Floyd Mayweather's American Dream

After defeating Manny Pacquiao, 'Money' stands alone – and reminds us why we forgot about him in the first place
                                   

"I'm just an American dream," Floyd Mayweather said at some point deep into Saturday night, standing at a microphone with a pair of smiling ring girls in Tecate halter tops strategically posed behind him. He had just dismantled Manny Pacquiao in a fight that was disappointingly dull and utterly unsurprising on every level, and now he was discussing his favorite subject, which happens to be himself.

Mayweather is that rarest of public figures: A talented athlete who is the picture of oblivious villainy outside the ring, but is also inherently boring inside the ring. He's the worst of both worlds, in that there's nothing much to like about him in any sense, other than the fact that he's probably never going to lose a fight in his career. And this is not just a problem for his own legacy, which took a serious hit even as he did most of the hitting against Pacquiao; this is now a problem for boxing, which once again tried to wedge its way into the mainstream, and once again failed miserably.

This was a fight that never really had a chance of living up to the hype surrounding it, in part because Mayweather is not that kind of fighter and Pacquiao is no longer that kind of fighter, and in part because boxing is not that kind of sport anymore. It exists on the fringes, on the margins of popular culture, condemned for its barbarism and for the glorification of dubious characters like Mayweather. The only way to see this bout was to shell out an absurd chunk of change for a pay-per-view broadcast riddled with massive hiccups, and then to stay awake deep into the night hoping that something interesting might justify the purchase.

Is it a surprise, then, that people were disappointed? It's almost like that's what boxing does: It sets itself up, every few years or so, to allow us to remember why we forgot it in the first place.

A Dream Psychologist Interprets Don Draper's Mad Men Season-Premiere Vision

"Next."
Don Draper wants to see "another girl." Ted opens the door and in one walks—beautiful legs, beautiful curves, beautiful hair, all swimming in an exquisite chinchilla coat. A second goes by before Don makes eye contact. Rachel. His former flame turns towards a mirror, breaking a soul-piercing glance to take in her own pose. The fur slides down her shoulder, exposing milk-white skin. Close and out of reach. Don is transfixed. "I'm supposed to tell you you missed your flight," she says, drifting away. Pete, not Ted, opens the door. Don interrupts the exit. "You're not just smooth," he utters. "You're Wilkinson smooth." As Rachel slips out of the room, Pete kills the moment. "Back to work!"
Scene. Eyes open. Pitch black night. A woman on his arm. A dream. Don's perfect moment was a dream.
Matthew Weiner, you cruel creator.
Throughout Mad Men's seven seasons, Weiner has given audiences literal peeks inside his characters' minds. Melodramatic nightmares allow beasts inside to burst out. Introspective drug trips reveal wishful thinking and the deepest fears. Sunday night's premiere, "Severance," goes a step further, blurring the line between dream and reality to create an unsettling atmosphere. A scene where Don's latest catch spills blood-red wine across the carpet recalls the ad man's imagined encounter with ex-gal pal Andrea in season five's "Mystery Date" (minus the death-by-chokehold). Weiner gives us little distinction between Don's experiences—the actual, creepy-as-Hell audition depicted in the opening scene—and fabrications, Rachel's appearance being the only explicit tell. The last time we saw the department store heiress, she reminded Don that their secret love affair was 100 percent over. Rachel is unobtainable, out of Don's life. It takes our brains a second to register this fact, but her mere appearance explicitly tells us, This is not real.
But "not real" isn't how Ian Wallace, a professional dream psychologist and author of The Top 100 Dreams, would put it. When I ring him at his home in Edinburgh, Scotland, hunting for a professional opinion on Don's Rachel encounter, Wallace combats my semantics. They're not "not real." Dreams don't just "happen." Even when we sleep, we're active participants, not psychic receivers. "We create the dream in the same way that we create our waking awareness of consciousness," Wallace says. In order to reckon with these surreal memories, professionals acknowledge the existence of two worlds: an "inner," where ideas, aspirations, and imagined constructions fire through synapses, and an "outer," where we interact with tangibilities—appointment, assignment deadlines, observations from a day's commute. The two halves are intimately connected. "We use the outer world as a way of symbolizing our inner world, and we use our inner world as a way of making sense of the outer world."
Wallace interprets dreams from the inside out, tracing lines from images to a person's "waking life." He doesn't take anything too literally; just because a particular person, place or thing shows up in your dream doesn't mean the dream is about said person, place or thing. If someone has a dream about their partner having an affair, he or she may wake up thinking, "My partner is having an affair." Wallace would see it in reverse, an unconscious red flag that dreamer themselves had lost confidence and trust in their own abilities.
It would be easy to equate Rachel's appearance with Don longing for a specific, long-gone romance (especially with his lust over the diner's Rachel doppelgänger). Too easy. Acknowledging Don's relationship history, Wallace hones in on Rachel as an abstract. "As human beings we all have masculine and feminine aspects to our character," he says. "For a man, our feminine aspects tend to be or do with our creativity or intuition or empathy or instincts and so on. When Don creates a woman in his dream, it's all about his creative self. Rachel was really rich and wealthy. And so, Don has this really rich creativity that he's trying to get back in touch with somehow."
Though each case is personal, there are universal symbols that Wallace has encountered in over 35 years of dream interpretations. They can be big—crossing paths with an ex-lover is the 15th most-common dream—and they can be small. Wallace says Weiner's choice of a chinchilla coat is very deliberate. Fur is a symbol for one's "ability to present a self-image in a way that's quite indulgent and allows a real comfort in fundamental behaviors and being able to show those off." Don Draper loves his indulgences.
Weiner opens the dream sequence on Don's office door, another image that pops out to Wallace. He says the act of opening and closing a door is tied to identity, a personal threshold manifested into a passageway. That it's Ted on one side and Pete on the other speaks to Don's available avenues. "Very often people create dreams where some of the characters are people from their workplace because the characters in the workplace have certain qualities that the dreamer is being drawn to in some way," Wallace says. "They might be really confident, they might be really intelligent, they might be really meticulous, but there's something in that person that the dreamer needs to express so that he can grasp an opportunity." "Severance" hints at what a "Ted" or "Pete" road could mean for Don. Both men recently returned to New York from Los Angeles, though for Pete, the cyclical ride isn't a move forward, it's more like… a dream. Don could really use a third option.
There are no throwaway lines in Mad Men, and certainly not in a Mad Men dream sequence. What to make of Rachel's airplane reference? Don't get too excited, D.B. Cooper theorists: Like the door, it says more about where Don isn't going. According to Wallace, when people dream about the sky, they're wrestling with an idea that could take flight. "The sky tends to be the realm of concepts," Wallace says. "It usually symbolizes some idea's trajectory, some thought that you're trying to get off the ground and land it successfully somewhere." For Don, this could be the Wilkinson campaign. Or it could be the rest of his life on Earth. That Don missed his flight gives Wallace even more to chew on. This is commitment issue 101. "When people create a missing-a-plane dream, they have a concern about this really great idea, but they're not stepping forward. It might be that he didn't commit to Rachel in some way or she didn't commit to him, but it's probably in his waking life that he is not committing to some big idea that's coming up, and he needs to earn it. It resonates with the door part as well: some opportunity opening up for him, here he has to step through that threshold, into that new space, so that he can make the most of the opportunity."
That's never been Don's strong suit. Dreaming is much easier.

The American Dream is now just that for its middle classes – a dream

During the 2012 presidential election, Republican nominee Mitt Romney regularly liked to joke that President Obama wanted the US economy to look "more like Europe". In the context of modern American politics, few insults are more stinging. To be European is to be somehow effeminate, irresolute and, perhaps worst of all, socialist. It's the opposite of the "rugged individualism" and "exceptional nature" of the uniquely American experiment in self-government.
But, as a sobering New York Times article last week made clear, America could have a lot to learn by looking to Europe. According to the New York Times, the American middle class – the linchpin of the country's phenomenal postwar economic growth – can no longer call itself the richest in the world. "While the wealthiest Americans are outpacing many of their global peers," says the NYT, "across the lower- and middle-income tiers, citizens of other advanced countries have received considerably larger raises over the last three decades." America's poorest citizens lag behind their European counterparts; 35 years ago, the opposite was true.
This was yet one more wake-up call about the reality of America's continuing economic malaise. Ask Americans if the country is on the right track – 60% say no. Satisfied with the way things are going in America – only 25% say yes. Still think you're a member of the middle class – only 44% feel so confident. Forty per cent self-identify as lower-class, a 15-point jump since 2008. Among young people, the numbers are even more depressing. Those who place themselves in the lowest tier have doubled in just the past six years.
While a majority of Americans tenaciously continue to hold dear to the American Dream – that long-standing American ideal that if you work hard anything is possible – more and more people are reporting that the opportunity for social advancement feels increasingly out of reach for them and their children. Indeed, it is hard to think of a more disquieting trend in American society than the fact that those in their 20s and 30s are less likely to have a high school diploma than those between the ages of 55 and 64.
All of this must seem counterintuitive to foreign audiences. The US swaggers along on the world stage with a certainty and sense of moral purpose that no other country can match. Blessed with practically limitless national resources, a dynamic and diverse population, a relatively stable political system and innovative technological capabilities that other nations can only dream of, how can so many Americans be falling behind – and how can the nation's leaders allow it to happen?
The answer is disconcertingly simple: we chose this path.
Granted, no one actively set out to attack the middle class in America. There wasn't some evil plan hatched behind closed doors to wreak socio-economic havoc. But the decline of the American middle class, the ostentatious wealth of the so-called 1% and the crushing economic anxiety of the growing number of poor Americans have happened in plain sight.
It is the direct result of a political system that has for more than four decades abdicated its responsibilities – and tilted the economic scales toward the most affluent and well-connected in American society. The idea that government has an obligation to create jobs, grow the economy, construct a social safety net or even put the interests of the most vulnerable in society above the most successful has gone the way of transistor radios, fax machines and VCRs. Today, America is paying the price for that indifference to this slow-motion economic collapse.
It wasn't always like this.
Once, Americans lived in a country where it wasn't just the biggest boats that floated high on a rising economic tide. In the years after the Second World War, America was defined by an unprecedented period of economic prosperity. Jobs were plentiful and well-paying, with generous health and retirement benefits. New creature comforts, from refrigerators and washing machines to televisions and cars, were suddenly available. Americans became homeowners and eventually, if they were lucky, suburbanites. Perhaps most important, those at the bottom of the economic ladder shared in the bounty as much as those at the top.
Life back then was never as idyllic as nostalgic portrayals of postwar America would suggest (this was particularly true if you were a minority or a woman). But it was also true that Americans enjoyed the type of economic security that current generations can only dream of.
Part of the reason was that they had political leaders who recognised that the federal government could not just sit on the sidelines. From the emergency measures of the New Deal, which laid the foundation for the modern welfare state, to the vast ambitions of the Great Society, the government provided support for the aged, healthcare for the poor, job security for workers, good schools for the nation's young people and invested in science and infrastructure projects that created new economic opportunities. By the 70s, however, as the postwar economic boom began to deflate, so, too, did the idea that government had a role to play in stewarding the economy or protecting workers from the vicissitudes of the free market. Instead, as a conservative anti-government populism emerged out of the perceived "liberal" excesses of the 60s, a new political ethos came to the fore. It was one promoted by Republicans (if occasionally articulated and endorsed by Democrats). Government was no longer a friend to the working man – it was a malignant force transferring his hard-earned tax dollars to the poor and minorities.
These attitudes weren't necessarily new. Americans have long flirted with strains of anti-centralism and fears of concentrated power. But out of this backlash would come toxic policy ideas that have defined post-60s US politics – lower taxes and even lower federal spending, less regulation and even less government intervention in the economy. Though pitched to the American people as a magic elixir for what ailed the US economy, they instead brought the economic disquiet we are seeing fully flower today.
The impact of conservatism's anti-government backlash was significant. Unemployment benefits became less generous; same with food stamps, welfare payments and the minimum wage. Job protections were weakened as once strong support for unions and organised labour was replaced by increasing hostility from pro-business Republicans. When once a third of all private sector Americans were in unions, today the number is down to around 11%.
College tuition fees went through the roof as support for public universities declined. This was happening at the same time that a university degree became an essential ticket for success in a competitive global economy. A lack of early-childhood education and underperforming schools, particularly for the poorest Americans, meant that unless you're in the top 10% of Americans chances are that when your child begins kindergarten, he or she is already one step behind.
This educational inequality is reflective of a larger trend of growing income disparities across US society. So, as Americans saw their wages stagnate, their economic anxieties increase, their debt levels skyrocket, their retirement savings shrivel and their future prospects dim, the very rich got much, much richer.
Yet, conservatism's most pernicious impact came not from what it accomplished. There was no rolling back of the welfare state or the Great Society. The revered conservative Republican saviour Ronald Reagan railed against big government, but as president he found himself unable to zero out even a single major spending programme.
Far worse, however, were the sins of omission. Conservatism's most dubious legacy came in stopping progress dead in its tracks. There were no expanding childcare benefits or universal pre-kindergarten to deal with the influx of women in the workplace. Millions lacked health insurance coverage and yet Congress showed little inclination toward providing universal access to healthcare. New infrastructure programmes, such as high-speed rail or expanded broadband penetration, went nowhere. Public works programmes to create jobs weren't even on the table. When new social programmes were created, such as family and medical leave, they were pale substitutes of what the European middle class takes for granted.
Instead, Congress busied itself with more tax breaks and subsidies for the richest 1% and hacked away at regulations that protected workers and the social safety net that kept them from falling into economic misery. Until the long overdue passage of Obamacare in 2010, the middle class consistently found itself on the short end of the stick.
Certainly, some will quibble as to how much blame the federal government should receive for this economic downturn. Larger systemic forces, such as globalisation, technological change and the increasing specialisation of the US economy, which demanded more educated workers, played important roles as well. Still, even if one accepts that these factors were more responsible, where were Congress and the president in helping workers navigate these changes?
Alas, they were probably out raising money from the 1% for the next election. It's small wonder that, according to a recent academic report, the world of politics is so "dominated by powerful business organisations and a small number of affluent Americans" that the US is on shaky ground even calling itself a democracy.
As Americans have seen their economic fortunes decline, those most in a position to help them have shown far too little willingness to lend a hand, none more so than conservative Republicans.
In the immortal words of Ralph Waldo Emerson, "conservatism makes no poetry, breathes no prayer, has no invention". Its success comes in standing in the path of reform and saying no. With the Republican party currently in charge of the House of Representatives (and unlikely to lose that control in this autumn's mid-term election) there is little reason, unfortunately, to believe that the nearly four-decade decline in the financial standing of the American people will right itself soon. In short, the "choice" that America made to pursue the path of decline will be with us for some time to come.
Kind of makes looking to Europe seem like not such a bad idea.

Dreamy Journey To New Territory

Over the past year, I have been trying out different gluten-free flour mixtures, and making lots of goodies, mainly from my own normal recipes, converted by simply substituting gluten-free flour and adding xanthan gum. In the main, they have been a whopping success. In my honest opinion, as someone who has been baking for 42 years, some of the cakes, fruit or nut loaves turn out more moist and tender than when made with wheat flour; a very happy discovery, without a doubt.

Last year I was asked to provide little treats for a Princess Party, put on by the Dacotah Prairie Museum. Accompanied by a "queen", I also had baked one of my favorite coffeecake recipes, gluten-free and took it for her and the museum staff to try. They all loved it; moist and tender and full of flavor. The young woman was happy with my experiment, as was I. I took some of the bread for the woman at the museum to sample, as well as a slice I slathered with homemade pesto and cheese and broiled. She exclaimed, "This is the best bread I've tasted since going gluten free!"

Then carefully smooth it to fill in any gaps. Tapping the pan on the countertop helps. Pour on the rest of the "topping" and again plop spoonfuls into the pan till all batter is used. If things are ambiguous or puzzling, one can suggest him or herself that the problem will be solved upon awakening, putting the faith that an answer will come to the problem right before they fall asleep and finding the answer later in the conscious state.

To help this, dreamers should also always have a "dream diary" of some sort where they record their dreams journey. This not only helps with symbols and meanings of dreams and how they connect to the real world, but also helps us stay conscious in lucid dreams.  The body will most likely be paralyzed at this point (this usually freaks people out which makes a lucid dream disappear), but if one is calm and collected, then there's a good chance that they can begin a lucid dream and even control the outcome of the dream.

What To Consider When Planning Your Dream House

Each and every individual wants to own a dream house. This is a dream you nurture since you have realized the importance of life. Building a dream house needs proper planning and patience. Below some important points are discussed to help you building the dream house you have always wished.

Where to build

The geographic location of you house is one of the most important issues to keep in mind. Without a proper glance of the location, a reputed builder will never be ready to build a house. That is why it is necessary for both you and you architect to have a perfect knowledge of the location. You should also check the quality of the soil upon which you wish to see you dream home. The soil should neither be too soft or too hard. Also, if the place is covered with unnecessary vegetation, you should look into the matter to clean them.

Settle your budget

Before starting with the construction, it is necessary to settle down your budget. You can get lands in multiple numbers of prices. Some places are way too expensive; on the other hand some are quite cheap. It totally depends upon your budget, which land you wish to buy. So, your financial budget should be attended properly. When you are building a house, you have to spend money both on land and on the necessary requirements to build it. Never compromise with the money.

 The home loans

It needs a lot of money for building a dream place. Nowadays many banks give the facilities of home loans. They help to shape your dreams without much worrying. But, you must deal with professional and reputed companies. It is a matter of big amount; a simple wrong transaction can very fatal. So, you should better be careful dealing with them.

The location

When you are looking for a perfect location you must keep few things in your mind. Choose the exact location you want of your dream house. Think over the matter where you wish to see your home? Whether you want it in the valley or want a seaside view. The climatic conditions should also be looked into. When you are visiting different locations for your future home, you must have a clear idea about the whole place.

The design is important

It is your house, so you will always want to make it look picture perfect. Look out for samples over the internet, talk about the designs with your architecture and then decide. The design part is the most vital portion of shaping your dream. The design needs you proper attention. You are the one to decide how the house is going to look and which side it is going to face. No one else can judge your need; so, you have to patiently decide this matter.

Go for a three dimensional view

Once the design is made, it is time to make it into reality. Then, with the help of graphics design, try to make a three dimensional view of your house. This will give you a perfect knowledge of your house. It will be easier for you to make further changes. Once you get the imaginative view of your dream home, you are half done with the job!

Summarize your needs

Never forget the little details of your house. The finishing touch is always important. It may make a huge difference to your house. So, summarize your needs and then make our dream come true.

It is always happy to see your dreams coming true. And, if it is about building a dream house, nothing else can give you more pleasure. That is the reason why you need to be very careful about building it. Building a house always has a risk, but for your own pretty place the risk should be taken!

There Are The Most Popular Dream Travel Destinations To Paradise

Treat yourself with an unforgettable vacation on some of the most amazing places on Earth. These tropical paradises are a magnet for tourists due to their beauty as well as pampering treatments, so check the following must see destinations and pick your favorite place!

Who doesn't dream of a luxurious, lavishing vacation in which you can pamper yourself like a diva? However, the world is a huge place and hence visiting every corner of the world is impossible for most people, we have put together some of the most popular dream travel destinations to Paradise. With the hot season here, all you need to do is search for the hottest spots on the planet and buy your ticked for a laid-back elegant vacation you'll cherish for the rest of your life.

There are many heaven-like places on Earth, so you'd better start saving and book ahead for your next dream destination to paradise. Spa treatments, crystal clear water, lavishing cribs, exotic dishes are only a few of the treats you'll be able to benefit from when visiting these heavenly places, so check out these must-see travel destinations and start planning your vacation:

Enjoy the sunny side of life at one of the hottest resorts on the planet at Constance Moofushi Resort located in the South Ari Atoll of the Maldives, destination which combines style with laid-back pleasure and relaxation. Book a beach villa or go wild and make yourself comfortable in gorgeous water villa instead, so you can enjoy the dreamy scenery. Rest and enjoy the delicious foods or have fun by snorkeling, windsurfing and kayaking or if you're more of the romantic type, take a sunset cruise in a traditional dhoni.

Bora Bora is definitely a Tropical Paradise worth dreaming about. The island located in the islands of French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean attracts thousands of visitors all over the world who are seeking to experience luxury and beauty at their best. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with the surrounding lagoon, coral reef and water bungalows which can suit different budgets.

With warm weather all year long, Bora Bora is a definite favorite for people who enjoy sun bathing, snorkeling, scuba diving as well as shark-feeding activities.
Treat yourself like a true diva in Seychelles, an island in an archipelago made out of 115 islands in the Indian Ocean, an area where beauty, tranquility and harmony can provide all the necessary positive energy charge. With areas still untouched by man, the Seychelles can be a perfect place for an adventure that will make you feel great. Enjoy a barefoot walk on the beach, delicious foods as well as fresh tropical cocktails under the clear blue sky.