A couple months back, one of my fist posts I believe, I wrote about how Americans do not understand the concept of being told no. We grow up with our parents telling us that we can become president do whatever we want; however, its said with such ease that it takes away from the concept of how hard some people work to achieve their dreams. I am brought back to this topic because of recent tragedy in Pittsburgh, man kills three in gym.
After reading this article it is so sad to see that a man seriously took out all his inadequacies on everyone else. How can someone be so sick in the head that they dont realize that something is wrong with them, not with the thousand of people who they have had social interaction with. Hell my life would so much easier if I could blame my neighbors for my lawn not getting mowed, or if I was pissed at the kid next to me for not getting me better grades in school, or pissed at my college because I'm not making $100,000 like some stupid bitch is. Seriously, there is a girl suing her college because she doesnt have a job. Like the job was supposed to just be waiting there for her, just the way your dog waits for you to get home.
Humans are not perfect, nobody is perfect, yet some people fail to recognize they have any flaws. Is this the parents fault? I dont know, but its taking its toll on the public. Columbine, Virginia Tech, this Gym, I am sure there are thousands maybe millions of other examples, but these are the easiest to come up with. If as a race we want to last and go to places we would have never thought, we will have to learn how to deal with rejection. That's how it goes. The world is not there to deliver all that you would like, i.e. a girlfriend, without hardwork. Maybe you need to find a girl with similar intrests, that can be tough, but she has to be out there, so work at it. Maybe girls get turned off by you because of what you look like, how you act, or something else. Well, instead of killing someone over it go work out, go make friends and learn to interact, and most importantly use these things a guide/lesson to help you become a better person, not to ruin hundreds of peoples lives in just an instant. Yes only 3 people died, but those three people had family, friends, and co-workers who counted on them and now they have been taken away from them with no explanaiton, which can be the hardest part of coping with a death.
For the sake of the general public, AMERICA I implore you please learn to see your own faults instead of blaming everything on everyone else.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
T.O. was my friend
Recently I had a terrible experience with having to deal with a T.O type character. What made this real tough is that it was within my circle of friends. For at least myself, I do not want to talk for the others, I know I was definitely blinded by his charisma for quite some time just like T.O has done to three, now four teams. His smile is huge, he talks the talk, and he just seems so sincere. Hell ya I was a T.O. fan when he came to the cowboys. I thought he was a game changer, kinda like this old acquaintance. However, just as in football as soon as the times get tough the small things start to come out and little by little they build and build and ends up becoming a whole soap opera mess with the media spreading half truths all around.
But the time had come. The Executives for three different teams had had enough, just as my circle just couldnt take the drama anymore. Never have I known a single male individual to cause so much drama within a group of friends. I didnt realize it but this guy who I always thought of as being the most confident guy and what not was actually quite the opposite. He needed the attention to make himself feel good. He was the opposite of confident, atleast thats what I think. You should have confidence in yourself because you know you can, not because some group of friends you just convinced otherwise are now agreeing with you.
It only became more apparent that he had self-confidence issues when he would just start bashing our friends for just about everything they would do. I myself took up yoga and of course it instantly became the butt of his jokes for however long, I guess to make himself feel better. Not sure why, might have had to do with his consistant talk of how he was going to have a 6 pack by then of June.. no July.. no Aug, it was always getting pushed back for him, so maybe he was upset I was actually doing something active or maybe he was upset because it was not with him. Ya he is that lame. He is the guy that needs to be invited to everything or he'll invite himself over, just like everyday after work. I love all my friends and I think they would all say the same about me... that they know in any situation needed i'd be there, but arent their certain situations when one likes to be alone at home to contemplate and relax after working all day? Not for him.
Anyways, after looking back on the facts, which I wont bore you with because that would just be petty. I came across an article on relationships that I actually think translates well into friendships as well. I cant find it on the net, but it has 8 main points about Dating/Being with a 'Loser'
1) Rough Treatment - basically anything that includes getting hit
2) Jumps Right into "I Love You" - includes showering you with gifts, spending the rest of their life with you; more than likely this means they have shallow emotions and are looking for someone to attach themselves to in order to validate their own self-esteem issues.
3) Confidence Killers - always putting you down basically, never good enough
4) Breakup Panic-ers - they make wild promises, will do ANYTHING
5) Prison takers - you're not alowed to have outside intrests, everyone is a bad influence on you, but not them, they criticize what you enjoy doing on your own (ahem, yoga), basically they want to cut you off from any other influences
6) You never do enough - self explanatory
7) The Paranoid Controllers - have to know where and what you're doing ALL the time, if you dont answer the phone they want to know why, etc
8) Wild Story specialist - say just about anything to get your attention including saying their mom is in the hospital even though its not true.
But the time had come. The Executives for three different teams had had enough, just as my circle just couldnt take the drama anymore. Never have I known a single male individual to cause so much drama within a group of friends. I didnt realize it but this guy who I always thought of as being the most confident guy and what not was actually quite the opposite. He needed the attention to make himself feel good. He was the opposite of confident, atleast thats what I think. You should have confidence in yourself because you know you can, not because some group of friends you just convinced otherwise are now agreeing with you.
It only became more apparent that he had self-confidence issues when he would just start bashing our friends for just about everything they would do. I myself took up yoga and of course it instantly became the butt of his jokes for however long, I guess to make himself feel better. Not sure why, might have had to do with his consistant talk of how he was going to have a 6 pack by then of June.. no July.. no Aug, it was always getting pushed back for him, so maybe he was upset I was actually doing something active or maybe he was upset because it was not with him. Ya he is that lame. He is the guy that needs to be invited to everything or he'll invite himself over, just like everyday after work. I love all my friends and I think they would all say the same about me... that they know in any situation needed i'd be there, but arent their certain situations when one likes to be alone at home to contemplate and relax after working all day? Not for him.
Anyways, after looking back on the facts, which I wont bore you with because that would just be petty. I came across an article on relationships that I actually think translates well into friendships as well. I cant find it on the net, but it has 8 main points about Dating/Being with a 'Loser'
1) Rough Treatment - basically anything that includes getting hit
2) Jumps Right into "I Love You" - includes showering you with gifts, spending the rest of their life with you; more than likely this means they have shallow emotions and are looking for someone to attach themselves to in order to validate their own self-esteem issues.
3) Confidence Killers - always putting you down basically, never good enough
4) Breakup Panic-ers - they make wild promises, will do ANYTHING
5) Prison takers - you're not alowed to have outside intrests, everyone is a bad influence on you, but not them, they criticize what you enjoy doing on your own (ahem, yoga), basically they want to cut you off from any other influences
6) You never do enough - self explanatory
7) The Paranoid Controllers - have to know where and what you're doing ALL the time, if you dont answer the phone they want to know why, etc
8) Wild Story specialist - say just about anything to get your attention including saying their mom is in the hospital even though its not true.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Vacation
WOW!!!
vacation was out of control this year. I barely had any, but made the most of it. On back to back to back weekends I went to Austin, Red Rocks and Wakarusa. So much has happened since then, I barely remember any of it because of last weekend, which was my first official weekend by the pool all day. And that was exactly what I need because my brain had been spinning OUT of control since I went to Austin to visit my friends.
Jager and Raj came down from NYC, a couple friends from Dallas made the trip down. And what a riot it was. With playoff basketball, college graduation, and a group of about 10 friends there was nothing but drunken good times to be had. There are about 'X' amount of bars on 6th street in Austin and while with jager and raj we probably went to 'X -1.' The one we left out was the gay bar, haha. Seriously though we would walk in to a bar order a shot, look around, decide there were no cute girls and leave. We repeated this move until we were so blacked out we could barely walk anymore and decided dancing was probably a better way to talk to girls.
After barely surving that wknd and having liz drive me all the way back to dallas as I slept, I knew what was in store for me 13hr road trip to Red Rocks. WHAT!?!?! you may be asking yourself. That right, my roomate Travis and I killed it!!! With a little help from a friend. Left thursday after work got in Friday morning CRASHED! woke up fri afternoon to see some beautiful landscape at Red Rocks park and get our selves situated for Sat night, which is why we did that crazy drive. BISCO INFERNO baby!!! What you know about White Chicks and Gang signs?!?! That shit was hot!!! Still gives me goose bumps. Anywho, Disco Biscuits KILLED it. They played a new song by Manger and dropped all their WHOMPS!!!
Not only was the music amazing, but they had some dancers on stage in all fluarescent clothing and was quite amazing to the eye. Music from 5pm -2:30am. Pure FIRE, pure greatness, PURA VIDA to the max!!! I'll tell you what though driving 13hours back the next day was not FIRE, haha.
On to my last trip out to Wakarusa, a measly 5hour drive. Got to see Pretty Lights drop some PHAT beats. My DJ buddy got me into them a while back, and I have not been able to stop. 'Hot Like Sauce' is simply amazing, and he just never stops with the hard hitting bass bombs. Found a new group called 'BoomBox' similar to Ghostland, and they were good fun. Unfortunately one of the groups I was really excited to see STS9 only brought the fire for one of their two sets. was sadly disspointed on their Sat night set. No bass, no fire, no love... would have rather seen just about anything else instead of them at the time. I honestly think i would have enjoyed my cousins ballet to the tune of some heavy metal or something. I dont know, I just guess they were going for a different vibe that night unfortunately for me.
Anywho, I survived 3wknds of pure craziness and now its time to get back to work, where when my sales rep goes out of town she expects me to do work on sat for her. are you serious!?!?! do I look like a monkey? F that!!!
ool time!!!!
(notice: above is not a spelling error, I try and keep my pool pee free thank you very much)
vacation was out of control this year. I barely had any, but made the most of it. On back to back to back weekends I went to Austin, Red Rocks and Wakarusa. So much has happened since then, I barely remember any of it because of last weekend, which was my first official weekend by the pool all day. And that was exactly what I need because my brain had been spinning OUT of control since I went to Austin to visit my friends.
Jager and Raj came down from NYC, a couple friends from Dallas made the trip down. And what a riot it was. With playoff basketball, college graduation, and a group of about 10 friends there was nothing but drunken good times to be had. There are about 'X' amount of bars on 6th street in Austin and while with jager and raj we probably went to 'X -1.' The one we left out was the gay bar, haha. Seriously though we would walk in to a bar order a shot, look around, decide there were no cute girls and leave. We repeated this move until we were so blacked out we could barely walk anymore and decided dancing was probably a better way to talk to girls.
After barely surving that wknd and having liz drive me all the way back to dallas as I slept, I knew what was in store for me 13hr road trip to Red Rocks. WHAT!?!?! you may be asking yourself. That right, my roomate Travis and I killed it!!! With a little help from a friend. Left thursday after work got in Friday morning CRASHED! woke up fri afternoon to see some beautiful landscape at Red Rocks park and get our selves situated for Sat night, which is why we did that crazy drive. BISCO INFERNO baby!!! What you know about White Chicks and Gang signs?!?! That shit was hot!!! Still gives me goose bumps. Anywho, Disco Biscuits KILLED it. They played a new song by Manger and dropped all their WHOMPS!!!
Not only was the music amazing, but they had some dancers on stage in all fluarescent clothing and was quite amazing to the eye. Music from 5pm -2:30am. Pure FIRE, pure greatness, PURA VIDA to the max!!! I'll tell you what though driving 13hours back the next day was not FIRE, haha.
On to my last trip out to Wakarusa, a measly 5hour drive. Got to see Pretty Lights drop some PHAT beats. My DJ buddy got me into them a while back, and I have not been able to stop. 'Hot Like Sauce' is simply amazing, and he just never stops with the hard hitting bass bombs. Found a new group called 'BoomBox' similar to Ghostland, and they were good fun. Unfortunately one of the groups I was really excited to see STS9 only brought the fire for one of their two sets. was sadly disspointed on their Sat night set. No bass, no fire, no love... would have rather seen just about anything else instead of them at the time. I honestly think i would have enjoyed my cousins ballet to the tune of some heavy metal or something. I dont know, I just guess they were going for a different vibe that night unfortunately for me.
Anywho, I survived 3wknds of pure craziness and now its time to get back to work, where when my sales rep goes out of town she expects me to do work on sat for her. are you serious!?!?! do I look like a monkey? F that!!!
ool time!!!!
(notice: above is not a spelling error, I try and keep my pool pee free thank you very much)
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Not so Common!
So it's been a while since I felt inspired to throw down some words here, but listening to Common on the way in changed that. This Chicago rapper just came out with a new CD a month or two ago called Universal Mind Control that is a little bit more clubby than his first to CD's 'BE' and 'Finding Forever.'
In the first two CD's that he released Common seemed to really put an emphasis on making the listener want to be the best that they can be. The combination of his soulful lyrics and smooth beats just send a tingling through your body that just can't be described. You wanna just pull someone close and groove... it's the best. Maybe it is just me, that would be pretty sad, but I find that I can relate to his lyrics and the issues and struggles he brings to light because its not about guns and drugs for him, but love and the struggle within oneself to do all that you can.
His album 'Be' has a song entitled 'Be' and for lack of a better word it is powerful. Right off the bat the slow bass grooves get your head bobbing and you just wait for the slow rythmic lyrics to come. It's almost Common's proclamation that we are what we are and we should be soooo very thankful for that and everything else that we have been given because no matter how hard our lives can get there is something to be thankful for. This may come from his attitude of wanting to 'Be' a better person or maybe from wanting to live more in the present than in the past or future. Makes sense right?
How many people really do this though. So many people seem to plan for the future and set up plans for five years from now or dwell on how bad they got screwed over last week. We cannot let these thoughts consume us beacuase if we lose sight of the present we lose who we are now.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Musical Journey
This weekend began possibly the most intense run of music in my life, and I cannot be more excited as the days get closer and closer. I went out with some friends on my soccer team Saturday night to go check out a band I have heard much about, but never seen, the Spazmatics. They are an 80's cover band and dress like they are fresh out of the movie 'Revenge of the Nerds.' Took a few drinks, but soon I was jumpin around and bustin a sweet move or five on the dancefloor, while the Spazmatics rocked out to all sorts of tunes. From here we go to Austin on May 23rd for Memorila Day weekend. I have a friend driving in from Cali and two flying in from NYC. All four of us went to American together and are gonna take Austin by storm. There isnt anything planned, but no doubt there will be some live music in my face at some point, as we all love it!!!
The weekend after that I am going to Red Rocks, which is apparently one of the most magnificent venues in the world, or atleast the states to see live music. On top of that I am getting to see one of my favorites in the Disco Biscuits along with Lotus, The New Deal, Paul Oakenfold, and more. It has been a while since I have been to an outdoor concert and much longer since I have been to a show with so much hype built up before it. The band itself is hyping up the Red Rocks show as one of the THROW DOWNS of the summer. It is called Bisco Inferno, so enough said!
The following weekend comes Wakarusa where its all about the camping and roughing it. Shoudl be a blast. Get to meet all sorts of new friends, see awesome music that until that moment you had no idea existed and best of all, do what ever the hell you want!!! I have never been to Waka, just to Bonarroo, they are similar so I feel prepared. This year though Waka is in Ozark, Ak, where it is apparently beautiful and so much nature. This I am not ready for, but really pumped to experience.
What I am hoping to accomplish is to actually become a vision of my past. I have been having a lot time to think to myself finally I think it is time for me to move on. Not exactly sure how, but that what the time out on the road is for, talking to and making new friends and best of all just becoming one with yourself and acknowledging that for what it is. There is so much I want to do with my self, but often feel tied down... its a terrible feeling... lets hope together that I can break the bands that restrict me over these next weeks, and I will keep you posted on how all that goes
one!
The weekend after that I am going to Red Rocks, which is apparently one of the most magnificent venues in the world, or atleast the states to see live music. On top of that I am getting to see one of my favorites in the Disco Biscuits along with Lotus, The New Deal, Paul Oakenfold, and more. It has been a while since I have been to an outdoor concert and much longer since I have been to a show with so much hype built up before it. The band itself is hyping up the Red Rocks show as one of the THROW DOWNS of the summer. It is called Bisco Inferno, so enough said!
The following weekend comes Wakarusa where its all about the camping and roughing it. Shoudl be a blast. Get to meet all sorts of new friends, see awesome music that until that moment you had no idea existed and best of all, do what ever the hell you want!!! I have never been to Waka, just to Bonarroo, they are similar so I feel prepared. This year though Waka is in Ozark, Ak, where it is apparently beautiful and so much nature. This I am not ready for, but really pumped to experience.
What I am hoping to accomplish is to actually become a vision of my past. I have been having a lot time to think to myself finally I think it is time for me to move on. Not exactly sure how, but that what the time out on the road is for, talking to and making new friends and best of all just becoming one with yourself and acknowledging that for what it is. There is so much I want to do with my self, but often feel tied down... its a terrible feeling... lets hope together that I can break the bands that restrict me over these next weeks, and I will keep you posted on how all that goes
one!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
So Fresh and Clean, Clean
So I needed to get myself a new pair of indoor soccer shoes, because after almost 2years the pair I began using with 'The Pink Pony Exeperience,' then 'Blue Magic,' and 'Hobgoblins' are just about to fall apart. Just makes sense to get a new pair right? I mean I have been holding off for quite some time, TWO YEARS!!! I have friends on my teams that cant make it 6months without going through a pair. So I gave in and went to Academy Sports or Sports Authority (movement to make competitors have DISTINCTLY different names pls!!). Whatever, they had three pairs there. The old school Adidas Sambas, which I didnt know were still in production, and then two pairs of Nikes which looked pretty hideous. I'll wear a pink jersey, pink socks, lady bug headbands so I think its pretty telling when even I cant even bare to look at something.
After quickly nixing the idea of buying the old skool sambas I decided to venture around and see if anything caught my eye. I have been desperately needing new pairs of running shorts, with my new found love to go sweat a lot after work. Meandering around the shoes I came across a pair of Nike's that looked pretty sweet. They were the first pair of Nikes that I had honestly looked at and thought I would buy in maybe five years or so, probably longer. I have been an adidas kind of guy ever since soccer, and my nike bball shoes always seemed to come apart in middle school. (DAMN! that was a long time ago) Then I look RIGHT next to that pair and see the exact same. I thought weird, they must have made a mistake. So I further investigated, weird the shoes were basically the same except one pair had larger 'breathing' holes or whatever the hell you want to call them, and so of course NIKE had to make one pair $20 more expenisve.
PASS! I'm not buying a pair of shoes that can get mistaken for two different kinds, lame! Go a little further down and BAM! There they are the Nike Air Twilights. Immediately I thought they looked pretty sharp and it took me a bit to get comfortable to them, not used to the black... but I can adjust, I'm pretty good at that kind of stuff. So there they were my new FRESH pair of kicks for the summer.
When I got home I was showing them off to everyone, haha. They are still in the GREEN box, yes GREEN, for some reason that is really cool to me. So ya, I'm pumped I laced them up with red shoelaces, that came with them. Matches the red Nike symbol and red soles. Now I just need to make sure I can keep them clean when I go out. But that will have to wait, not gonna risk the new kicks with the terrible weather we have been having, just not worth it.
So if you are feeling like you need a little flare in your life, maybe some spice, has life gotten boring? Go find yourself a new pair of kicks!!! Puma, Adidas, Nike whatever they all make some really cool ones. Enough with the basic stuff though, i mean come on people lets get some different styles going on... switch up the colors. They may look way too out of control at first, but I have learned two things 1) they are much less noticeable when you wear pants, which is most of the time when you go out, and 2) after a few times of wearing them the shine wears off and they arent as attention grabbing.
Go forth and stimulate the economy and your wardrobe!!!
and yes i realize this is a little vain :)
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Band/Group of the week
So I recently got into a new group/band called 'Pretty Lights.' They are sweetness. Now that I think of it I can't really remember... o wait ya i do. I was jammin out at my buddy's apt, where he has a sweet DJ set up. Including a synth, a beat pad, and a sweet program he bought on his laptop (that is the same that STS9 uses). We were doing our own thing, well really he was doing all the work, I just threw down on the beat pad and synth a little. Which, was honestly some of the best chill fun i've had in a while. I really hope it works out and we can bust out his set pool side... would it not be awsome to have a live DJ poolside? i think so. :)
So we're going through some sweet music with tons of WhooOOoomMMps, i.e. Ratatat, STS9, Bassnectar, etc. and eventually he's like damn this group Pretty Lights is coming to Dallas you should peep them. O and yes he said it EXACTLY like that. So what the hell, listen.grooveshark.com has showed me the greatness of a lot of new music so there I go again. Searching for Pretty Lights, artist, play... bam! The whomps start. Dont know what it is, but i can just play it over and over again... maybe its because in a way i am tired of my 'old' music. Who knows, the human is a complicated person right? or is that just the female?
Who doesnt love some whomps in their music right? so I took him up and went to the show with him and a bunch of his buddies. I havnt been to a soley electronic/rave type show in AGES!!! but I manned up went with them and i believe starting around 10 the first DJ starting busting out the WHHHOooooooMMMMPSSS and the dance started. O not to mention I was wearing shutter shades, ya i'm that guy. 1am or 2 rolls around, who's keepin track, and the next DJ comes on with some techno that I just could not handle after dancing for 3hours straight. So what is there to do on Sat night in dallas after 1 or 2, go back to your friends apt and rage till 9AM! So thats what I did. A group of 10 of us or so went back and did everything from kitchen bowling, to watching the BAD ASS thunderstoms going on in the city and watching the sun come up. Ya i was dead sun, but whatever, not like i get anything done on sundays anyways. Well enough of my journey.
Pretty Lights
My favorite song right now is 'Hot Like Sauce' tons of whomps! get in there guys!!
Friday, May 1, 2009
EF FB!!
What the hell is it these days with the people on Facebook?!? It has become a virtual world for people to escape into in the past couple months. When I originally signed up, I thought that FB was the coolest thing because I was going to be able to keep up with all my friends from Dallas while I was in DC, and then vice versa once I graduated. I mean I have friedns in LA, NYC, Chicago, Puerto Rico, Rochester, Austin, etc. there is no way I am going to find the right time to call them when I want to let them know something, and who checks voicemail these days? not my friends, haha. So basically I thought FB would be awsome to keep in touch with ppl.
Recently though everytime I log on, some 'friend' of mine has filled out the most recent: This is what kind of Xmen, Golden Girl, Shot, Character, etc you are. Are you kidding me? You need some electronic device to stimulate you? I mean I could tell you right now with out even looking at a test or question or whatever they have you fill out I would be Wolverine because I damn well want to be, I would be a Tequila shot because they are my favortie and etc I KNOW these things, I dont need some superficial BS computer app to spit out some garbage on how it 'knows' me.
This however, is actually besides the point. You have time for this? HA, i laugh at that. I love the internet, I just started blogging, I have a twitter account, I go on Facebook all the time, but for the love of god... my time is way to precious to fill out some stupid survey that doesnt even give you a free tshirt. Lets see the things I would rather do than fill out FB surveys: drink, sleep, talk with friends, 'stalk' my friends (haha, see what they are up to, sometimes its tough to keep up with them all when you're so popular), blog - like I am doing now, and well pretty much anything besides fallin into a bear pit... unless baxter is around, then I would feel safe.
I just dont get how 1) people need some stupid computer app to tell them who they are. Does this make you feel better on the inside? knowing that a computer is agreeing with what you originally thought? 2) people have the time to deal with such ridiculous concepts... for christs sake there is SWINE FLU people, lets solve that first. I dont know, maybe its just that I hate seeing all the stupid 'news flashes' or whatever you call them of ppl filling these things out on my FB page, or maybe people should start to be a little more confindent in themselves and live in the REALITY. Not some ridiculous Mob Wars, Motorcycle racing, Zombie killing virtual world where you get TOLD what you are.
Does no one else find these things completly useless and annoying?
Recently though everytime I log on, some 'friend' of mine has filled out the most recent: This is what kind of Xmen, Golden Girl, Shot, Character, etc you are. Are you kidding me? You need some electronic device to stimulate you? I mean I could tell you right now with out even looking at a test or question or whatever they have you fill out I would be Wolverine because I damn well want to be, I would be a Tequila shot because they are my favortie and etc I KNOW these things, I dont need some superficial BS computer app to spit out some garbage on how it 'knows' me.
This however, is actually besides the point. You have time for this? HA, i laugh at that. I love the internet, I just started blogging, I have a twitter account, I go on Facebook all the time, but for the love of god... my time is way to precious to fill out some stupid survey that doesnt even give you a free tshirt. Lets see the things I would rather do than fill out FB surveys: drink, sleep, talk with friends, 'stalk' my friends (haha, see what they are up to, sometimes its tough to keep up with them all when you're so popular), blog - like I am doing now, and well pretty much anything besides fallin into a bear pit... unless baxter is around, then I would feel safe.
I just dont get how 1) people need some stupid computer app to tell them who they are. Does this make you feel better on the inside? knowing that a computer is agreeing with what you originally thought? 2) people have the time to deal with such ridiculous concepts... for christs sake there is SWINE FLU people, lets solve that first. I dont know, maybe its just that I hate seeing all the stupid 'news flashes' or whatever you call them of ppl filling these things out on my FB page, or maybe people should start to be a little more confindent in themselves and live in the REALITY. Not some ridiculous Mob Wars, Motorcycle racing, Zombie killing virtual world where you get TOLD what you are.
Does no one else find these things completly useless and annoying?
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Are you Amazed?!?
MMJ!!! No it's not a typo for Michael Jordan, although ya the Bulls are playing out of this world... I hope they pull of the upset. However, back to the point My Morning Jacket (aka MMJ) was recently in Rolling Stones for best album (I believe it was in the top 10) and also best song, I'm Amazed (I believe was 1st), and I thought to myself how many people really know about them.
I for one had no idea who MMJ was until I was about two months or so away from going to bonarroo last year in 2008. My real good friend, and roommate now, Matt told me they put on an awsome show, and hey I had nothing better to do. But, I prepared myself, I listened to their music before hand and was knocked back by their most recent album 'Evil Urges.' It is simply amazing. From beginning to end you can listen to every song and not one of them sounds remotely similar to the other and you could almost swear its a different lead singer from song to song, but no Jim James is the man!!!
Hailing from Tennesee I believe, they fit somewhere in between the country and rock genre. Songs like 'Highly Suspicious' and 'Aluminum Park' almost make you think they could be a strictly rock n roll band, but then they have songs like 'I'm Amazed' and 'Librarian,' which are just so different i'm at a loss of words. The music they produce is just wonderful. Never getting to up tempo in their rock songs, but never too slow in their ballads as they captivate you with more than just music but wonderful lyrics.
One of my favorite lines from any song out their right now comes from the song 'Librarian.' Jim James sings about the typical fantasy of wanting to hookup with the librarian and throws out the idea that 'when god made mirrors he had no idea,' as he is combing his hair in the mirror. How awsome is that? It's so true, how much time do we all stand in front of the mirror just because we care so much of what other's think? I'm guilty we all are, as i mentioned in my post about being Vain.
Either way, today when you are wondering what you need to listen to to get you in the mood, go to listen.grooveshark.com type in 'Evil Urges,' hit play and enjoy the ride... the songs will take you on a trip, and if you can catch them live I highly recommend it as Jim James brings so much soul into his performances... I for one can feel his soul through the speakers, but that may be because i've seen them live a couple times and cant get enough.
Please give them a listen and enjoy as they make your day that much better :)
peace, love and happiness
Monday, April 27, 2009
Lazy Monday
Today it started to thunder and rain in the morning and from that moment I just new I wasn't going to get anything done. So as I sit at work, jammin out to some WSP it dawned on me that this is the perfect music for today. WideSpread Panic is probably some of the closest stuff I listen too that resembles country, which so many of my good friends listen too. JB, the lead singer, always seems to be taking his time going through his lines and the rest of the band follows his lead just chillin and jammin with him. With the rain pitter pattering outside I threw on 'Airplane' and it just helps soothe you, well me technically.
If you enjoy southern rock, country, or just awsome groovin melodies I suggest you look into WSP. Some great songs by them include, Tall Boy, Protein Drink, Airplane, Can't Get High, Wonderin'.
Unfortunately it is tough to find were to find places to download WSP, but you can stream it from their very own site.... http://panicstream.com/
they provide all or atleast most of their live shows to listen to in its entirety and its just awsome to hear them jam from one song to the next in their slow rolling way.
Also, a little bit of a side note, never have I ever seen so many wookies (aka hippies) and frat boys in the same location than at a WSP concert... so weird its almost like they could coexist for those 3hours.
enjoy!! let me know if u need help finding music, im here to help.
If you enjoy southern rock, country, or just awsome groovin melodies I suggest you look into WSP. Some great songs by them include, Tall Boy, Protein Drink, Airplane, Can't Get High, Wonderin'.
Unfortunately it is tough to find were to find places to download WSP, but you can stream it from their very own site.... http://panicstream.com/
they provide all or atleast most of their live shows to listen to in its entirety and its just awsome to hear them jam from one song to the next in their slow rolling way.
Also, a little bit of a side note, never have I ever seen so many wookies (aka hippies) and frat boys in the same location than at a WSP concert... so weird its almost like they could coexist for those 3hours.
enjoy!! let me know if u need help finding music, im here to help.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Music Experience
So I have totally diverted away from my original intention of what my blog was supposed to be about. Not that it is a bad thing, but there is just so much good music out there that not enough people know about, myself included, and the best way for people to find out about new bands is NOT the radio, but word of mouth. So I will try every couple days to put up mini posts of a band/group/entertainer that I really like and write a tid bit about why, along with recommend some songs to start with.
Hopefully you guys will enjoy and will share your wealth of knowledge as well.
To start I think it is only just that I go with the Disco Biscuits, as they have been rocking my world for a couple years now and I can just never seem to get enough... but that just goes for music in general too.
About the Disco Biscuits: they fall into the 'jam band' category somewhat, but at the same time not at all. They bring thick bass lines, and some wicked fast guitar riffs. If you have ever seen a real DJ perform, not some lame ass Disc Jockey that only mixes songs, you understand the concept of peaking during shows and coming down. This is what Disco does, but with a FULL band. There music sounds electronic because of the intensity they bring to it, but just like that they know how to mellow out and give the crowd a breather. Listening to these guys is tough if you have never seen them live, or do not enjoy dance parties because thats what it is.
I suggest http://www.archive.org/details/db2009-02-08.at4041 you can copy paste the link and you can listen by streaming or downloading. This is a show I saw @ HoB Dallas, there are plenty of other awsome shows too on archive.org, just have to look around a bit.
Some killer songs by them: Caterpillar, Highwire, Rock Candy, etc. I could go on for ever about them. I also suggest youtubing them as they have amazing light shows, and it is just awsome to see the crowd going nuts, and Marc Brownstein (the bassist) has the most incredible power stance ever... he can THROW the funk down on the bass and for that THANK YOU MARC!!!
Hopefully you guys will enjoy and will share your wealth of knowledge as well.
To start I think it is only just that I go with the Disco Biscuits, as they have been rocking my world for a couple years now and I can just never seem to get enough... but that just goes for music in general too.
About the Disco Biscuits: they fall into the 'jam band' category somewhat, but at the same time not at all. They bring thick bass lines, and some wicked fast guitar riffs. If you have ever seen a real DJ perform, not some lame ass Disc Jockey that only mixes songs, you understand the concept of peaking during shows and coming down. This is what Disco does, but with a FULL band. There music sounds electronic because of the intensity they bring to it, but just like that they know how to mellow out and give the crowd a breather. Listening to these guys is tough if you have never seen them live, or do not enjoy dance parties because thats what it is.
I suggest http://www.archive.org/details/db2009-02-08.at4041 you can copy paste the link and you can listen by streaming or downloading. This is a show I saw @ HoB Dallas, there are plenty of other awsome shows too on archive.org, just have to look around a bit.
Some killer songs by them: Caterpillar, Highwire, Rock Candy, etc. I could go on for ever about them. I also suggest youtubing them as they have amazing light shows, and it is just awsome to see the crowd going nuts, and Marc Brownstein (the bassist) has the most incredible power stance ever... he can THROW the funk down on the bass and for that THANK YOU MARC!!!
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Are you vain? yes you are!
The issue of being vain, or really what vain meant came up in my house between one of my room mates and good friend and it was kind of funny because one of them didn't know exactly what it meant. Does it even matter though? Aren't we all?
Apparently a girl asked him, 'hey are you vain?' Not really knowing/realizing the negative connotation that is associated with the word he responded 'yes.'
So I began to think, am I vain? are my friends vain? are they vain? etc... until I came upon the question 'Who isn't vain?' I don't think ANYONE, well at least anyone reading this blog post is not vain. Pretty much from the time we are born to when we die we have all sorts of pressure to conform or look a certain way. Even if you don't conform though you are going for a specific look. You want to make sure you stand out in a way... even if its the don't look at me I hate life, but really I want you to look at me and see how cool/different I am look.
I am def guilty... doing yoga, the couple push ups a day, the not so frequent jogs... its all part of my master plan, to look good :). Isn't that what everyone wants? to look good?
Now looking good is a different topic all together. To some looking good is looking like a super model, to some its wearing the hippest clothes, and still to more it is hopefully just being comfortable with your body. Being comfortable with it though I hope does not mean to do nothing about it, but more to understand your body. For example I cannot dunk but it doesn't mean i still don't try, or I know i am not Fernando Torres or some other super star soccer player, but it doesn't keep me from playing at a different level.
Any who, I believe we are all vain to some degree, but what really matters is how you let it effect your life. The worst example of this EVER happened to me in college. One of my friends started to seriously freak out when I asked to touch his Don King looking hair. A) he was white B) Are you fucking serious its your hair!? C) he looked like one of those idiots out of the 'My New Haircut' you tube video sensation. Wasn't like I wanted to run a lawn mower through his hair, in Texas, at least back in the day, I wasn't used to these types douche bag... but i have learned to adapt and deal.
Apparently a girl asked him, 'hey are you vain?' Not really knowing/realizing the negative connotation that is associated with the word he responded 'yes.'
So I began to think, am I vain? are my friends vain? are they vain? etc... until I came upon the question 'Who isn't vain?' I don't think ANYONE, well at least anyone reading this blog post is not vain. Pretty much from the time we are born to when we die we have all sorts of pressure to conform or look a certain way. Even if you don't conform though you are going for a specific look. You want to make sure you stand out in a way... even if its the don't look at me I hate life, but really I want you to look at me and see how cool/different I am look.
I am def guilty... doing yoga, the couple push ups a day, the not so frequent jogs... its all part of my master plan, to look good :). Isn't that what everyone wants? to look good?
Now looking good is a different topic all together. To some looking good is looking like a super model, to some its wearing the hippest clothes, and still to more it is hopefully just being comfortable with your body. Being comfortable with it though I hope does not mean to do nothing about it, but more to understand your body. For example I cannot dunk but it doesn't mean i still don't try, or I know i am not Fernando Torres or some other super star soccer player, but it doesn't keep me from playing at a different level.
Any who, I believe we are all vain to some degree, but what really matters is how you let it effect your life. The worst example of this EVER happened to me in college. One of my friends started to seriously freak out when I asked to touch his Don King looking hair. A) he was white B) Are you fucking serious its your hair!? C) he looked like one of those idiots out of the 'My New Haircut' you tube video sensation. Wasn't like I wanted to run a lawn mower through his hair, in Texas, at least back in the day, I wasn't used to these types douche bag... but i have learned to adapt and deal.
Domination!
Simple as that. That is what my coed naked kickball team does. We blasted through last season's schedule winning games with double digit leads easily. I mean we were focused!!! All we talked about was 'We're goin to the Ship!' Honestly that was our chant starting in the 2nd inning of some games. How ridiculous right?
This group of friends and friends of friends came together and unified under one name 'Peanut Butter Pudding Surprise,' thanks to our good friends My Morning Jacket and their song 'Highly Suspicious.' This became our anthem and we would all rock out to this song while passing jello shorts around, throwing empties in the trash, and bustin a dance move or two. That's right jello shots, beers, dancing... sounds better than some peoples weekends right? Well yep that's how we roll. And thanks to my new found hobby 'Ghostriding' I will be able to do it with a little bit more style! :)
Tonight is the 2nd game of the 2nd season and after a great start we need to keep this going as a team. We wond our first game by a close margin of 8-6 I believe... honestly I shouldnt have been driving, but shhh, so i dont really remember details, just that we got that W. I think the key to our team not dominating so much was the lack of music... we had the beers, we had the jello shots... but the music it just didn't complete us. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to bring a boombox out to the game tonight to help out with CRUSHING and DOMINATING!!! That's what kind of team player i am.
This group of friends and friends of friends came together and unified under one name 'Peanut Butter Pudding Surprise,' thanks to our good friends My Morning Jacket and their song 'Highly Suspicious.' This became our anthem and we would all rock out to this song while passing jello shorts around, throwing empties in the trash, and bustin a dance move or two. That's right jello shots, beers, dancing... sounds better than some peoples weekends right? Well yep that's how we roll. And thanks to my new found hobby 'Ghostriding' I will be able to do it with a little bit more style! :)
Tonight is the 2nd game of the 2nd season and after a great start we need to keep this going as a team. We wond our first game by a close margin of 8-6 I believe... honestly I shouldnt have been driving, but shhh, so i dont really remember details, just that we got that W. I think the key to our team not dominating so much was the lack of music... we had the beers, we had the jello shots... but the music it just didn't complete us. Therefore I have taken it upon myself to bring a boombox out to the game tonight to help out with CRUSHING and DOMINATING!!! That's what kind of team player i am.
Friday, April 10, 2009
One Nighters
It has come to my attention that the one night stand has become increasingly less popular... especially with age. What gives? Why not have a good time, maybe you just had a rough day, maybe its your birthday, maybe he/she is hot... who cares, it was in the moment, it felt right, why not.
Well apparently that's not the case to a lot of people. Is it jealousy, is it how they were raised, is it that maybe they dont enjoy it as much? Who knows... I for one enjoy the company of a cute girl. I dont quite understand the concept of why it is looked down upon so much. I find that if he/she meets a someone of interest out on the town that life is way to short to think what if; however, if he/she is running around every weekend with a different guy that is a little different, in my opinion. I just dont see what the big deal is if you are genuinely attracted to someone why you have to play some game of cat and mouse to see who wants who more, or who has the power of this and that... politics is it in fucking everything?
Not only is there the overall issue of the 'one night stand,' but it is also EXTREMELY biased towards the females. When a guy sleeps with a couple hot girls he is seen as a 'pimp,' 'the man,' etc., but when a girl does the same thing she is looked down upon as being 'easy, 'loose,' etc. Granted I am not a girl so I dont exactly know, but from all the drama I have observed in my quarter century of existence it seems that girls are much harsher on each other about it.
I am not exactly saying for everyone to run around sleeping with each other, but if something feels right why go against it? Science goes beyond my vocabulary to explain the most ridiculous phenomenons with elaborate hypotheses and everyone believes it. When two people are attracted to each other doesnt that just make sense? I dont know, maybe i am less inhibited than others, or maybe I am just wierd.
Do your thing, whatever that may be.
Well apparently that's not the case to a lot of people. Is it jealousy, is it how they were raised, is it that maybe they dont enjoy it as much? Who knows... I for one enjoy the company of a cute girl. I dont quite understand the concept of why it is looked down upon so much. I find that if he/she meets a someone of interest out on the town that life is way to short to think what if; however, if he/she is running around every weekend with a different guy that is a little different, in my opinion. I just dont see what the big deal is if you are genuinely attracted to someone why you have to play some game of cat and mouse to see who wants who more, or who has the power of this and that... politics is it in fucking everything?
Not only is there the overall issue of the 'one night stand,' but it is also EXTREMELY biased towards the females. When a guy sleeps with a couple hot girls he is seen as a 'pimp,' 'the man,' etc., but when a girl does the same thing she is looked down upon as being 'easy, 'loose,' etc. Granted I am not a girl so I dont exactly know, but from all the drama I have observed in my quarter century of existence it seems that girls are much harsher on each other about it.
I am not exactly saying for everyone to run around sleeping with each other, but if something feels right why go against it? Science goes beyond my vocabulary to explain the most ridiculous phenomenons with elaborate hypotheses and everyone believes it. When two people are attracted to each other doesnt that just make sense? I dont know, maybe i am less inhibited than others, or maybe I am just wierd.
Do your thing, whatever that may be.
Monday, April 6, 2009
How bout you?
So what were your early musical influences taking you through middle school, high school, and college? Did you feel yourself evolve as a person with the music you listened to, and as the music changed in different parts of your life?
If you would like please share, but also it is a nice reflection exercise... as I believe it can really help one align their life path, ideals, and morals
If you would like please share, but also it is a nice reflection exercise... as I believe it can really help one align their life path, ideals, and morals
Ghostridin the Whip
Saturday afternoon I went over to my friends apt. and after messing around with making beats on his laptop, synth and beat pad set up we started to tire and mess around on youtube. Of course, just recently I had heard of a phenomenon called "Ghost Riding." So with my curiosity piqued we had a youtube session and came across a couple instant classics.
Please observe exhibit a: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBPJTK1YBvs
exhibit b: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXl3Pdxrn-k&feature=related
Later that evening at dinner of course I had to mention ALL the videos I saw and my friends would probably say it was in the 20's, haha. And... of course i opened my loud mouth and started saying how I would/could do it and yada yada. By the end of dinner it was the moment of truth and of course there is no way I could back out.. So i ghost rided the whip!!!
Please enjoy yours truly making an ass out of himself :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcO_IOsIIg
Please observe exhibit a: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBPJTK1YBvs
exhibit b: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BXl3Pdxrn-k&feature=related
Later that evening at dinner of course I had to mention ALL the videos I saw and my friends would probably say it was in the 20's, haha. And... of course i opened my loud mouth and started saying how I would/could do it and yada yada. By the end of dinner it was the moment of truth and of course there is no way I could back out.. So i ghost rided the whip!!!
Please enjoy yours truly making an ass out of himself :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_QcO_IOsIIg
Thursday, April 2, 2009
The Journey
This will be the first of many music related articles.
What the hell happened to me? I have asked myself this question so many times, I can't even imagine how many times my parents have sat back and asked themselves Who the hell is that kid? I used to wear nice big glasses, hair parted to one side (nice and gelled), shirt tucked in, and shy as hell... now I rock designer glasses, could care less what my hair looks like (really im just happy to have some left still, haha), shirt? i go shirtless as much as possible, and I love talking to new people and acting a fool. Its almost as if I was put into a centerfuge and all the dork left over the years.
When it all began... Seventh maybe Eighth grade, but really not until HS. Beastie Boys!!! hell ya, Kriss Kross makes you wanna jump jump!!! that was what I rocked on the cassette player. I was REBEL!!! haha, not at all. But it was the start... I was finally listening to my own music not the radio. It grew from there very slowly like the typical bell curve... i was just in the infant stages of my musical journey. I started to be able to go out on my own, drive, had cash, parties!!! and I learned about what is Led Zepplin and probably Pink.. ya def Pink Floyd. I loved that trippy synth they brought in. Still though I couldnt tell couldnt tell you the members, ya i probably know some... but what i know is their music was transcendent.
Finally college happened and man that was AWSOME!!! musically that is. It took a while to meet new people, you see I went to college all by my lonesome. First it was rap... 50 Cent hell ya, Jay-Z, D12... man i was thug life. I went and saw JayZ and 311 play at Verizon Center out in Virginia after a HELL of a long trek and man it was my first 'festival.' All these different types of music together in one day, it was awsome.
That was 1st sememster freshman year. right after this is when the bell curve started growing faster. Friends of friends and all of a sudden I was into blue grass... WTF!!! how did this happen, i still couldnt tell you. But i know one thing... my puerto rican roomate and I were blasting String Cheese Incident by sophomore year. Next, I was looking into this guy Keller Williams, who doesnt where shoes when he plays, plays ALL by himself, and uses a vast assortment of instruments including several guitars, bass, and his own percussion. And there I was next thing I new standing in front of the mirror looking myself straight in the eye and wondering where have these guys been all my life? And there I was standing in all my greatness: desheveled hair, cargo shorts/or pants, probably a Bob Marley tshirt and I had become just a trace of what I was just 5yrs prior.
And from there it has become a collection maybe more of a mash of music that has influenced and kept me going. Including but not limited to: Jurrasic 5, Blackalicious, Disco Biscuits, New Deal, My Morning Jacket, Ratatat, and way to many others to keep going on about now... till the next episode!
What the hell happened to me? I have asked myself this question so many times, I can't even imagine how many times my parents have sat back and asked themselves Who the hell is that kid? I used to wear nice big glasses, hair parted to one side (nice and gelled), shirt tucked in, and shy as hell... now I rock designer glasses, could care less what my hair looks like (really im just happy to have some left still, haha), shirt? i go shirtless as much as possible, and I love talking to new people and acting a fool. Its almost as if I was put into a centerfuge and all the dork left over the years.
When it all began... Seventh maybe Eighth grade, but really not until HS. Beastie Boys!!! hell ya, Kriss Kross makes you wanna jump jump!!! that was what I rocked on the cassette player. I was REBEL!!! haha, not at all. But it was the start... I was finally listening to my own music not the radio. It grew from there very slowly like the typical bell curve... i was just in the infant stages of my musical journey. I started to be able to go out on my own, drive, had cash, parties!!! and I learned about what is Led Zepplin and probably Pink.. ya def Pink Floyd. I loved that trippy synth they brought in. Still though I couldnt tell couldnt tell you the members, ya i probably know some... but what i know is their music was transcendent.
Finally college happened and man that was AWSOME!!! musically that is. It took a while to meet new people, you see I went to college all by my lonesome. First it was rap... 50 Cent hell ya, Jay-Z, D12... man i was thug life. I went and saw JayZ and 311 play at Verizon Center out in Virginia after a HELL of a long trek and man it was my first 'festival.' All these different types of music together in one day, it was awsome.
That was 1st sememster freshman year. right after this is when the bell curve started growing faster. Friends of friends and all of a sudden I was into blue grass... WTF!!! how did this happen, i still couldnt tell you. But i know one thing... my puerto rican roomate and I were blasting String Cheese Incident by sophomore year. Next, I was looking into this guy Keller Williams, who doesnt where shoes when he plays, plays ALL by himself, and uses a vast assortment of instruments including several guitars, bass, and his own percussion. And there I was next thing I new standing in front of the mirror looking myself straight in the eye and wondering where have these guys been all my life? And there I was standing in all my greatness: desheveled hair, cargo shorts/or pants, probably a Bob Marley tshirt and I had become just a trace of what I was just 5yrs prior.
And from there it has become a collection maybe more of a mash of music that has influenced and kept me going. Including but not limited to: Jurrasic 5, Blackalicious, Disco Biscuits, New Deal, My Morning Jacket, Ratatat, and way to many others to keep going on about now... till the next episode!
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Losing is Winning in the USA
It has finally all come full circle I understand it ALL!!!
When you are in Pre-K it doesn't matter if you draw a Zebra or a Cat you still get the 'E' for effort. In 2nd grade it doesn't matter if you loop your cursive 'O' or not you still get a funny/cool sticker. When you are part of team as a child they don't even KEEP score, are you serious!?!? Whats the point of playing a game if nobody 'knows' who wins. Each team gets their own trophy at the end of the season and each individual team is told by their respective coach how great they are... this of course continues for about ten years. I mean as a Highschool kid they even MADE an extra lacrosse team or rowing team because certain kids could'nt make it on the Varisty or even Junior Varsity, they had to make a JV B team!!!
I will admit I was one of the kids who made the JV B lacrosse team; however, after fully commiting myself to the sport (I was also playing soccer my freshman year) for 1 year I was able to make the jump to Varsity my sophomore year - lesson 1. OUR, scratch that, the AMERICAN culture is built on making people feel good. The easisest example for me is how often have you actually told your friend 'NO' I cannot go to that party or that club because of 'etc.' I bet virtually nobody has in the past year its always ' we will see, 'maybe,' 'let me think about it,' or 'let me call you in a bit.' How hard is it to just say no? you see it is all about pleasing people.
Onto the good stuff. CEO's are fucking serious!!!! I consider myself first generation American, whether I really am or not (I am the first American born in my family), and over the past 3 months or so I have seen the WORST people of our country get rewarded with BILLIONS of dollars. Typo? no not at all!!! What is it with our country that we cant deal with faliure?!?! I got suspended from college, it SUCKED, I did what I had to and STILL graduated in four years (Aug 02 - May 06) - lesson 2.
I have digressed, for example if the company my father has started all of a sudden was not doing well he would be stuck up shit creek without a paddle, and that would be the end of that. Thanks for coming out, you tried hard, better luck next time is what he would be hearing. BUT, if you happen to royally screw over MULTI million dollar business and FUCK with everyone's life insurance and cash flow you get a several million dollar bonus and a 'do better next time.'
ARE YOU SERIOUS OBAMA!!! how the hell is helping the CEO's and Execs that maybe not totally on purpose, but sure as hell knew something of what they were unleashing on the American people going to do anything???? They already have money, they have millions!!! I have never seen that much money, nor do I want to, I have been too happy having enough to get by but still enough to have fun. Why do people that screw the lives of millions over deserve anything??
I was told as a small child 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you.' It seems it is the reverse here. Bullies get their way, you fuck up and you get a pat on the back, you ruin millions of lives you get several million dollar bonus, but you fuck up one small business plan of maybe $30,000 and bankrupt you go, welcome to being empovrished... welcome to the USA where its always ok to lose because really you are winning (if your a CEO or something)
I know I am not the only one feeling cheated, but that isn't even the most important effect of this disaster. What is? The culture we have instilled upon the young children growing up. How will they ever learn if they are never let to fail. I have written about two times when I FAILED, but i learned got back on the horse and kicked ass harder than before. My counterparts in Europe, aka my family, have failed numerous courses over the years of schooling and it has made them appreciate the concept of hard work and really releshing the outcome of so much hard work. When HS teachers are passing their students to do them a favor, or giving extra credit they being detrimental to the future of the kid and how he will deal with failure.
I could write a book on this, but I think my point has gotten across so I will end it now... maybe we can revisit this topic some other time
When you are in Pre-K it doesn't matter if you draw a Zebra or a Cat you still get the 'E' for effort. In 2nd grade it doesn't matter if you loop your cursive 'O' or not you still get a funny/cool sticker. When you are part of team as a child they don't even KEEP score, are you serious!?!? Whats the point of playing a game if nobody 'knows' who wins. Each team gets their own trophy at the end of the season and each individual team is told by their respective coach how great they are... this of course continues for about ten years. I mean as a Highschool kid they even MADE an extra lacrosse team or rowing team because certain kids could'nt make it on the Varisty or even Junior Varsity, they had to make a JV B team!!!
I will admit I was one of the kids who made the JV B lacrosse team; however, after fully commiting myself to the sport (I was also playing soccer my freshman year) for 1 year I was able to make the jump to Varsity my sophomore year - lesson 1. OUR, scratch that, the AMERICAN culture is built on making people feel good. The easisest example for me is how often have you actually told your friend 'NO' I cannot go to that party or that club because of 'etc.' I bet virtually nobody has in the past year its always ' we will see, 'maybe,' 'let me think about it,' or 'let me call you in a bit.' How hard is it to just say no? you see it is all about pleasing people.
Onto the good stuff. CEO's are fucking serious!!!! I consider myself first generation American, whether I really am or not (I am the first American born in my family), and over the past 3 months or so I have seen the WORST people of our country get rewarded with BILLIONS of dollars. Typo? no not at all!!! What is it with our country that we cant deal with faliure?!?! I got suspended from college, it SUCKED, I did what I had to and STILL graduated in four years (Aug 02 - May 06) - lesson 2.
I have digressed, for example if the company my father has started all of a sudden was not doing well he would be stuck up shit creek without a paddle, and that would be the end of that. Thanks for coming out, you tried hard, better luck next time is what he would be hearing. BUT, if you happen to royally screw over MULTI million dollar business and FUCK with everyone's life insurance and cash flow you get a several million dollar bonus and a 'do better next time.'
ARE YOU SERIOUS OBAMA!!! how the hell is helping the CEO's and Execs that maybe not totally on purpose, but sure as hell knew something of what they were unleashing on the American people going to do anything???? They already have money, they have millions!!! I have never seen that much money, nor do I want to, I have been too happy having enough to get by but still enough to have fun. Why do people that screw the lives of millions over deserve anything??
I was told as a small child 'Do unto others as you would have done unto you.' It seems it is the reverse here. Bullies get their way, you fuck up and you get a pat on the back, you ruin millions of lives you get several million dollar bonus, but you fuck up one small business plan of maybe $30,000 and bankrupt you go, welcome to being empovrished... welcome to the USA where its always ok to lose because really you are winning (if your a CEO or something)
I know I am not the only one feeling cheated, but that isn't even the most important effect of this disaster. What is? The culture we have instilled upon the young children growing up. How will they ever learn if they are never let to fail. I have written about two times when I FAILED, but i learned got back on the horse and kicked ass harder than before. My counterparts in Europe, aka my family, have failed numerous courses over the years of schooling and it has made them appreciate the concept of hard work and really releshing the outcome of so much hard work. When HS teachers are passing their students to do them a favor, or giving extra credit they being detrimental to the future of the kid and how he will deal with failure.
I could write a book on this, but I think my point has gotten across so I will end it now... maybe we can revisit this topic some other time
In the begining
Having sat around for countless hours through my life reading news, opinions and ideas I have decided it has come time for me to donate my own time and efforts to the interweb, and hopefully bring some new ideas and thoughts to the world. In the first couple of installments I have already thought of writing, "Losing is Winning in the USA" and also a piece on the Arts, more specifically the performing arts, and how we can begin to educate kids at a younger age to be more creative and to not be held down by the barriers of 'Music' class or 'drama' etc.
We will see how the Performing Arts piece goes, it may end up being more of a 'work in progress,' but I hope to attack ideas about culture within the USA and abroad, music - everything from shows ive been to through how I have come to where I am in music and how important it has become to/for me. Music has become an integral part of my life and all my friends could tell you that, but I would be the first to tell you I dont really know anything. Hopefully what knowledge I have can be dispelled upon the young kids and it will not take them 20 years to find out that beautiful music can come from Led Zepplin, String Cheese, Bob Marley, Disco Biscuits, Pavaratti, etc. one in the same.
As I have grown as a person I hope this blog will do the same and eventually find a niche of some sort instead of just my own thoughts... but that in its self may end up being a niche.
BAM!!! there it is first post
PS: my original idea was to coordinate with several friends of similar views and ideas, and I hope to still be able to do that... just not sure how these blog things work for multi ppl. so if your interested let me know I think it would be awsome if we could get a group of friends to share random thoughts with.
We will see how the Performing Arts piece goes, it may end up being more of a 'work in progress,' but I hope to attack ideas about culture within the USA and abroad, music - everything from shows ive been to through how I have come to where I am in music and how important it has become to/for me. Music has become an integral part of my life and all my friends could tell you that, but I would be the first to tell you I dont really know anything. Hopefully what knowledge I have can be dispelled upon the young kids and it will not take them 20 years to find out that beautiful music can come from Led Zepplin, String Cheese, Bob Marley, Disco Biscuits, Pavaratti, etc. one in the same.
As I have grown as a person I hope this blog will do the same and eventually find a niche of some sort instead of just my own thoughts... but that in its self may end up being a niche.
BAM!!! there it is first post
PS: my original idea was to coordinate with several friends of similar views and ideas, and I hope to still be able to do that... just not sure how these blog things work for multi ppl. so if your interested let me know I think it would be awsome if we could get a group of friends to share random thoughts with.
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