Hate Mail

I sent out an email exposing, what I feel is, a biased video on Youtube. I am not going to go into detail about the subject matter of the video nor my email, but I think it was important to say what I said. The funny thing is, I hate pushy people. And of course pressing my views in that way was very pushy. I am a hypocrite. dam.
Now I aw going to wake up tomorrow with a mailbox full of hate mail.I I have already decided that I am not going to respond anymore on the subject, even if someone responds to me. Is that cowardice? To say something so bold and then walk away from the situation? I know some will respond. But as long as they are thinking for themselves and not just blindly believing what they read or see on Youtube.

One over Another

Occassionally in life we have to choose one person over another. Sometimes this is very difficult. This time it is not, but sometimes it is. I recently rekindled a friendship. I was then faced with a dilema. The friend doesn't care for one of my facebook friends. Now normally in a case like this one person bitches about the other until some resolution is reached- and with me, I usually drop the bitchier friend who has the audacity to tell me who I can and can't be friends with. But in this case, nobody said anything. Likely because they are both unaware or perhapse just don't give a flying shit. Either way- I feel that I cannot be friends with both. It isn't them, it is me. (By the Way-- never believe anyone who says that to you (just a side note)) this time I choose the old friend.

moral: sometimes you have to push someone out, but often times they weren't really that close.

Addition: I didn't even have to think twice about it.

Timed Events

The Last Airbender

I was very excited to see the live action movie, but it was a disappointment. Upon the advice of a certain Chris W. i began watching the cartoon. It is much better.

Moral: Great things are celebrated for a reason. They turned the cartoon into a movie because the cartoon was great, not because the live action movie was to be great.

My Favorites

Clive Barker's Jericho
Diablo 2
Dragon Age
F.E.A.R.
Titan Quest
Turok


There. Enough said.

Layers of an Onion

As the video states, I am not changing. But how you see me might have just changed drastically. Some who have never met me never expected me to sound so gay. Others assume that all the people who blog are fat, pale, nerds (I am simply a pale nerd). I hope that this was a good decision.

I have nothing to say

I bought a webcam a few days ago for a specific purpose, but blogging wasn't it. I am doing this just because I can. But I realized something today... If you haven't got anything to say, you can't force it.

A bad dream

I had a terrible nightmare just minutes ago. Int was kinda like something that would happen in a saw movie. There was man who let a homeless man stay in his attic one night on an old mattress. But he introduced a bunch of cockroaches to it to teach the homeless man a lesson about being dirty, the man kept him locked up for a time. Then the homeless man awoke with a glue trap (those things used to catch rats and mice) over his eyes and the entire house littered with pest traps (glue traps, bear traps, squirrel traps, and poisons used as insecticides) the man blindly and nearly dead managed to escape the house, but the site of him drew great fear on the street and he died before he could be helped.

chatroulette

I must say... I have been enjoying this. I was first introduced to it months ago by a friend. I would say that 2 in 5 of the participants are blank screens, 1 in 5 are guys jerking off, and 2 in five don't care to talk to me. 1 in 50 will chat. Point is... It is fun talking to people in Iceland, Japan, and other places.

Ten Days Later

Inspiration

Every once in a while I plunge into a state of art. Does that make sense? For the past few days I have cast away my video games; been distant to friends, family, and lover; found myself awake at all hours needing to create. It is like an itch i can't reach, or a fix I can't satisfy. There is no way to explain it besides to simply state it. I have been toiling away on my bonsai project (I now wait for the final piece before the final stage of assembly) and creating a new sign for PI (Pure Illumination). I have also been writing (nothing of any consequence, just dribble that I never manage to complete) like I rarely do just for the sake to get whatever is inside of me out into a tangible form.
It all started with the bread machine I got Josh for Christmas, I have been baking like there is an army to feed (perhaps a small army...) after picking it up two weeks ago. Once I was able to create something I needed to do it more and more.

It is truly an addictive process. Cruel and addictive.

speaking in tongues

There is a person I know from my professional life who hasn't got many allies. The reason for this is not the point of the post (although it does explain the reason everyone dislikes him), but it is a solid fact that people would be more shocked if he did something nice rather than acted like a jerk. I, like many before me, have tried to be his friend-- thinking "he just needs someone to be the nice guy first." But it is to the point where he can't even trust someone who is being kind to him. Hurt so often, he is unable to let someone be kind. Tonight I made the switch. I stopped caring. If someone is content to hide behind the ignorance of another (calm down readers-- yes you read right. Kevin is admitting to not knowing everything :P ) then they do not respect that person. And if there is no respect, there is no hope of much. He felt it acceptable to start babbling in a mixture of languages. Apparently he does this a lot. What walls is a person who needs to hide behind THAT intend to build?--

--The same ones I built several months ago when I posted in non-language.

I understand, now, how he feels. But that doesn't make it alright.

Moral: We all need to get things out sometimes, but there are better ways than muttering to yourself. TALK to someone.

One evening a grandson was talking to his grandfather about current events. The grandson asked his grandfather what he thought about the shootings at schools, the computer age, and just things in general..

The Grandfather replied, “Well, let me think a minute, I was born before:

‘ television

‘ penicillin

‘ polio shots

‘ frozen foods

‘ Xerox

‘ contact lenses

‘ Frisbees and

‘ the pill

There were no:

‘ credit cards

‘ laser beams or

‘ ball-point pens

Man had not invented:

‘ pantyhose

‘ air conditioners

‘ dishwashers

‘ clothes dryers

‘ and the clothes were hung out to dry in the fresh air and

‘ man hadn’t yet walked on the moon
Your Grandmother and I got married first, .. …. . and then lived together..

Every family had a father and a mother.

Until I was 25, I called every man older than me, “Sir”.
And after I turned 25, I still called policemen and every man with a title, “Sir.”

We were before gay-rights, computer- dating, dual careers, daycare centers, and group therapy.

Our lives were governed by the Ten Commandments, good judgment, and common sense.

We were taught to know the difference between right and wrong and to stand up and take responsibility for our actions.

Serving your country was a privilege; living in this country was a bigger privilege.

We thought fast food was what people ate during Lent.

Having a meaningful relationship meant getting along with your cousins.

Draft dodgers were those who closed front doors as the evening breeze started.

Time-sharing meant time the family spent together in the evenings and weekends – not purchasing condominiums.

We never heard of FM radios, tape decks, CDs, electric typewriters, yogurt, or guys wearing earrings.

We listened to Big Bands, Jack Benny, and the President’s speeches on our radios.

And I don’t ever remember any kid blowing his brains out listening to Tommy Dorsey.

If you saw anything with ‘Made in Japan ‘ on it, it was junk.

The term ‘making out’ referred to how you did on your school exam..

Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, and instant coffee were unheard of.

We had 5 &10-cent stores where you could actually buy things for 5 and 10 cents.

Ice-cream cones, phone calls, rides on a streetcar, and a Pepsi were all a nickel.

And if you didn’t want to splurge, you could spend your nickel on enough stamps to mail 1 letter and 2 postcards.

You could buy a new Chevy Coupe for $600, . .. . but who could afford one?
Too bad, because gas was 11 cents a gallon.

In my day:

‘ “grass” was mowed,

‘ “coke” was a cold drink,

‘ “pot” was something your mother cooked in,

‘ “rock music” was your grandmother’s lullaby.

‘ “Aids” were helpers in the Principal’s office,

‘ ” chip” meant a piece of wood,

‘ “hardware” was found in a hardware store and

‘ “software” wasn’t even a word.

And we were the last generation to actually believe that a lady needed a husband to have a baby.

No wonder people call us “old and confused” and say there is a generation gap. And how old do you think I am?

I bet you have this old man in mind…you are in for a shock!

Are you ready ?????

This person would be only 59 years old.

Coming out at 46

A gentleman that I know has been straight all his life. He is now 46 and is finally coming to terms with his own sexuality. We spoke about this today, he and I, and came to the conclusion that it is a whole different ball of wax from what I went through. I advised him in the same way that I would advise a straight man. Don't rush into anything and don't give into the urge to shout it from the mountain tops.

Unexpected

If you read really far back in this blog you will see a few posts where the anger in my posts is matched only by my cryptic wording. I was very angry with someone who was very angry with me. I truly felt for years that we would never speak again. Thank God for my huge music collection. Occasionally I will just put it on random and listen to whatever is played. Alana Davis came up. I only know one person who listened to Alana Davis. So I decided to text her. We had a very nice conversation through texting. It was distant, but it was still the nicest things we have said to each other in 2 years.

Moral: Time heals all.

Formism, Cubism, and Dadaism

For a class, I was asked to teach a seminar on Formism, Cubism, and Dadaism… Lord help us.
The primary differences between the three –isms are in the artist intentions. The intentions of the Formists are primarily to shock the audience with a twisted view of reality expressing a pessimistic view of the world. This seems to apply to all three –isms, however, the drive of the Formist is not involved with social issues. Unlike Cubism, which is based very heavily in social reform and reshaping, or Dadaism, which is anti-government, Formism comments on the current state of humanity without any thought to the governing bodies or issues that create the mindset of the viewers. The viewer needs only be human to understand the Formist ideas. Cubism claims this same stance, that the emotions of the audience are enough to frame the art.
Recognizing that each character represents part (not the entirety) of humanity separates Cubism from Formism and Dadaism. The latter two do not make a stance on the representation of humanity, whether one character can show the entirety of anything. Cubism, theatrically speaking, breaks humanity and individuals down into facets and shows all emotions in one work. Dadaism has a tendency (although it is not a rule) to show many things being represented by one character, an absolute opposition to a Cubist idea. This representation of multiple things stems from Dada being a response to society. Cubism also often plays on the emotions of fear and solitude, where Dadaism acts on the idea of art being a movement of the masses. The artist’s intentions for humanity differ in each –ism. Cubists intend to dissect humanity, while Dadaists intend to unite humanity until the collapse of society (which of course will be caused by the reformed society corrupting to be just as the old society was). Formism simply complains about it, voicing an opinion of distaste.
The artist’s intent branches into another difference between the three –isms; the visual quality of the works. Formism is filled with tricks and illusions, brought to life by a very simple and awkward set, where everything has a purpose. The colors used are very monochromatic, and often are only black and white (stage directions make direct references to this). Cubism, a step above Formism, has sets and costumes that are very familiar to the audience, but restricts this to avoid anything vivid and distracting. The set is filled with average things, no matter how un-average the play is, which often function as simple “filler”. Dada is the extreme in this respect. The stage is very intricate, and the characters often do not interact with their surroundings. The colors are vivid, and the eccentric design is matched by the eccentric themes of the play.
Because of the abstract nature of these forms, they all require open minds to be understood. The question asked by so many, “What is the way out?” leads each –ism to be a different explanation of a situation. It is not that one –ism leads to the next, which leads to the next, they all came into existence individually. Some are more confusing than others. The most confusing is cubism, due to the way that the message is dissected into so many pieces. The way that the characters are presented, representing a section of every person’s personality. This way of representing people gives a very fractured and not easily followed storyline. Although both Formism and Dadaism are not easily understood, either. Formism’s exaggerated shapes and colors lead the viewer to a misunderstanding of reality, portraying basic concepts to the viewer using complex methods. Dadaism is confusing due to its constant turn rounds, building up the expectations of the viewer just before completely changing the course of action.
Of the examples used (The Mother, Desire Caught by the Tale, and Ubu Roi), two are about political change and one is about social change (on an individual level). The Mother, a Formist play delivers a message about individual social change, and how each person fits into society. The constant use of drugs and other substances to alter the minds of the characters leads to The Mother being a Formist play. Also, the colorless set, except for very few and small details used for plot purposes. Ubu Roi strives for political change, stating that even the best intentions will be lost through the rise of power. This follows the claim that a new revolution will lead to a replacement of the old with very similar ideals. This Dadaist philosophy is a core tenant that renders itself best to Dada theatre.
Desire Caught by the Tale is a Cubist play calling for revolution, just as Ubu Roi. The largest difference lies in the delivery of the lines. Picasso’s Cubism dissects the plot and characters to deliver a very complex set of lines using the sentence structure to build the story. Jarry uses the literal meaning of the lines instead. Cubism takes apart an idea to build on it, while Dadaism takes advantage of the literal meaning of every idea that comes up.

A drunken man walks into a biker bar, sits down at the bar and orders a drink. Looking around, he sees three men sitting at a corner table.

He gets up, staggers to the table, leans over, looks the biggest, meanest, biker in the face and says: "I went by your grandma's house today and I saw her in the hallway buck naked. Man, she is one fine looking woman!"

The biker looks at him and doesn't say a word. His buddies are confused, because he is one bad biker and would fight at the drop of a hat.

The drunk leans on the table again and says: "I got it on with your grandma and she is good, the best I ever had!"

The biker's buddies are starting to get really mad but the biker still says nothing.

The drunk leans on the table one more time and says, "I'll tell you something else, boy, your grandma liked it!"

At this point the biker stands up, takes the drunk by the shoulders looks him square in the eyes and says.......

"Grandpa....Go home, you're drunk."

Moon

Scientists have shown that moon is moving away at a tiny although measurable distance from the Earth every year. If you do the math, you can calculate that 65 million years ago the moon was orbiting the earth at a distance of about 35 feet from the Earth’s surface. This would explain the death of the dinosaurs – the tall ones, anyway.

Another side of people

Have you ever known somebody in only one sense to the point that you think they essentially just disappear when they aren't in that environment? For example, only knowing someone professionally and then you see them in a different light when they are wearing jeans instead of dress pants. I think that a lot has to do with the mindset that you are in, too.

Moral: even if you think you know someone, you don't.

Wedding joke

I thought this might be good enough for the blog, even though it is about me personally rather than as an example, I think it can still enlighten some. I was trying to get inspired by some wedding humor to write a good speech for my sister's (Megan) wedding reception. Being that Megan married Valerie, I needed a joke that doesn't poke fun at wifes nagging husbands... and those are 90% of the jokes about marriage. I finally found one "It is true that love is blind but marriage is definitely an eye-opener."-- well, isn't that nasty! In fact, all wedding jokes are pretty nasty.
But I am going to use this in my speech, but not as a joke.
It will go something like this:
I know how important gay rights are to Val and Megan, and I was thinking about that while I was writing my speech. I heard a joke once about marriage. I don't really think it is funny, but in this case, it is more beautiful than humorous if you listen to the words and ignore what most people associate them to mean. "It is true that love is blind but marriage is definitely an eye-opener." It is true that love is blind, when we are in love we don't see anything but that person; not snickers nor pointing, or eye rolling or whatever other judgmental things people throw around. Gay couples are finally being more accepted, but there are still a few hurdles that are best to turn a blind eye to for right now. So, it is very important that love is blind. The second part, "Marriage is an eye opener" is very true in this case-- Look, Open your eyes wide, Love has triumphed. This is a testament to how far we have come. A marriage of these two women and these two families.

I still need to polish it and open it with that bit about Megan wanting me to be the maid of honor till Val and outvoted her for my title to be "Best Man".