-
Fall Review: Hillbilly Elegy
I just finished “Hillbilly Elegy” by Ohio Senator and Republican Vice Presidential candidate J.D. Vance. I hate listened to this book and I hated it as expected but not to the degree I thought I would. The book has some value and merit.
I think there is something to be gained from reading or listening to this book. But Senator Vance’s story highlights the hypocrisy of his political party.”Hillbilly Elegy” is not exactly entertaining. JD Vance did a good job of narrating but his voice is a bit flat. But it’s still an interesting read especially in these times.
“Hillbilly Elegy” is JD Vance’s life story. He grew up in Kentucky and Ohio in a dysfunctional, poor family. After high school JD went to the Marines in the Iraq War era, Stanford and Yale law school. He reflects on his life from a position of financial security and success.

JD offers his sociological theories about the problems of what he refers to as the White, working class. He uses the term White, working class interchangeably with Hillbilly. I don’t have a dog in this fight but this book is a disrespectful towards White people that are not well educated with professional careers. They really should not support Republicans any more than Black Americans, immigrants, women or the LGBT community should.
I enjoyed the way JD Vance talked about how reliable and protective his late grandmother, MeeMaw was. I love the way he never doubted her loyalty and love for her family. I enjoyed hearing about Senator Vance’s military experience. I respect US soldiers.
The senator talked about his Ivy League experience. He talked a lot about social capital and networking. JD Vance said successful people get that way due to multi generational social capital, networking, knowing the right people, being liked by the right people, having the right suit and knowing how to act.
The Republican platform has told poor and working class people that hard work was the key to success for generations. They are very hypocritical. Republicans have acted as if wealth is a virtue and poverty is a character flaw. “Hillbilly Elegy” goes into detail about social capital and connections being the key to success.
“Hillbilly Elegy” is worth your time if you’re interested in politics, current events and perhaps sociology even though Senator Vance doesn’t offer many hard numbers or talks about research. I’ve read several books written by political figures (actually all written by the Obamas). It’s worthwhile to get to know the backgrounds of our law makers. This book has also been adapted to a film version if you don’t feel like reading or listening to it.
-
Untitled
I’ve noticed that some people like to ask trick questions. Trick questions let people project the image they have of you and you inadvertently validate it. The question is more of a prompt or a test than wanting an answer. Trick questions also let people ask questions indirectly because they don’t have the nerve to say and ask what they really want to ask. This has happened to me several times in job interviews and last weekend at the grocery store.
Job interviews like to ask hypothetical questions and assume you’ve participated in the behavior they’re asking about. For example:
Question: Tell me about a time you had a conflict at work. (I’ve been asked this many times on job interviews. It’s hard to know how to answer this question.)
Truth: I haven’t had many conflicts at work. I usually get along well with other people. The few times I’ve had conflicts it was in high stress, low wage industries such as retail and food service. Those environments are prone to conflict. The people that I had conflicts with had a problem with me. There was no real conflict. I responded to their behavior with grace. They didn’t deserve it but that’s what I gave them.
What I said: I don’t really remember. I had a hard time answering.
What I should have said: I’m a professional. I’m applying for a position in a professional environment with other educated professionals. I focus on my work and anticipate others will do the same. I don’t anticipate having a conflict.
Question: How often do you think it’s acceptable to miss work? (I applied to Target years ago for a cashier position when I was asked this. I wasn’t hired.)
Truth: I rarely missed school grades k-12. I rarely missed classes as a college students. I rarely missed work. It’s hard for me to answer this question because this doesn’t apply to me.
What I should have said: I should have said that good attendance and punctuality are very important and I rarely missed school or work. I’ve missed commitments only when I’ve had a contagious illness.
Question: Do you anticipate not being able to work in the evenings? (I was asked this question in a job interview with a local city government for a programming position in the parks and recreation department.)
Truth: The job mostly operated M-F during business hours. Sometimes there were programs during leisure hours. This was stated in the job posting. I understood this and wouldn’t have applied if I couldn’t fulfill the demands. I think the interviewer was trying to figure out if I had children. I specifically think he was trying to figure out if I was a single mother. This particular interview was very messy and weird.
What I should have said: The job description gives the impression that this is mostly a job that requires traditional business hours with occasional nights and weekends. Can you be specific about the hours? Did I misunderstand the description? I have no time restrictions but I prefer to work mostly business hours.
Question: $30?
Truth: I went to the grocery store last weekend and requested $20 cash back on a debit card purchase. The cashier accidentally shut his draw before giving me my $20. The bagger was a supervisor and could open the drawer. The bagger/supervisor opened the drawer and asked me: $30? I’m unsure why he came up with that number. I’m pretty sure he could look at my receipt and know how much cash back I was owed. He thought he was going to catch me in a $10 lie. He was standing at the end of the aisle bagging groceries during the entire transaction.
What I should have said: I said what I should have said which was the truth. I asked for $20 which is the truth. The bagger/supervisor gave me my $20. I said have a good day and left.
Question: So how did it go?
Truth: I’ve been asked this question on jobs before. As far as I know everything went fine and routine. They are already ahead and know something I don’t. They don’t want to share whatever information they have. They want you to verify, confirm or admit to something that they already know about.
What I should have said: Everything was routine. If something was out of the ordinary or if there was a concern I would have let you know. Is there something I should be aware of?
Some people ask questions to get you to talk. They are often fishing for information they are afraid to ask about directly. Sometimes they ask questions to get an answer that validates their bias. Quite often questions are not really questions but prompts and tests. I’ve had to learn to differentiate between an honest question and a set up over time.
-
Untitled
-
I ❤️ Sundays! 🍂🍁🍂
-
Question of the Day 10.12.24 🎨🖌🖼
Who are your favorite artists?
Henry Ossawa Tanner and Edward Hopper


-
Recent Release Review: Joker: Folie à Deux
SPOILER ALERT
I will keep the spoilers to a minimum. But here is the big one that seems to have thrown everyone for a loop. Joker: Folie a Deux is a musical. This may be the most confusing musical of all time. None of the other films in the “Batman” or “Joker” series have been musicals. Three songs went by before I realized I was watching a musical. Twitter film critics that saw the film on Friday night hated it. They feel like they were tricked into watching a musical without their consent and they don’t appreciate it one bit.

I didn’t mind that Joker: Folie a Deux was a musical. I enjoy musicals. Stephanie Germanotta, b.k.a. Lady Gaga was the co star and the producers would have missed an opportunity if they didn’t use Lady Gaga’s musical ability. It was kind of cute once I understood that this was a dark musical. Lady Gaga’s musicianship did not disappoint.
Joker: Folie a Deux was OK. I kind of liked it. I’m giving this movie some grace because I’m a fan of the “Batman” and “Joker” films. There was a lot about this movie that didn’t make sense. I had to remind myself that the film is based on a comic book about a homicidal clown in a crime ridden city.

Joker: Folie a Deux is very different from Joker. Arthur Fleck, bka Joker, played by Joaquin Phoenix was incarcerated and on trial in the sequel. Joker was about the crimes committed by Arthur. The trial of Joker for the murder of five citizens of Gotham is the trial of the century. Joker had more action and honestly gore whereas Joker: Folie a Deux was a quiet and dark with less gore.

If you’re a fan of the series or comic books you may enjoy Joker: Folie a Deux. If you’re a Lady Gaga fan you may enjoy this film. It’s far fetched but I accepted it. It’s a musical which I accepted too. I gave the film grace and enjoyed it. I think others will enjoy it too if they give grace and use their imagination.
-
Question of the Day 10.7.24🙂
Tell us about a time when you felt out of place.
I feel out of place most places. I think it’s because I’m an only child and a childless spinster. I’m fairly outgoing so I’ve always just powered through it. A smile and hello can put everyone at ease. I’m also comfortable quietly fading into the background. It depends on the situation.
-
Monday morning prayer. Have a great week. 🌄 🛐✝️
-
Oklahoma Superintendent Wants $6 Million Worth of Bibles 🤑📖




