bad example to the nation by their bickering uncourteous behavior in congress. With this type of leadership in our nation’s capital it is not surprising that throughout the U.S. bullying and fighting take the place of conversation, compromise, and respect for differing opinions.

Resources:
http://smallbusiness.chron.com/demonstrating-courtesy-respect-workplace-34529.html – courtesy and respect in the workplace.
http://www.state.nj.us/csc/employees/training/classroom/respect_and_professionalism.html – Course on respect and professionalism.

Art work is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com
Please respond below to this blog.
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For sale on Amazon by Marilynne Eichinger: The True Story of Streetwise, overcoming homelessness and beating the odds. G0to AMAZON. What is it like to live on the streets? How do we help so many young people escape a life of hopelessness?

The Explosion – Population that is.

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Twin Stars 16” by 20”/ acrylic on canvas, $ 299 Explosions are commonplace in the heavens as it now seems to be on earth.

The Explosion

Is traffic horrendous in your neighborhood? Over the three few years thousands of vehicles invaded Portland. No longer do out-of-towners listen to the words of Tom McCall who said, “Come visit us again and again. This is a state of excitement. But for heaven’s sake, don’t come here to live.” Lured to our state because of its livability, water, and mild climate people from all over the country, yes, even the world are resettling here. The freeways are bumper to bumper at all times of the day. Impatient drivers weave in and out of lanes, ignoring the speed limit and forgetting that Portland is a city known for its civility.

Newcomers do not understand how to respond to a four way stop sign and they don’t wait for pedestrians in a cross walk. As a result of their negligence fatalities are up.
These invaders come with money from the sale of their expensive California houses and raise the price of local real estate. They purchase investment property and increase the cost of doing business in Portland or they come with nothing and join the ranks of the street population. According to Portland’s region growth plans what we are experiencing is only the beginning.

“Metro (using their Metroscope model) forecasts total households in the three-county region in 2035 will be between 1.3 and 1.5 million, an increase of between 56 and 74 percent. The model projects total households in the City of Portland will be between 345,000 and 376,000, an increase of 44 to 57 percent from the 2005 baseline of 240,000 households.”

My guess (and you can confirm this by responding to this blog), is that there are similar difficulties throughout the country and internationally. I just received the latest newsletter from the Population Institute. Chair and CEO, William N. Ryerson claims that the migrant crisis is record-setting with in excess of 60 million people leaving their homes last year seeking safety or refuge. News reports focus on the one-third driven by war but the other 40,000 are fleeing their homes because of drought, flooding, hunger, or severe poverty.
Wonder what the world’s projection is for the year 2050, just 35 years from now?

Demographers project the population increase to equal the current populations of China and India combined, a total of more than 2.5 billion people. Much of the growth will occur in developing nations where pressures from widespread famine will only get worse. These countries are the ones that become hotbeds for terrorist activities and crime.

With statistics like these I question why population control is such a taboo subject? I believe it is time to talk more openly about everything from family planning to care of the poor, elderly and migrating masses. Should people be kept alive if their quality of life had diminished? Can we and should we limit the size of our cities? Is growth inevitable and we just have to get used to it or is there a mechanism for planning sustainable, livable communities? I hate to think that we will be like the Chinese and build gated communities for 500,000 or one million people. But it could come to that if we don’t plan now.

references:
http://www.opb.org/artsandlife/article/former-governor-tom-mccall-message-visitors/ – Tom McCall’s message to visitors.
https://www.populationinstitute.org/demovulnerability/ – Population Institute report
http://www.portlandonline.com/portlandplan/index.cfm?a=288097&c=52256– Portland Population Projections.

Your thoughts? please respond below.

 Art is always for sale. Contact me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.
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Fear Itself

Clarity

Get the facts, follow the money, discover who benefits

Acrylic painting / 36” by 48” / silver frame / $ 699

Fear Itself

In his first inaugural address Franklin D. Roosevelt said, “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” Over the years his statement made me wonder what gives rise to fear itself. As a child I was afraid to put my hand over the side of my bed at night in fear that it would be grabbed by a monster living underneath. I huddled under the covers and stayed there until my father came to the rescue to quiet my tears. When I was in my early twenties I was once more drawn into far fetched fears, only this time they were caused by the cold war. I was convinced that a nuclear bomb was about to land on my young family. Cambridge seemed like the perfect target. When friends talked about building bomb shelters I joined their conversations thinking that we needed one too. How crazy was that? Thank goodness my husband was a more rational person since I was a victim of fear itself.

During World War II the Nazis did a good job of churning up hatred for Jews, Gypsies and Homosexuals. Previously compassionate people acted like animals do when afraid. They will do anything necessary to protect themselves from these perceived demons. And, while they were at it, they plundered Jewish art, damaged shops, took over their apartments, and appropriated their money. In the United States fear helped promote our own scapegoats. Japanese citizens became our villains, giving us an excuse to grab their lands and livelihoods. Incarcerating American citizens in concentration camps was one of the most unconscionable moments in our history. And now, not learning from mistakes of the past, many Americans have bought into an irrational fear and are ready to repeat history, only this time with innocent Muslim targets.

Fear is a powerful motivator that can serve good as well as bad masters. When there is a real threat it can illicit a rational reaction. But when fear is manipulated by politicians and media executives it produces irrational reactions that are not based in fact. For instance, if you are in an Alaskan wilderness area and come across a grizzly bear, you will certainly become frightened. You have good reason to be fearful and your body will react with an adrenalin rush that propels you to rise to the occasion. In this situation you benefit by being afraid. Your ability to react quickly may be your ticket to survival.

When powerful figures running for president use oratory skills to hypnotize a nation into doing something I consider who benefits, saying to myself, “follow the money.” TV stations will get more advertisers by promoting an entertainer-in-chief for president than a commander-in-chief. We often hear that we should build a wall to protect us against illegal immigration from Mexico but how much coverage is there to Pew Research Center’s report that in 2012 net migration fell to Zero. We read about child kidnappings and don’t want our children walking to school or talking to strangers but how often do you discover that only 1 in 10,000 children recorded missing are not recovered, that those abducted are usually taken by family members. Abductions by strangers are very rare and fears aroused by the media are out of proportion to the reality.

In 1961, President Dwight Eisenhower discussed what he saw as a great threat to democracy. He warned that a military-industrial complex that unites defense contractors with armed forces will produce ruinous results. “The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists, and will persist,” he said. And then added, “we must learn how to compose differences not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose.” As a nation we are stuck with the results of not heeding his concerns. Wars and terrorism have escalated making us fearful once more. So who benefits? Defense contractors, for they make huge profits. As long as wars continue they remain winners eager to fill lucrative contracts for drones, planes and bombs.

Huffington Post mentions 25 companies who benefited from the war in Iraq. We jumped in without evidence because we were led by fearful emotions. Though some call the war a strategic blunder and a monstrous injustice. Others bought into the idea that it was a patriotic mission. But the real beneficiaries were businesses for which war was a lucrative cash-cow. Remember Halliburton? Dick Cheney’s old company received $17.2 billion in war related revenue between 2003-2006 alone. The average taxpayer pays for wars while the war industries make the profits. Follow the money.

How do you get people to go along with a money making machine? It is easy. Insight fear and create scapegoats. Acknowledge hot heads and puff up egos. Claim you are keeping people safe while you use their cash, deplete their resources, and deny their basic rights to health and work.

Ammunition and unmanned aircraft makers are the American’s beneficiaries of the war on ISIS. But you might wonder how ISIS leaders benefit by creating a culture of fear. Why are they killing their own people, demolishing their cities, and sending 19 million refugees from their homeland? According to David Cohen, U.S . Department of the Treasury’s Undersecretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, ISIS has amassed an unprecedented amount of wealth, most of which come form local criminal and terrorist activities. They employ middlemen to smuggle cash in carried in suitcases and on trucks and out of the country. This is similar to the way the Rothchild’s were employed by the German court to move funds in the 1760s. And by insisting on absolute adherence to Sharia law they have a way of controlling their own people.

Newsweek reports, “at its heart, the ISIS money machine runs on the fear-and greed- of the millions of people it controls. It manifests itself in a diverse range of financial activities, many of them outsourced via middlemen and driven by hordes of self-interested parties.” Most of the leaders come from criminal, not religious leaders in their society. According to Cohen it is the best-funded terrorist organization” the U.S. has “ever confronted.” Though it calls for 100 percent adherents to Sharia law, behind the rhetoric it acts like the Mafia while it rakes in money. More than 8 billion Muslim believers are horrified by how Islam has been reinterpreted. Leila Hudson, associate professor at the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies at the University of Arizona calls ISIS, “deviant and pathological.” It is a far cry from the teachings of the Quran.

Where does that leave us? It is time to be level headed, resist a fear that leads nowhere, take time to follow the money trail and don’t allow it to work for the betterment of a few rather than society as a whole.

References:
http://www.pewhispanic.org/2012/04/23/net-migration-from-mexico-falls-to-zero-and-perhaps-less/ – Net migration statistics from Pew research Center.

http://www.npr.org/2011/01/17/132942244/ikes-warning-of-military-expansion-50-years-later – Eisenhower’s warning of Military Expansion.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/07/25/iraq-war-profiteers-25-co_n_115004.html – Huffington Post article about who benefits from war.

http://www.newsweek.com/2014/11/14/how-does-isis-fund-its-reign-terror-282607.html- Newsweek article about how ISIS amasses money.

http://fortune.com/2014/09/13/defense-industry-winner-against-isis/ – Fortune magazine article about who wins from the war on ISIS.

http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/isis-terror/deviant-pathological-what-do-isis-extremists-really-want-n194136 – NBC News story about what ISIS Extremists really want.

Comment below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Art work is always for sale. I can be contacted at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

Politics of Intelligence

My son at the Hong Kong Science Museum using his energy to make things work.

Politics of Intelligence

Last week’s newsletter focused on the plight of 32 million illiterate Americans. I explained how those neglected during childhood often suffer brain impairments that cause societal problems later. For the first time in many years these forgotten citizens have caught the attention of politicians. The subject of jobs and pay equity has come to the forefront of their platforms. It is important to note that illiteracy is not to be confused with intelligence. Though one may impact the other, there is not an absolute correlation. Many factors come into play when considering intelligence, including where your were born, the socio economic position of your family, how education is valued, determination to succeed, and the quality of training you receive as you go through the school system. Testing has played both a good and a divisive role by categorizing people.
IQ tests were started in 1904 when when the French government commissioned Alfred Biney to design a system to help identify intellectually normal children from those who were more challenged. Mensa’s IQ scale is as follows:

Intelligence People in each category

below 55 .1 %
55-70% 2 %
70-85 14 %
85-100 34 %
100-115 34 %
115-129 14 %
130- 145 2 %
145 + .1 %

Of interest: Einstein’s IQ was 160; Madonna – 140; Steve Martin – 142; Sharon Stone – 154; Arnold Schwarzenegger & Matt Damon – 135; Bill Gates -160; Adolph Hitler -141; Bobby Fischer 187; Bill Clinton 137; Paul Allen 170

Other tests were developed to evaluate factors that are not apparent on the standard IQ test. Howard Gardner, proposes his theory of multiple intelligence that tests for other intelligent factors such as:

Kinaesthetic – Body Smart
Linguistic – Word Smart
Logical – Number Smart
Interpersonal – People Smart
Intrapersonal – Myself Smart
Musical – Music Smart
Visual/Spatial – Picture Smart
Naturalistic – Nature Smart

No one wants to label others and say they are not capable of succeeding. However, just as it helps be aware of circumstances surrounding how you were raised, there is benefit in knowing your intelligence strengths when choosing a career.

There are those who take exception to these tests, warning that because culture and literacy affect outcomes they should not be depended on by educators or employers in determining whether to admit a student to university or to make a job offer. Some teachers have concerns that children labeled less intelligent at a young age will be stigmatized throughout life. On the positive side are those who use results to individualize instruction.

My interest, however, is centered on jobs, rather than intelligence. I want to know if there is a correlation between intelligence and future employment opportunities. Since millions of citizens take these test there is a lot of data to support results. It is reasonable to assume that the general population falls into a normal distribution curve. There will always be people at the low and high ends. Tag programs and challenging jobs are available to those at the upper levels of the spectrum. They are the fortunate group.

It is the normal range of the IQ scale that spawns so many angry people at political rallies because their employment opportunities have become limited. To this you might counter by saying, for those who are motivated to get trained, there are still plenty of opportunities. Streetwise is a good example of a young man who spent four years as an apprentice, journeying out to become an industrial painter with a job that will provide a good salary for the rest of his life. I wonder how many of jobs in the trades are available for willing workers?

And what happens to those millions of citizens who have an IQ under 85? In the United States 16.03 percent fall in this range. According to the 2016 Census estimation the nation’s population this March was 324,118,789. This means that 52,831,362 people are categorized as being intellectually challenged. These men and women certainly can work, but they may need special accommodation that includes increased supervision.

Another 110,200,388 people have IQs in the low average category (85-100). By definition, half the people of the country have an IQ of 100 or lower. What will keep these people inspired and willing to put in the effort to learn to read and develop skills leading to employment?

Post WWII a person who was of average intelligence could find honorable, well-paying work . Today the jobs they previously filled are scarce. They have either been sent overseas, supplanted by automation, replaced by technology or become obsolete. In my neighborhood even the trash collectors have gone from two people manning a truck to one. As the employment chain requires more highly skilled personnel even those with over 110 IQ such as paralegals, tax preparers, mid-level managers and desk top publishers are being replaced by software.

Economists say that a highly trained, technologically sophisticated workforce is in our future. According to Jobs for the Future, 68% of U.S. jobs will require postsecondary credentials in the knowledge based world of 2020. This brings us back to the question of what will people with average intelligence and inadequate training do to support themselves.

I’ve heard suggestions that range from, “all people should automatically get paid for doing nothing,” to “the government must provide make-work programs to keep citizens busy and out of trouble.” And then there are those who ask, “why should I support those lazy bums?” We need a conversation. When will it start?

Are you tired of people living on the streets, of gang violence, of an illiterate populace, of lack of jobs, and of gross income disparity? Or do you see a future of armed, walled-in cities, such as now exist in China to protect the fortunate from the rest of society? I visited one outside of Guangzhou. Known as villas they house 1/2 to 1 million people in luxury. The gated areas are complete with shopping centers, restaurants, schools and hospital. Women and children never leave their compounds. Men go off to run their factories.

A 2011 Gallop survey proclaims nine countries claim to have full employment. In each case their government is involved in controlling working conditions. Some limit work hours while other have initiated public work programs. My ex-husband returned from an engineering consultancy job in India where the owners asked him to help design a more efficient factory. In private conversations the workers complained. They needed jobs, not efficiency and automation.

There is a bible saying that warns, “Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.” The passage implies that those who don’t have anything to do with their time are more likely to get into trouble. Sounds reasonable to me and I fear that many of the problems we face in the United States are directly related to inactivity without sense of purpose. Isn’t it also reasonable for a person of average intelligence to be valued and provided an education and training with a guarantee that there is something useful to do at the end?

I look for solutions that will give all people meaningful employment so they can be part of contributing to the greater good. I do believe that it can be done if we make benefiting society and not accumulating wealth our priority.

Your thoughts?

Please respond to this article below.

References

http://www.i3mindware.com/mensa-requirements– Mensa IQ testing.

http://www.bgfl.org/bgfl/custom/resources_ftp/client_ftp/ks3/ict/multiple_int/what.cfm – test for multiple intelligence

http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/us-population/ – Population of the U.S. in 2016

http://www.jff.org/initiatives – Jobs for the future.

http://247wallst.com/special-report/2012/04/25/nine-countries-where-unemployment-does-not-exist/2/ – Countries with the highest employment rates.

http://www.therichest.com/rich-list/most-shocking/10-famous-people-with-surprisingly-high-iqs/ – IQs of the rich and famous.
To view my art go to eichingerfineart.com. Questions can be directed to me at marilynne@eichingerfineart.com.

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For sale on Amazon by Marilynne Eichinger: The True Story of Streetwise, overcoming homelessness and beating the odds. Go to AMAZON.

Politics of the Uneducated

Nurturing

43 in. by 84”/ gold frame/ acrylic/mixed media / $ 1,100 Just as we need to care for the environment, we must nurture our citizens. Societies that do not value all lose freedoms and become ripe for autocratic control. They spawn violence, vulgarity and criminal behavior.

Politics of the Uneducated

Do you wonder why so many angry, cursing, ready to fight people are jumping into the political arena this year? What is happening and why is there so much vulgar behavior that I never believed was part of our culture? Donald Trump said proudly after one of his rallies, “Don’t you just love the uneducated!” Though in context he implied that he loves everyone, his comment made me think about uneducated making decisions for me. I don’t like the thought.

According to Ruth Marcus syndicated Washington writer, Trump’s backers tend to be less well-educated and affluent. In the past these people were silent yet this year they run in droves to join Trump’s bandwagon. He appeals to those who hate non-whites, Muslims, want a hands- off government and country that practices isolationism. Like those who who join with Bernie they complain of trade treaties that took jobs overseas. They want manufacturing on American soil and believe that when it returns factory owners will hire them for a fair wage. I am not so sure, and imagine these entrepreneurs will substitute automation for labor. The poorly educated would like to rid the country of illegal immigrants, yet they don’t seem interested in going into the fields to pick strawberries and apples.

What happens when a society has an overabundance of uneducated people and no jobs available for them to fill? How should our politicians address this situation? You be the judge. Bear with me as we wade through a few statistics.

The nation’s graduation rate is currently at 82.3 percent. This is an improvement from the 72 percent rate in 2001 yet the statistic is misleading. Some communities still have 50 percent of their students dropping out. Race and poverty are the most significant factors. Oregon is one of the worst states with 31 percent of students dropping out. 15 other states are nearly as bad. 1000 schools in the U.S. are labeled drop out factories representing one million failing students.

According to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (known as the Nation’s Report Card), though graduation rates are higher, performance is lower. The Huffington Post reports that the U.S. illiteracy rate hasn’t change in ten years. 32 million adults in the U.S. cannot read. That number represents 14 percent of the population. 19 percent of high school graduates are functionally illiterate. What future is there for these youth? What kind of employment opportunities do they have? Would you hire them? Does a high school diploma have the same benefits as it did years ago?

Those without a degree cannot serve in the military. They cannot fill the skilled jobs that our economy depends on. US News predicts that, “the manufacturing labor market, which supported a vibrant middle class at the end of World War II, is never coming back.” Jobs in health care, social assistance and technology will grow, construction stay the same, and mining, manufacturing, and logging will continue to decrease. So what happens to the uneducated?

The Department of Justice states that, “The link between academic failure and delinquency, violence, and crime is welded to reading failure.” The uneducated are more likely to engage in criminal behavior, require social services, live on the streets, have poor health and die younger. Much of their current situation has to do with traumatic childhood experiences. They grew up in poverty with inadequate food and neglectful caretakers. They were subjected to verbal abuse and put-downs (You’ll never amount to anything!), violence, and early exposure to drugs and alcohol. They may have been sexually molested, treated as slaves, become pregnant as a teen or thrown out of the house because of LGBT affiliation.

Research I have read about trauma and its effect on the brain shows that youth raised in stressful environments often exhibit signs of impaired brain development. These young people suffer from a lack of trust, have problems regulating emotions and feel the world to be unsafe. In the classroom they are the spaced-out, daydreamers who don’t pay attention. They lose track of time and have little interest in learning, occupying seats until graduation gives them freedom. Impulsive behavior replaces rational thought and their actions are unpredictable, volatile and extreme. They grow up feeling powerless in the face of adversity and act defensively and aggressively. These are the uneducated. Do they seem like characters in “Lord of the Flies,” rather than kind compassionate citizens? It is these men and women who are attending political rallies in record numbers. They heed the call to punch those who oppose their viewpoint. And yet though they act poorly, they are also crying out for a better future. Their actions are making Americans pay attention. But how do we respond with jobs and housing for so many disaffected citizens who live in poverty?

There are consequences to neglecting this group of citizens, and election speeches are raising many issues that have not come to the forefront of past campaigns. Let’s look at them.

Should wealth be in the hands of a few or many? Do we need to increase our defense budget? Should we pay more attention to education or get rid of the Department of Education? ( remember that more kids are graduating now.) Should cursing, violent movies and videos continue to be plastered on TV and Internet without concern for morality? Is it OK to supersede the melting pot ideal by hatred and isolation? Are guns and drugs the norm for all time in the future? Is the environment as important as the economy? Should we applaud efficiency and let robots replace the uneducated or are jobs more important? Do we limit population so we can afford to care for those who exist? Do we want beggars and the homeless on or off the streets if it costs tax payers money? Do we continue to put record numbers of the mentally ill and those who commit crimes in prison for long years without rehabilitation? Do we keep out those with whom we disagree or do we bring them into our country to teach them our ways?

You decide!!!!
Art work is always for sale. For more information go to my web site www.eichingerfineart.com.

Please comment on my blog site below.

References:

http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2015/12/15/459821708/u-s-high-school-graduation-rate-hits-new-record-high- NPR Education Report.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/06/illiteracy-rate_n_3880355.html – Literacy rates

http://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2012/09/10/the-future-workforce -workforce of the future.