Contexting

From Bob Vila to Rachael Ray

The do-it-yourself movement (and yes, it can be classified as a movement) was the result of the rise of niche cable channels and clever marketing on the part of hardware, tool, and home improvement companies. Think about it- entire television networks dedicated to advertising that doesn't feel like advertising. Bob Vila. Norm Abram. "Hometime." The message: "You can do it!" Construction, remodeling, and interior design were demystified, leaving the audience feeling empowered to do it themselves (and ready to run out and buy every new tool and gadget they never knew they needed).

Of course, remodeling your own home is a lot of work, even if you did spend $34.95 on the hardcover edition of Home Improvement 1-2-3: Expert Advice from the Home Depot. In the end, Americans needed a do-it-yourself trend that didn't require quite as much effort.

Enter "The 30-Minute Meal with Rachael Ray." Okay, so maybe Julia Child was the (grand)mother of the do-it-yourself cooking movement, but the disgustingly bubbly Ray has brought it into the mainstream. Viewers of her cooking, travel, and talk shows (and readers of her books, websites, and magazines) walk away encouraged to "experiment with their flavors" (and to buy Nabisco crackers, Dunkin' Donuts coffee, and Burger King value meals).

Audiences love to hear that anyone can remodel a master bedroom suite. That they, too, can throw a few things in a pot and put together a gourmet meal in under 30 minutes. The message isn't entirely true, but it's a lie that millions of Americans love to tell themselves every day.

The evolution of the do-it-yourself phenomenon matters because people don't believe in experts any more. Bob Vila, whether he actually knew a thing about drywall and plumbing, came off as a knowledgeable and handy guy- an expert who taught the audience how to do something and encouraged them to give it a try over the weekend. Rachael Ray, on the other hand, is a regular girl who likes to cook.

It's the same with politicians, TV stars, and pastors. Demystifying your role (letting people in on the fact that what you do is something that they could do, too) will change the rules. Will you continue to insist on being the tour guide, or can you become a fellow traveller? Guess which one has more influence these days.

Rush Limbaugh Will Melt Your Brain

Many people across the country tune in every day to the EIB ("Excellence In Broadcasting") Network for three hours of entertaining indoctrination. Rush Limbaugh is a larger-than-life personality full of political commentary, social opinions, and, well, himself. Rush is very good at what he does; he's intelligent, engaging, and witty. He has an interesting relationship with his listeners, making them feel smart for listening to him, but not smart enough to form their own opinions. As a result, he has a legion of loyal fans ("Dittoheads") and has inspired dozens of knock-offs and local-market wannabes.

It's okay to listen to Conservative Talk Radio (a genre Limbaugh claims to have started), but those guys aren't the most reliable sources of news and information. Their conservative perspectives and "Right 98.8% of the Time" predictions require Rush and the others to gloss over their inaccuracies and overstate their wisdom.

Here's the brilliance of Rush:

He makes his audience feel like an under-represented, cohesive group whose way of live is being actively threatened by liberals (who are cast as a unified group, organized to push their agenda on unsuspecting conservatives). So if you're an upper middle-class white suburban conservative Christian American, Rush generously offers to look out for your interests and be your voice in the "sea of liberalism."

The mainstream media (Rush refers to them as the "drive-by media") are cast as having a liberal bias and left-wing agenda. The message is clear: "The media are telling the liberal side of every story. Rush will tell the other (our) side." It's kind of like a bottled-water salesman warning about the contamination of tap water. 

His (effective) approach is to mock those his opponents. As if anyone who disagrees with him is an utter moron. "You believe in public libraries? Why don't you get a job and buy books like the rest of us?" Anyone who opposes the war in Iraq is unpatriotic. The anti-smoking crowd is a bunch of hippies. Pro-immigration? You're an ignorant fool who wants to give away your birthright to conquering foreigners.

Rush has his own lingo.  He also refers to people and groups by disparaging nicknames (Barack Obama is sarcastically referred to as "the Messiah," Democratic senator Lindsey Graham is called "Grahamnesty") in order to discredit them. This technique is amazingly effective- listeners quickly adopt this conservative jargon as a sort of identifying secret handshake.

You should listen to Rush Limbaugh because people in your community listen to him. He's a tremendous influencer. You should keep your gaurd up, though (as you should with anything!) because many people allow Rush (and Sean Hannity, and Glenn Beck...) to tell them what to think about everything from politics to business to matters of faith.

John McCain Picks Sarah Palin For VP Spot

Presidential candidate John McCain has selected Alaska governor Sarah Palin to be his running mate. Picking a young, conservative, woman is a shrewd move by the aging republican who has been cast as "more of the same" by the Obama campaign.

The choice was an important one because neither candidate is playing well with his respective party- McCain isn't wholeheartedly endorsed by the conservatives, and Obama has (intentionally or otherwise) struggled to win the confidence of jilted Hilary supporters. It's unclear whether the announcement of the VP selections will help either candidate. McCain needed someone to help his ticket appear more "conservative," "Christian," and "young" while reminding people of his  reputation (i.e.: "McCain's so forward thinking that he picked a woman!").

Barack Obama, on the other hand, is trying to ease concerns about his inexperience and youth by selecting Delaware senator Joe Biden. Choosing s long-time Washington insider may actually work against Obama's message of change, but it is certain to help him with the more liberal and blue-collar democrats.

The selection of VP running mates matters because both candidates are trying to get your vote. Elections are about image as much (or more than) they are about issues. Vice Presidents are not usually very influential (notwithstanding current Vice President Dick Cheney), so much of the hype here is about apealing to disaffected voters looking for a ticket they can feel better about supporting.

El Maquinista (The Machinist)

Before his first growl as the Caped Crusader in Batman Begins, Christian Bale did a little indie flick in Barcelona Spain that may be his defining performance. "The Machinist," an English-language Spanish film, puts Bale in the role of Trevor Reznik, a lonely single insomniac who works in an industrial machine shop. Reznik is the type of guy who is obviously afflicted; he's dramatically underweight, manic, and deathly afraid of his pickup truck's cigarette lighter. Bale plays it with a stupefied sincerity that makes the character feel both likable and pitiful. You feel sorry for him because he's going crazy; but you relate to him because unlike most crazy people, Reznik knows he's losing his mind and is doing what any sane person would do to try to keep it together.

Director Brad Anderson tells the story in jolting pieces through the eyes of the protagonist. It's a plot-twist thriller that depicts- in excruciating sympathy- a man struggling with sin and the unshakable fear that his sin will find him out.

Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Reznik's paid girlfriend, and Spanish actress Aitana Sánchez Gijón plays the inaccessible love interest that may be his ticket to redemption. Barcelona, Spain stands in for an "American city on the west coast," and the machine shop's (Barcelona's old power station) three chimneas set an ominous stage. The villian, played by John Sharidan, is creepy in a kitchy, David Lynch-inspired way.

The Machinist is a good movie. You need to see it because A) it's a "foreign" film that you don't have to read, and b) it is the most honest picture of guilt-sickness you'll ever see. Despite it's weighty theme, The Machinist ends with a surprising sense of resolution and fulfillment. Watch it with friends, and the conversation afterword will natually center on the spiritual.

The Local Newspaper

You need to read your local newspaper.

I know what you're going to say: "But I'm in a small town. You haven't seen our local paper..." Believe me, I've seen small town newspapers. The Mountaineer Echo, the small local paper in Yellville, Arkansas, once published a surprisingly accurate account of my brief visit there. The make and model of car I drove. The people I visited. My stop for directions. What I ate for lunch. This was news in Yellville.

USA Today doesn't cut it. Fox News generates more news than it reports. National news reports have no soul. They stick to general interest articles and meaningless opinion polls. Google News will keep you informed (we recommend setting up at least one "local news" feed on your Google News page), but skimming the headlines doesn't give you any local insight. For you to make a difference in your community, it doesn't matter what "America" thinks, it matters what your America thinks. There are two reasons you should subscribe to your local paper:

1. Information: You need to know what's going on in your community. From births to obituaries, the local paper does all of the work for you. That awareness translates into good conversation with people in your community about what's going on in their lives. You might pray through your city's current events. You may decide to seek out the victims of a local house fire or volunteer to help with a local after-school program. Don't just read the articles, either; local businesses, churches, and events are advertised throughout. You are surrounded by opportunities to serve, enjoy, save, and connect. Read all about them in your local paper.

2. Perspective: Let's face it- local reporters aren't the best at remaining objective. That's actually a good thing, though, because reading articles written from a local perspective will help you know what's important to the people in your community. The "man on the street" interviews may drive you crazy, but you'd be surprised at what get's people talking It's usually not what you'd think.

The best way to know your community is to expose yourself to what influences it. The movies they watch, the jobs they work, and the people they know; these things shape worldview. To be an influence, you have to know these things. To know these things, you need to subscribe to your local paper. Don't just buy it once a week for the Sunday coupons, either. Buy it and read it. In public. As often as possible.