Tuesday, April 29, 2008
blergg
i'm in sterling at the moment visiting my parents, grandparents, and uncle/aunt for a little bit. ALL of our family lives in california, so this is a pretty significant get-together. also significant in the fact that in 5 days my uncle mike will be in iraq being elite as shit and worrying the hell out of all of us. it sucks, but it IS nice to see the fam every once in a while. my dad took me out on his brand new motorcycle today and we raged hardcore. i got a few sweet bday presents, some heels (!), and some awesome momma demmon cookin'. of course i caught flak for some new tattoo developments, but at least they all know it's pointless to fuss when they're clearly not going anywhere. anyway, i haven't done anything since i've been here but eat and annoy my mom. it's g00d.
tomorrow
as of tomorrow i'm 23. this shouldn't come as a surprise, but i guess it's sneaking up on me. i have had older friends for many years and i guess i never thought of them as "old", but i still remember being 18 and thinking that was the shit. THAT WAS 5 YEARS AGO. FIVE. time seems to slip away and i suppose i'm starting to realize that. the last 2 years have been amazing, the best of my life, so i'm hoping to continue that trend. it seems pretty feasible.
still a child at heart.
still a child at heart.
Monday, April 21, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
2029
I Googled my street address and the only match was "Mac's Convenience Store" in Kalamazoo, Michigan. This is a weird coincidence because I have been seeing a plethora of Michigan and other out-of-state license plates lately. Clearly this is a conspiracy to take over the former Southern capital, and I for one will not stand for this northern aggression a second time.
I also Wikipedia'd "2029" and found out some interesting predictions for that year.
Predicted events
* Friday, April 13 — The asteroid 99942 Apophis (previously better known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) will pass within 30,000 km (18,600 mi) of the Earth, very briefly appearing as bright as 3rd magnitude. A possibility exists that Apophis could go through a 400 m wide "keyhole" on this pass which would have put Apophis on a collision course with the Earth in 2036 [1].
* Music by Buddy Holly will enter the public domain this year.
* The FBI will have permission to reveal to the public the Top Secret papers on John F. Kennedy's assassination. (!!!!!!)
* The second of two Metonic twin eclipses will happen on December 20. The first twin eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010. The twin eclipses are separated by 19 years.
* Raymond Kurzweil predicts machine intelligence will equal one human brain intelligence as stated in his work on Futurism The Singularity Is Near based on Moore's Law.
2029 in fiction
Computer and video games
* Deus Ex (2000): JC Denton's "assigned birth date" is March 17.
* Shadow of the Ninja also known as Kage and Blue shadow the events unfold of Emperor Garuda taking over, and the ninjas overthrowing him.
Manga
* Ghost in the Shell: Public Security Section 9 is established.
Film
* The Terminator (1984): Kyle Reese and a Terminator are sent back in time to 1984.
* Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): Two Terminators, a T-800 and a T-1000, are sent back in time to 1995 to, respectively, protect and kill John Connor as a ten year old child.
Television
* Six Feet Under ("Everyone's Waiting," 2005): Keith Charles is shot and killed by robbers seizing the contents of his armored truck.
* Race to Mars, a fictional show about a manned expedition to Mars, takes place between 2029 and 2030.
None of this matters though because the world is going to end in 2012 anyway. crap. that doesn't leave much time now that I think about it....
I also Wikipedia'd "2029" and found out some interesting predictions for that year.
Predicted events
* Friday, April 13 — The asteroid 99942 Apophis (previously better known by its provisional designation 2004 MN4) will pass within 30,000 km (18,600 mi) of the Earth, very briefly appearing as bright as 3rd magnitude. A possibility exists that Apophis could go through a 400 m wide "keyhole" on this pass which would have put Apophis on a collision course with the Earth in 2036 [1].
* Music by Buddy Holly will enter the public domain this year.
* The FBI will have permission to reveal to the public the Top Secret papers on John F. Kennedy's assassination. (!!!!!!)
* The second of two Metonic twin eclipses will happen on December 20. The first twin eclipse will occur on December 21, 2010. The twin eclipses are separated by 19 years.
* Raymond Kurzweil predicts machine intelligence will equal one human brain intelligence as stated in his work on Futurism The Singularity Is Near based on Moore's Law.
2029 in fiction
Computer and video games
* Deus Ex (2000): JC Denton's "assigned birth date" is March 17.
* Shadow of the Ninja also known as Kage and Blue shadow the events unfold of Emperor Garuda taking over, and the ninjas overthrowing him.
Manga
* Ghost in the Shell: Public Security Section 9 is established.
Film
* The Terminator (1984): Kyle Reese and a Terminator are sent back in time to 1984.
* Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991): Two Terminators, a T-800 and a T-1000, are sent back in time to 1995 to, respectively, protect and kill John Connor as a ten year old child.
Television
* Six Feet Under ("Everyone's Waiting," 2005): Keith Charles is shot and killed by robbers seizing the contents of his armored truck.
* Race to Mars, a fictional show about a manned expedition to Mars, takes place between 2029 and 2030.
None of this matters though because the world is going to end in 2012 anyway. crap. that doesn't leave much time now that I think about it....
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
let's talk.
french philosophy is sometimes a really loaded topic for me to think about. while researching ethical humanism and religious humanism, i stumbled across the wikipedia page for the cult of reason, a sect founded during the french revolution based on secularism and atheism. i don't necessarily agree with everything, but i think it's always a good idea to be aware of historical trends and ideas in philosophy to be well-rounded. apparently in 1793 Notre Dame Cathedral was briefly turned into a "temple of reason" and lady liberty replaced the virgin mary. interesting. it's unfortunate when pieces of historical art are destroyed senselessly, but there's something about the passion of destroying something beautiful that should be respected. someone had to feel something very powerful to carry out such an action, and that should not be taken lightly.
i've also come across some ideas about christian humanism, which is something i'd like to explore further. christianity is an unbelievably loaded idea with so many strings attached that i know i can never fully understand the meaning behind it all, but all this research makes me feel like i'm actually making an effort to not only understand the path that i've followed thus far, but the possibilities for future personal enlightenment.
CHILDREN'S CRUSADES!
i've also come across some ideas about christian humanism, which is something i'd like to explore further. christianity is an unbelievably loaded idea with so many strings attached that i know i can never fully understand the meaning behind it all, but all this research makes me feel like i'm actually making an effort to not only understand the path that i've followed thus far, but the possibilities for future personal enlightenment.
CHILDREN'S CRUSADES!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
P.M.A.
i try hard a LOT to have a positive mental attitude.
but shit. right now it's really hard.
shit just keeps getting dumped on me left and right.
i keep trying to be cool about it
but it's really stressful.
i need for something good to happen.
but shit. right now it's really hard.
shit just keeps getting dumped on me left and right.
i keep trying to be cool about it
but it's really stressful.
i need for something good to happen.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
religion vs. faith
This is a very very first draft. I don't think it's super organized or coherent or inclusive of everything I would like to address, but feedback would be nice.
Hypocrisy in Contemporary Organized Religion
Why religion is obsolete in modern society
I must preface this with the statement that this is meant to be an outpouring of my own personal opinion regarding organized religion and the problems it poses on society. This is not meant to change anyone else’s beliefs concerning organized religion. This is not meant to be disrespectful, or sarcastic, or the answer to the world’s problems; rather, it should be considered with all seriousness and self-examination, hard as it may be to turn the light of criticism within yourself. For all intensive purposes, “religion” and “faith” are to be considered two completely different ideas, religion being a structure with a history, and faith being a personal exploration of one’s thoughts and hopes for the world and beyond.
The word “hypocrisy” automatically sends bristles up people’s spines when referred to in religion. In contemporary society, we are riddled with molestation, abuse, embezzlement, and fraud in all spiritual sects. Catholicism is an easy one to point fingers at, with a two thousand year history it is not difficult to find stray sheep amongst the millions of followers. Mormanism is in the spotlight right now with the discovery of hundreds of sheltered followers, virtually all who have been removed forcibly from society or without outside knowledge of culture and been brainwashed to perform acts of polygamy and pedophilia. In considering “brainwashing”, the Manson Family is also in the public eye with their seemingly obvious hypnosis and delusions of a worldwide overthrow, with their charismatic leader ultimately ruling the world as God, Man’s Son through ritualized slaughter.
None of these “religions” have anything to do with faith. Faith is a hope, a dream, a prayer, an idea, anything that opens one’s mind to a possibility, perhaps without reason or explanation. Religions are all very intimately similar, with their beliefs of a creation myth, rules for living a basically good life, and ideas of a life beyond this life. The only differences in the major religions and their sects are rituals and names, essentially. To those who believe that life on Earth is the end of the road, why do billions of people every day sacrifice themselves to a never ending assembly line of mindless, thankless tasks that make the world go round? If I truly believed that when I die, nothing remains beyond that, I would not be living my life in structured institutions that serve to better me as a person to be a constructive member of society. Karma dictates that any action one takes, they will receive an equal return of good/bad. Black/white. This is a very simplistic way of convincing people to be robots in a factory society.
Fear and laziness go hand in hand when discussing organized religion. Who gives man the power to declare saints and holy men? God? Many things are carried out in the name of God, and not all of them are for the betterment of the world’s condition. Does anyone really believe that the atrocities of the Children’s Crusade were necessary, and dictated by a loving higher power? Hindsight is always 20-20, yet we are unwilling to point a critical eye at ourselves. What’s done need not always be done. Laziness and apathy and fear of change have chained society to organization of faith and have virtually destroyed any remnant of actual faith that could possibly be left to experience. We are the walking dead. We are the zombies without choice or desire to experience a real emotion that comes from being an individual rather than an insignificant speck in an ocean of humans.
Ultimately one must realize that the leaders we have put in charge of our eternal salvations are human. The Pope himself was born from carnal relations between a man and a woman, was raised by parents, went to school, and lived a life before becoming the head of a regime with political and economic ties. There is no organized religion that has been able to completely separate itself from society without falling into the atrocities that a lack of society and basic human goodness provides. The argument that people need a support system to use fellowship amongst believers to deepen one’s relationship with whatever god they believe in is an obsolete notion that defines religion apart from faith. Everyone contains a spiritual well of sorts that experiences drought as well as overflow. It is up to the individual to discipline themselves into exploring and analyzing ideas that will ultimately lead them to enlightenment instead of relying on someone to make their decisions for them.
Hypocrisy in Contemporary Organized Religion
Why religion is obsolete in modern society
I must preface this with the statement that this is meant to be an outpouring of my own personal opinion regarding organized religion and the problems it poses on society. This is not meant to change anyone else’s beliefs concerning organized religion. This is not meant to be disrespectful, or sarcastic, or the answer to the world’s problems; rather, it should be considered with all seriousness and self-examination, hard as it may be to turn the light of criticism within yourself. For all intensive purposes, “religion” and “faith” are to be considered two completely different ideas, religion being a structure with a history, and faith being a personal exploration of one’s thoughts and hopes for the world and beyond.
The word “hypocrisy” automatically sends bristles up people’s spines when referred to in religion. In contemporary society, we are riddled with molestation, abuse, embezzlement, and fraud in all spiritual sects. Catholicism is an easy one to point fingers at, with a two thousand year history it is not difficult to find stray sheep amongst the millions of followers. Mormanism is in the spotlight right now with the discovery of hundreds of sheltered followers, virtually all who have been removed forcibly from society or without outside knowledge of culture and been brainwashed to perform acts of polygamy and pedophilia. In considering “brainwashing”, the Manson Family is also in the public eye with their seemingly obvious hypnosis and delusions of a worldwide overthrow, with their charismatic leader ultimately ruling the world as God, Man’s Son through ritualized slaughter.
None of these “religions” have anything to do with faith. Faith is a hope, a dream, a prayer, an idea, anything that opens one’s mind to a possibility, perhaps without reason or explanation. Religions are all very intimately similar, with their beliefs of a creation myth, rules for living a basically good life, and ideas of a life beyond this life. The only differences in the major religions and their sects are rituals and names, essentially. To those who believe that life on Earth is the end of the road, why do billions of people every day sacrifice themselves to a never ending assembly line of mindless, thankless tasks that make the world go round? If I truly believed that when I die, nothing remains beyond that, I would not be living my life in structured institutions that serve to better me as a person to be a constructive member of society. Karma dictates that any action one takes, they will receive an equal return of good/bad. Black/white. This is a very simplistic way of convincing people to be robots in a factory society.
Fear and laziness go hand in hand when discussing organized religion. Who gives man the power to declare saints and holy men? God? Many things are carried out in the name of God, and not all of them are for the betterment of the world’s condition. Does anyone really believe that the atrocities of the Children’s Crusade were necessary, and dictated by a loving higher power? Hindsight is always 20-20, yet we are unwilling to point a critical eye at ourselves. What’s done need not always be done. Laziness and apathy and fear of change have chained society to organization of faith and have virtually destroyed any remnant of actual faith that could possibly be left to experience. We are the walking dead. We are the zombies without choice or desire to experience a real emotion that comes from being an individual rather than an insignificant speck in an ocean of humans.
Ultimately one must realize that the leaders we have put in charge of our eternal salvations are human. The Pope himself was born from carnal relations between a man and a woman, was raised by parents, went to school, and lived a life before becoming the head of a regime with political and economic ties. There is no organized religion that has been able to completely separate itself from society without falling into the atrocities that a lack of society and basic human goodness provides. The argument that people need a support system to use fellowship amongst believers to deepen one’s relationship with whatever god they believe in is an obsolete notion that defines religion apart from faith. Everyone contains a spiritual well of sorts that experiences drought as well as overflow. It is up to the individual to discipline themselves into exploring and analyzing ideas that will ultimately lead them to enlightenment instead of relying on someone to make their decisions for them.
the end is in sight
i can't wait. i can't wait. i can't wait. 5 straight years of busting my ass, overloading classes, sleepless nights, red bull chugs in studios during crit weeks, dreaming of design and contemporary issues, killing myself over the perfect resume, and spending a fuckload of money for that ideal shade of red oil paint. in a few short weeks all that will be at an end. i know that once i'm out i'm going to miss it, and i'll probably start looking into graduate schools, but for right now i can't wait to actually be able to make some money, travel, and maybe even sleep in a day or two! college has been an amazing time in my life, because i have the ability to be self-sufficient, yet still have a safety net so that i don't have to work 3 jobs and go to school full time (anymore!) i have to live this summer up to the fullest extent because it will be my first one as a real adult, and very soon i will need to start acting as such.
things i need to get straight in my life:
-legit moving plans
-purge myself of unnecessary material possessions
-develop a more disciplined artistic work ethic
-make sure i finish school strong
i also need to figure out if this is becoming a rant blog or what my original intention was, of talking about my work and other contemporary influences that i deem important in modern design and artistic times. i think right now i'm a little overwhelmed with "that art stuff" and i need an outlet for my personal thoughts, not so much my creative thoughts. (seeing as i'm trying to give my all in my work). soon enough it will either have to split to 2 blogs or i'll get back to disciplining myself into discussing design topics.
things i need to get straight in my life:
-legit moving plans
-purge myself of unnecessary material possessions
-develop a more disciplined artistic work ethic
-make sure i finish school strong
i also need to figure out if this is becoming a rant blog or what my original intention was, of talking about my work and other contemporary influences that i deem important in modern design and artistic times. i think right now i'm a little overwhelmed with "that art stuff" and i need an outlet for my personal thoughts, not so much my creative thoughts. (seeing as i'm trying to give my all in my work). soon enough it will either have to split to 2 blogs or i'll get back to disciplining myself into discussing design topics.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
good stuff
today will be a good day. i can feel it in my bones. i'm catching up with stuff that i need to do and it feels good to cross things off my list. waking up early when it's gloomy out still sucks, but coffee is excellent and my allergies are finally waning. i'm excited to start going to some baseball games this summer, and we're about to have a laser engraving demo! good stuff. i have a few trips planned for this summer, so in a few weeks i'll be completely done and ready to have the best damn summer ever.
there's also been a plethora of hilariousness on the internet today. someone's been doing their homework. this site especially tickled my funny bone.
That closet door in your bedroom leads to the gates of Hell. Don't go there.
there's also been a plethora of hilariousness on the internet today. someone's been doing their homework. this site especially tickled my funny bone.
That closet door in your bedroom leads to the gates of Hell. Don't go there.
Monday, April 7, 2008
word word word
Today is day 3 of gloom- where is the sun??? blah blah blah. Anyway, Core77 has an awesome photo set of the New York Toy Fair! Anyone who's met me knows I have a slight obsession with all things vinyl. This brightens up my day even if it IS dreary. Also, the word of the day seems pretty enthusiastically optimistic, so here it is.
ebullient (i-BUL-yuhnt, -BOOL-) adjective
Bubbling with enthusiasm or excitement.
[From Latin ebullire (to boil up), from bulla (bubble).]
ebullient (i-BUL-yuhnt, -BOOL-) adjective
Bubbling with enthusiasm or excitement.
[From Latin ebullire (to boil up), from bulla (bubble).]
Thursday, April 3, 2008
why do i always...
use class time to update? that's probably bad. but it's so E-Z. summer's almost here. things are going swimmingly, for me at least. i always thought springtime was when people get twitterpated, but it seems like a lot of my friends are bummed on their relationships right now. it sucks to hear people value their self-worth due to the actions of another, but smoothies and front porch hangouts seem to be the cure, prescribed by dr. beth. speaking of front porch hangouts, i stole the picture below from ashton. it sums up the beginning of summer pretty nicely.
word of the day: willy-nilly
willy-nilly (WIL-ee NIL-ee) adverb, adjective
1. Whether willing or not.
2. Haphazardly.
[From contraction of "will ye/he/I nill ye/he/I", from will (to be willing)
and nill (to be unwilling).]
word of the day: willy-nilly
willy-nilly (WIL-ee NIL-ee) adverb, adjective
1. Whether willing or not.
2. Haphazardly.
[From contraction of "will ye/he/I nill ye/he/I", from will (to be willing)
and nill (to be unwilling).]
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
stuff
Catholic and other religious iconography can be really bizarre but extremely interesting. I've always been interested bodhisattvas and saints and unexplainable miracles, like stigmata and statues that cry blood. How people get beatified or canonized is completely beyond me. Once religion gets that high up, I'm pretty sure it's a big global conspiracy of I don't know what. This is a weird and sort of off-topic post, but it's what I'm looking at right now.
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