LOW INTELLIGENCE and the MILL HUNK HUNGARIAN AMERICAN STEREOTYPES

 

Although my own father didn't work in a factory, several of my ancestors and relatives did, and like many of those immigrants and first-generation Americans who came from agricultural Hungary to work during the Industrial Revolution and then some, the stereotype of low intelligence was stuck on them.  What a convenient and easy way for people who had command of the English language and some time in here to "other" the Hungarians (as well as others from Central and Eastern Europe) so that they could, pre-union, use them up and spit them out in those days before there was any SSI, SSDI, or other Disability programs. So many men were injured permanently, killed, or sickened and died early from unsafe conditions including pollution into their lungs, and even working long shifts six days a week wasn't enough to support a family.

 

Now some of these people were uneducated and without skills when they came to the United States and employment was one of their goals in coming here.  And perhaps you didn't need to be an "astronaut" to work in the mill but...
 

But, if you want to bust through this stereotype, consider that given the opportunity, many of their children, grand-children, and great grandchildren are college educated, and Master's Degrees as well as Ph.Ds. and membership in the professions are not at all unheard of.

 

Now consider, if the "mill hunk" was so stupid, how did his offspring and grandchildren end up smart enough for all that?  Intelligence is part of our genetic heritage.

 

Instead, I think these men worked long and hard and with pride.  The mill hunk was also the patriotic man who joined the military and loved his family. 

C 2016 Magyar American BlogSpot

SARAH McLACHLAN : SONG FOR A WINTER's NIGHT

IT'S COLD OUTSIDE

 Image from Dover

HOLLYWOOD CINEMATOGRAPHER - VILMOS ZSIGMOND - DIES IN CALIFORNIA - FAMOUS FOR CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A THIRD KIND

NY TIMES article VILMOS ZSIGMOND DIES AT 85 - CINEMATOGRAPHER  by Bruce Weber

EXCERPT:

Known for creating dramatic, story-propelling images in muted colors and natural light, Mr. Zsigmond (whose full name is pronounced VIL-moshe ZHIG-mund) referred to his desired imagery as “poetic realism.”

Along with other cinematographers, including his countryman Laszlo Kovacs, with whom he escaped the Soviet dominance of Hungary in 1956, he helped usher in a new era in the look of Hollywood movies, one in which light and color and whole images superseded the importance of making the star look gorgeous.

PROOF THAT CROWS MAKE TOOLS!

DISCOVERY - CROWS CAUGHT ON CAMERA BUILDING and STORING TOOLS  VIDEO LINKED

Excerpt:  Poring over the footage captured on the cameras' micro-SD cards (the cameras safely detach from the birds within a few days), the scientists witnessed two instances of the birds fashioning hook tools they would use to probe tree crevices for food....

It was clear to the researchers that these tools seemed precious to the birds.
“In one scene,” said Troscianko, ”a crow drops its tool, and then recovers it from the ground shortly afterwards, suggesting they value their tools and don’t simply discard them after a single use.”

The birds are highly attuned to disturbances in their midst, and their tropical habitat can also be a hindrance to anyone wishing to get a close look at how they earn their living. But the cameras the team employed afforded just such looks.
“By documenting their fascinating behavior with this new camera technology,” said Troscianko, “we obtained valuable insights into the importance of tools in their daily search for food.”

A NEW YEAR OF EARTH CHANGES

Saint Louis, Missouri, flooded enough to stop transportation,  The North Of England - flooded.  (Prince Charles with his long time concern for the environment is truly the perfect person to be the next King!) Tornados touching down in unprecedented numbers.  Earth changes, no doubt.  Global Warming Summit in Paris.   Is this really something we can stop now by altering our life styles so that we no longer pollute?  (I think it would take more than recycling, and shutting down factories particularly in China, but also less use of air travel...)  Al Gore was right.  Al Gore was right.

In the wee hours I woke up and turned on the radio, a station which featured psychic predictions for the future.  In the morning I wake up again, check my weather ap and see that the experts are predicting a swath of storms "NON EL NINO RELATED" that will hit my area this week.  I took down the Christmas lights that I had planned to keep on until January 6th, in advance of these storms thinking the wet weather and electricity could be dangerous.

My dog is wearing sweaters and I've taken to using a space heater in one room - the bedroom, which I'm using 90% of the time now.  The gas wall heater is too expensive to use and so old it has no thermostat and though it can eat up the humidity when it's on, most of the heat goes out the windows. The electric bill will rise, as will the gas bill, but not enough to consider the expense of double pane windows, water heater wraps, and all the rest. 

Not too long ago, during one of the hottest summers I've ever experienced, so sick of the heat, I vowed that I would not complain of the cold or the wet.  I'm actually lucky because I'm not dealing at all with freezing rain, sleet, ice or snow and even when it goes to freezing at night I can cover up my plants outside.

I'm limited in what I can do but I do it.  I have cut back my water use especially.  I recycle not only bottles and cans but give away clothes and other things that someone else can get use out of.  I generate so little garbage that my can doesn't have to go out to the street more than once a month.  I think "if everyone would do just a little more towards this effort."  But, despite their being constant warnings - and rules - and laws - about water usage in my area, I still have a neighbor who waters excessively. Everyone on the street is angry at him but so far he has not been busted by the authorities and has not gotten any fines.

Now, anticipating the rain, I'm more worried than ever that it will be excessive and that there will be flooding in my area, which was not designed to cope with too much rain at any one time.  There is a construction site down the street that is dug out and I hope any flooding will go down into the pit instead of down the street and into the yards!

CELEBRATE A NEW YEAR!