My classes today were a blur. I couldn't focus because my mind was in summer mode already. All I wanted was for someone to tell me exactly how it is, not make me think about it.
That is one of the reasons my postings of late have been spurratic (sp?). <-- And Lazy.
In any case, I just had the thought that this would be the perfect time to spew out propaganda to college students, because they're too mentally exerted to think about it and will accept just about anything.
Kairos is very interesting at times....
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Senioritis
Not for seniors only. I have one more day of actual class this semester and then it is summer time. i have been postponing all sorts of adventures for the last 9 months in order to handle my school workload among many other things. Dang out has been a long time since I had a vacation.i even skipped a lot of family get togethers so I could focus on school, I'll have to work on that because I don't want to be that way with family, but basically I have waited for this day for a long time, and now it is right ced the corner. Next week I just have to turn in assignments and move out of logan. Wow. I think i am ready for real life...or whatever it is.
Monday, April 25, 2011
Mothers
This post should belong on mother's day, but I probably will not remember it then.
I have always had this crazy ability to impress every mother I have ever met, except one. I don't know if it is because on the surface I look like more than I am, and under the surface I really am nothing, or if I try extra hard around certain people and not others. Call it magic if you would like.
The only mother who is not dazzled by me is my own mother. For some reason she is not impressed by anything I have ever done. Sometimes I feel like all she sees is my failures: I didn't keep at my violin even though I was so good, I don't like the same things she does. I'm not done with college yet, I haven't fully moved out of the house, I don't finish everything I start. I don't know anything about how to work. I can't get a job and there must be something wrong with me. I don't know how to even clean the kitchen right when I get done with it. --No, with my mom nothing I do is good enough.
I spent a few hours of my spare time (during class and on the weekend when I was bored) pouring my heart and ideas into a 20month plan of my life. It includes the three main pillars of my life and leaves room for the fourth (graduation, film making, and my dating&relationships book/blog.) [& marriage]. Yesterday though, when I had time to talk to my mother about it, her response was: You can't handle that much of a work load. You will hate life. I don't know anyone who has been able to do that many classes all at once. --It was complete trash. My own mother doesn't believe in me. She never has.
And although my mother never has believed in me and trusted my abilities or encouraged me to do the things that I want to do--in spite of all that--I have been able to overcome. I went through a lot of crazy stuff because of my lack of maternal support and a father who isn't empathetic and isn't around all that often, but I have overcome those weights pulling me down, not giving me a fair chance. Now I am on the verge of breaking out of this situation, in 20 months I imagine that I will be in a new world structured around all of my own decisions. It will be a place I created, not one that other people created for me, and whatever I don't like about it, it will be my own fault and not theirs. That's really just what I want.
Back to mothers: my mother's never going to change. She's too old, she has her own problems to deal with. I can't go around expecting her to one day accept and encourage my decisions, but that doesn't mean I can't be happy. I love my mother, I understand her completely even though she's the most complex person I have ever met. I chose a few years ago not to let her bring me down, and that's why she hasn't hindered me. Meanwhile, other peoples' parents see me as a model child, I guess you could say I get all the love I need from them and I tend to latch on to those people who give me that support because I enjoy what I never got. I know though that one day I will get exactly what I want, and it drives me even harder to accomplish those things, almost as though I'm getting a future dose of support--taking it early, from people I don't hardly know.
I have always had this crazy ability to impress every mother I have ever met, except one. I don't know if it is because on the surface I look like more than I am, and under the surface I really am nothing, or if I try extra hard around certain people and not others. Call it magic if you would like.
The only mother who is not dazzled by me is my own mother. For some reason she is not impressed by anything I have ever done. Sometimes I feel like all she sees is my failures: I didn't keep at my violin even though I was so good, I don't like the same things she does. I'm not done with college yet, I haven't fully moved out of the house, I don't finish everything I start. I don't know anything about how to work. I can't get a job and there must be something wrong with me. I don't know how to even clean the kitchen right when I get done with it. --No, with my mom nothing I do is good enough.
I spent a few hours of my spare time (during class and on the weekend when I was bored) pouring my heart and ideas into a 20month plan of my life. It includes the three main pillars of my life and leaves room for the fourth (graduation, film making, and my dating&relationships book/blog.) [& marriage]. Yesterday though, when I had time to talk to my mother about it, her response was: You can't handle that much of a work load. You will hate life. I don't know anyone who has been able to do that many classes all at once. --It was complete trash. My own mother doesn't believe in me. She never has.
And although my mother never has believed in me and trusted my abilities or encouraged me to do the things that I want to do--in spite of all that--I have been able to overcome. I went through a lot of crazy stuff because of my lack of maternal support and a father who isn't empathetic and isn't around all that often, but I have overcome those weights pulling me down, not giving me a fair chance. Now I am on the verge of breaking out of this situation, in 20 months I imagine that I will be in a new world structured around all of my own decisions. It will be a place I created, not one that other people created for me, and whatever I don't like about it, it will be my own fault and not theirs. That's really just what I want.
Back to mothers: my mother's never going to change. She's too old, she has her own problems to deal with. I can't go around expecting her to one day accept and encourage my decisions, but that doesn't mean I can't be happy. I love my mother, I understand her completely even though she's the most complex person I have ever met. I chose a few years ago not to let her bring me down, and that's why she hasn't hindered me. Meanwhile, other peoples' parents see me as a model child, I guess you could say I get all the love I need from them and I tend to latch on to those people who give me that support because I enjoy what I never got. I know though that one day I will get exactly what I want, and it drives me even harder to accomplish those things, almost as though I'm getting a future dose of support--taking it early, from people I don't hardly know.
Friday, April 22, 2011
Film Making The Planners Art
Film Making is possibly the most articulate planning any individual can engage in (if they are doing it right, that is). Every little detail has to be planned out in advance. Very minor things, when they are missing, can become MAJOR things. Take for instance making sure that your actor has the same red sweater on in all of their shots.
Basically, film making is the process of making blueprints for sets, securing items, preparing actors and directors physically, mentally, and especially emotionally. Making sure that everything is in order, people are coordinated, etc. etc.
I'm going to ramble forever without really making a solid point, but basically when you make films, you aren't just planning one thing, you are planning many intricate things that have to come together properly in order for it all to work out.
Basically, film making is the process of making blueprints for sets, securing items, preparing actors and directors physically, mentally, and especially emotionally. Making sure that everything is in order, people are coordinated, etc. etc.
I'm going to ramble forever without really making a solid point, but basically when you make films, you aren't just planning one thing, you are planning many intricate things that have to come together properly in order for it all to work out.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Free Food, Not Free Doctors
The reason it has been a few days since my last post is because I've been simmering on an idea. And just like simmering some tasty meal makes the flavors blend together, softens its contents, and makes it overall better, so is my idea.
I feel like people have more of a right and an obligation to provide others with free, healthy food than they do to provide them with cheap medication, easy access to clinics, medical supplies, etc. etc. Medicine is man's attempt to extend man's life from premature death, and increase longevity of the human race. Food on the other hand, is nature/providence/God's attempt to keep us living daily.
Whoever gave us the notion that poor people were obligated to some sort of medical attention SERIOUSLY got the whole picture wrong. Medicine is not a necessary part of our survival: if you eat right, exercise, and don't take unnecessary risks, you'll live a meaningful and happy life. Yes, there are exceptions to this: take for instance if you have a birth defect that causes you to die around the age of 30 in a lot of pain--no matter how healthy you are, you still have a pretty inevitable chance of dying around age 30. BUT, personally, I would rather live in the comfort of having a full stomach than I would in the comfort that my pain might be lessened when I do die at age 30.
Everyone is going to die eventually; part of life, ironically, is death. But being forced to eat top ramen, mac and cheese, and spaghettios shouldn't have to be. The dollar amount between the two is so drastic that it's silly that some people are forced to eat garbage. A nice fancy dinner doesn't usually cost more than $15per person, yet (depending on your plan) you can pay over $1,000 per month on health care.
I did the math for you:
$1,000/mo = $33 per day, or 2 thanksgiving dinners PER DAY.
Our U.S. National GNP devotes such a significant portion of its budget to health care welfare systems when really it has no ethical basis behind it. More people would be benefited more (utilitarianism) by nearly free food than they would by cheap medical care.
I'm not saying get rid of medical insurance, I'm saying completely privatize it. Employers can still use their own health insurance programs. Individuals can still pay for it themselves. Poor people would just have to suffer and die because they can't afford it, or because their employer doesn't provide it. It's that simple. But at least those poor people could make the attempt to pay for their insurance and not have to worry about getting a healthy meal if they can't manage.
Instead of paying doctors we should be paying chefs who can provide healthy food instead of junk fast food that poor people are prone to waste their food stamps on. McDonalds and junk processed foods tend to be purchased most due to their cheap and easy qualities, but bet me that if the government pumped more money into making food that is cheap, easy and healthy we really would get cheap easy and healthy food. Our doctors might gripe and moan about losing their highest paying customer (the average taxed american) but hey, what makes their profession better than the food industry?
I guess my main point is that we don't NEED medicine to live but the average citizen when he or she pays her taxes spends a portion of that on prolonging the life of the elderly and the poor.
And yet we need FOOD to live and we aren't don't really anything to prolong a starving person's life or helping people lose american fat. (contrary to popular belief, the #1 cause of obesity is cheap food.--the cheapest food is the most unhealthy, that's why it's cheap. It's not that unhealthy food is loved more by people and so they are prone to eating it, it's not even that there is a culture in america behind eating unhealthy food. It is that poor people can't afford good quality food and so they eat unhealthy food that is cheap and the culture of poverty dictates the culture of American fat. How many millionaires are overweight? A few, but not as many as live in poverty.)
I feel like people have more of a right and an obligation to provide others with free, healthy food than they do to provide them with cheap medication, easy access to clinics, medical supplies, etc. etc. Medicine is man's attempt to extend man's life from premature death, and increase longevity of the human race. Food on the other hand, is nature/providence/God's attempt to keep us living daily.
Whoever gave us the notion that poor people were obligated to some sort of medical attention SERIOUSLY got the whole picture wrong. Medicine is not a necessary part of our survival: if you eat right, exercise, and don't take unnecessary risks, you'll live a meaningful and happy life. Yes, there are exceptions to this: take for instance if you have a birth defect that causes you to die around the age of 30 in a lot of pain--no matter how healthy you are, you still have a pretty inevitable chance of dying around age 30. BUT, personally, I would rather live in the comfort of having a full stomach than I would in the comfort that my pain might be lessened when I do die at age 30.
Everyone is going to die eventually; part of life, ironically, is death. But being forced to eat top ramen, mac and cheese, and spaghettios shouldn't have to be. The dollar amount between the two is so drastic that it's silly that some people are forced to eat garbage. A nice fancy dinner doesn't usually cost more than $15per person, yet (depending on your plan) you can pay over $1,000 per month on health care.
I did the math for you:
$1,000/mo = $33 per day, or 2 thanksgiving dinners PER DAY.
Our U.S. National GNP devotes such a significant portion of its budget to health care welfare systems when really it has no ethical basis behind it. More people would be benefited more (utilitarianism) by nearly free food than they would by cheap medical care.
I'm not saying get rid of medical insurance, I'm saying completely privatize it. Employers can still use their own health insurance programs. Individuals can still pay for it themselves. Poor people would just have to suffer and die because they can't afford it, or because their employer doesn't provide it. It's that simple. But at least those poor people could make the attempt to pay for their insurance and not have to worry about getting a healthy meal if they can't manage.
Instead of paying doctors we should be paying chefs who can provide healthy food instead of junk fast food that poor people are prone to waste their food stamps on. McDonalds and junk processed foods tend to be purchased most due to their cheap and easy qualities, but bet me that if the government pumped more money into making food that is cheap, easy and healthy we really would get cheap easy and healthy food. Our doctors might gripe and moan about losing their highest paying customer (the average taxed american) but hey, what makes their profession better than the food industry?
I guess my main point is that we don't NEED medicine to live but the average citizen when he or she pays her taxes spends a portion of that on prolonging the life of the elderly and the poor.
And yet we need FOOD to live and we aren't don't really anything to prolong a starving person's life or helping people lose american fat. (contrary to popular belief, the #1 cause of obesity is cheap food.--the cheapest food is the most unhealthy, that's why it's cheap. It's not that unhealthy food is loved more by people and so they are prone to eating it, it's not even that there is a culture in america behind eating unhealthy food. It is that poor people can't afford good quality food and so they eat unhealthy food that is cheap and the culture of poverty dictates the culture of American fat. How many millionaires are overweight? A few, but not as many as live in poverty.)
Monday, April 18, 2011
Paper length requirements
I've found that whenever I have a paper length requirement I either cut my argument short because I met the requirement and felt like I didn't need to write any more and thereby don't go into enough depth, or I go too much in depth and B.S. my way through the paper just to reach the paper constraints.
It is fairly counter productive to tell me a specific length of argument (5-15 pages is a good estimate, so is 50-80 because they are so broad) because I tend to shoot to get the assignment done rather than focus on it.
I know, I know, it's lazy, but I'm sure that's what most people are doing. Personally, I'm just trying to get my schooling done so I can get a several thousand dollar piece of paper to hang on my wall. I do all my learning in class, the assignments and tests are just not all that important to me as long as I pass and can get my diploma.
It is fairly counter productive to tell me a specific length of argument (5-15 pages is a good estimate, so is 50-80 because they are so broad) because I tend to shoot to get the assignment done rather than focus on it.
I know, I know, it's lazy, but I'm sure that's what most people are doing. Personally, I'm just trying to get my schooling done so I can get a several thousand dollar piece of paper to hang on my wall. I do all my learning in class, the assignments and tests are just not all that important to me as long as I pass and can get my diploma.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
KC's Poetry: Vertical Climb
KC's Poetry: Vertical Climb: "I’m not a nihilist; but everything I do brings be back to 0,0. In the grand scheme of things, Every positive I make in one way Could be made..."
Friday, April 15, 2011
You're Silly
I have been known to call people silly quite frequently; my friends (typically who are girls), my family, dogs and animals, etc. have all been called it before.
I realized yesterday though, the reason I call them that. Although I am fairly good at making an argument and providing in depth analysis and critical views of things, I am often not very good at describing how I feel. I very much feel things, but I don't often know how to put them in words. Sure, English is a very flexible language, and I am beginning to learn how to properly use it to explain myself, but it just cannot do justice for some of the happiest and most joyous experiences I have.
Sometimes someone close to me does something that makes me laugh inside, either because it is humorous, or because my interpretation of it is humorous. I don't want to laugh, either because I am tired, or because I fear offending them, so instead I will call them silly. Really, the person who is "silly" is me, because I cannot seem to figure out how to express that emotion.
I am a fan of people who do cute things, or things that show just how human and real they are, and that they are trying their hardest and doing everything expected of them. It is an admirable trait in the world we live in where everyone has told a lie and a lot of people are disguising who they really are in order to accomplish their own selfish objectives.
I am also a fan of people who do things selflessly. That too is pretty admirable because it shows that they have a good character.
But when it comes to me telling them that I like that about them, I find it often awkward or challenging to explain it to them, so I settle on calling them silly.
Last night I called my parents silly (not openly but in my head) because I had to explain the rules to a new card game to them ten different times in ten different ways. It was not their fault really, they are getting older and it is more difficult for them to understand the new complexities that are entering into culture. The truth is, I liked explaining it to them in so many different ways because it gave me an opportunity to test my communicating abilities in new ways.
I hope people don't get offended when I call them silly. It is almost always a good thing.
I am reminded of the Kurosawa film Sanjuro in which Sagatasha Sanjuro is a character who often points out his displeasure and yet appreciates it. He is later called "a too sharp sword" by another character, who explains that good swords are kept in their sheathes and remain sharp. Other characters say that "that is just how he talks". He might get upset, or angry, or point out how other people's decisions affect his life negatively, but in reality he knows it is something he can handle, probably from the experience he has had with dealing with it, and he recognizes that life wouldn't be the same if people weren't always disrupting his tranquility. In fact, the story starts out with him being awoken to a secret meeting people are having in another room of an empty shrine he chose to stay the night in. If they didn't wake him up with their chatter, he would not have gotten involved with them and he would not have enjoyed the experiences he enjoyed while living through that.
I think I am very much like Sanjuro. I enjoy all experiences even though at the time I might now realize it. That is what makes life fun, when out of the ordinary people rub on your life and polish you a little more.
I realized yesterday though, the reason I call them that. Although I am fairly good at making an argument and providing in depth analysis and critical views of things, I am often not very good at describing how I feel. I very much feel things, but I don't often know how to put them in words. Sure, English is a very flexible language, and I am beginning to learn how to properly use it to explain myself, but it just cannot do justice for some of the happiest and most joyous experiences I have.
Sometimes someone close to me does something that makes me laugh inside, either because it is humorous, or because my interpretation of it is humorous. I don't want to laugh, either because I am tired, or because I fear offending them, so instead I will call them silly. Really, the person who is "silly" is me, because I cannot seem to figure out how to express that emotion.
I am a fan of people who do cute things, or things that show just how human and real they are, and that they are trying their hardest and doing everything expected of them. It is an admirable trait in the world we live in where everyone has told a lie and a lot of people are disguising who they really are in order to accomplish their own selfish objectives.
I am also a fan of people who do things selflessly. That too is pretty admirable because it shows that they have a good character.
But when it comes to me telling them that I like that about them, I find it often awkward or challenging to explain it to them, so I settle on calling them silly.
Last night I called my parents silly (not openly but in my head) because I had to explain the rules to a new card game to them ten different times in ten different ways. It was not their fault really, they are getting older and it is more difficult for them to understand the new complexities that are entering into culture. The truth is, I liked explaining it to them in so many different ways because it gave me an opportunity to test my communicating abilities in new ways.
I hope people don't get offended when I call them silly. It is almost always a good thing.
I am reminded of the Kurosawa film Sanjuro in which Sagatasha Sanjuro is a character who often points out his displeasure and yet appreciates it. He is later called "a too sharp sword" by another character, who explains that good swords are kept in their sheathes and remain sharp. Other characters say that "that is just how he talks". He might get upset, or angry, or point out how other people's decisions affect his life negatively, but in reality he knows it is something he can handle, probably from the experience he has had with dealing with it, and he recognizes that life wouldn't be the same if people weren't always disrupting his tranquility. In fact, the story starts out with him being awoken to a secret meeting people are having in another room of an empty shrine he chose to stay the night in. If they didn't wake him up with their chatter, he would not have gotten involved with them and he would not have enjoyed the experiences he enjoyed while living through that.
I think I am very much like Sanjuro. I enjoy all experiences even though at the time I might now realize it. That is what makes life fun, when out of the ordinary people rub on your life and polish you a little more.
Thursday, April 14, 2011
two days
Crazy...It's been a while since I posted.
Well, it must be getting closer to finals week because I'm really busy writing papers trying to prove arguments and my point of view...
Really it's the research that takes the time. If you have all the research necessary it becomes easier to write. Research is really the key.
I also finished a rough draft of a manuscript for a book I've titled "Being Gorgeous: a how to book." The title still hasn't settled on me so it might get a few changes, but the content in it is what counts. It's at 80 pages right now double spaced. This rough draft is from start to finish however I need to make sure everything is in there that needs to be and that it all flows logically and builds on itself until the very end. (that's how good arguments are). I also want to add in little figures and quotes and additional snippets and examples and possibly pictures/comics but I need to make sure that the base text is good before I think about that stuff.
Research has been the key to this book. Years of studying women has lead me to an understanding of what makes great women great, and I felt like I needed to share with the world the process involved in it so that other motivated women can read it and use it as a guide to becoming great. I would compare it to a book on perfecting your skill at tennis. Knowing certain things and how they work can help you when you have to apply them in practice.
Well, it must be getting closer to finals week because I'm really busy writing papers trying to prove arguments and my point of view...
Really it's the research that takes the time. If you have all the research necessary it becomes easier to write. Research is really the key.
I also finished a rough draft of a manuscript for a book I've titled "Being Gorgeous: a how to book." The title still hasn't settled on me so it might get a few changes, but the content in it is what counts. It's at 80 pages right now double spaced. This rough draft is from start to finish however I need to make sure everything is in there that needs to be and that it all flows logically and builds on itself until the very end. (that's how good arguments are). I also want to add in little figures and quotes and additional snippets and examples and possibly pictures/comics but I need to make sure that the base text is good before I think about that stuff.
Research has been the key to this book. Years of studying women has lead me to an understanding of what makes great women great, and I felt like I needed to share with the world the process involved in it so that other motivated women can read it and use it as a guide to becoming great. I would compare it to a book on perfecting your skill at tennis. Knowing certain things and how they work can help you when you have to apply them in practice.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Coaching and Respect
I have the perfect personality for a coach. I enjoy coaching people because I like to see them succeed and I am highly goal oriented. --but those aren't what make me perfect for coaching.
The thing that makes me perfect for coaching is that I bring out people. Whatever their flaws are whatever their strengths are, and whatever their true character is, I WILL BRING IT OUT. I have an uncanny ability to detect Bullshit and strong perception skills for body language and for regular language. I know how to motivate people when the opportune time comes and I know when to chastise and reprimand people.
Maybe I'm a little egotistical, but I love to play with people's egos. If I detect in any way that they think they are better than they really are, or if they're phony with themselves, then I start to test them to see if they hold up. I've found some really amazing people who thought they were good, and they backed it up. It's not pride, it's humility to know just where you fit in life. I've also met a lot of people who think they're good and can't back it up in any way.--those people generally don't like me either because I show them up, or spending time around brings out their flaws and they can't handle it.
I love being this way; I wouldn't change it for anything. Sure I constantly bring out the worst in bad people, but I've grown to handle it. I've also grown to adore people who can stand up in the light, and that's what I really live for.
Whether people want me to coach them or not I do it anyway--some people don't realize that they're growing, and I see them growing, from the interactions they have with me. Others don't need coaching so much as help, and by having this personality I have a way of building relationships with people in which they can be candid with me and they can be upfront about what they really want in life. I love honest people. Honesty is really the first step, because if you aren't honest with yourself and open with others then you're going to have a hard time succeeding.
I would almost say the 2nd step is having respect. If you want to go far in life you have to be respectful of other people, You can't hold yourself up as the highest and best, you have to honor people when they deserve honoring. People who go around life thinking they are better than other people don't realize that until they get over it they aren't going to grow and learn the things that others ARE good at.
This is why coaches demand respect, they demand honesty, and they demand openness. Because although you can trick people into growing, they don't grow as well or as quickly.
That's why God demands the same things. Respect, honesty and openness. Because although you're going to keep growing with or without those attributes, God can make you grow much quicker and in a better way.
The thing that makes me perfect for coaching is that I bring out people. Whatever their flaws are whatever their strengths are, and whatever their true character is, I WILL BRING IT OUT. I have an uncanny ability to detect Bullshit and strong perception skills for body language and for regular language. I know how to motivate people when the opportune time comes and I know when to chastise and reprimand people.
Maybe I'm a little egotistical, but I love to play with people's egos. If I detect in any way that they think they are better than they really are, or if they're phony with themselves, then I start to test them to see if they hold up. I've found some really amazing people who thought they were good, and they backed it up. It's not pride, it's humility to know just where you fit in life. I've also met a lot of people who think they're good and can't back it up in any way.--those people generally don't like me either because I show them up, or spending time around brings out their flaws and they can't handle it.
I love being this way; I wouldn't change it for anything. Sure I constantly bring out the worst in bad people, but I've grown to handle it. I've also grown to adore people who can stand up in the light, and that's what I really live for.
Whether people want me to coach them or not I do it anyway--some people don't realize that they're growing, and I see them growing, from the interactions they have with me. Others don't need coaching so much as help, and by having this personality I have a way of building relationships with people in which they can be candid with me and they can be upfront about what they really want in life. I love honest people. Honesty is really the first step, because if you aren't honest with yourself and open with others then you're going to have a hard time succeeding.
I would almost say the 2nd step is having respect. If you want to go far in life you have to be respectful of other people, You can't hold yourself up as the highest and best, you have to honor people when they deserve honoring. People who go around life thinking they are better than other people don't realize that until they get over it they aren't going to grow and learn the things that others ARE good at.
This is why coaches demand respect, they demand honesty, and they demand openness. Because although you can trick people into growing, they don't grow as well or as quickly.
That's why God demands the same things. Respect, honesty and openness. Because although you're going to keep growing with or without those attributes, God can make you grow much quicker and in a better way.
Not lazy, not forgetting, just confused
It'd not that I was lazy and didn't feel like posting anything. Out wasn't that I was busy, per say. It wasn't even really that I spaced it...
My excuse for not posting something within 17 min ago was really that I forgot that I didn't quite anything today. You see, I forgot whether it was yesterday or today that I wrote something, and so when it came time to check I just assumed that it was today that I wrote something.
Oh well, you'll just get two of them tomorrow (which is really today since it is 1220am and I am lying in bed reviewing my day in my head and using my phone to write this...
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Ideas
I get ideas at weird times. Well...for me they seem weird, but according to various studies my ideas come right when they are natural to come. Take for instance in the shower. Because I am so busy throughout the day, I don't usually get brilliant ideas and they just build up until I am in the quiet alone. Brainstorming doesn't always work the way it should for me, but long showers tend to. There is something about being alone in the quite that opens up the creativity in a person. It also helps to write things down frequently because most people get creative ideas more than they think, they just don't remember them.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Assumptions and My Parents, a drastic lifestyle
Probably my biggest pet peeve with people is that they assume way more often than they know. --I'm not restricted from it either, but I try to avoid it.
My parents in particular have that nasty habit. My mom assumes that people already know what she's talking about when she says things, so a lot of her sentences are half sentences that are really vague. It's sometimes hard to communicate with her. "K, did you see that thing that was was mailed here the other day?" (assuming that I know what "that thing" is or that I get the mail. Both of which I do not know or do).
Both of my parents also assume that they know things others do not (I know...it's kinda conflicting for my mother to do both, but she finds a way to do it). "When you feed the horses you need to put the food in four containers instead of three because they like to fight over it and play musical chairs, and you'll get mad at Zippy because he likes to be a butt. The other day I fed them and he started biting and kicking the other horses until they left." (assuming I don't already know how much of a punk that zippy is, and that I care about those details--all I asked for in that situation was instructions, not explanations, I was on the phone in my car waiting to get out and hurry and start feeding the animals and get back to doing other things).
How about this one: "You need job experience or no one will hire you." Often times they refer back to other people who are not like me and made a few mistakes here and there that got them in trouble. "Don't do what so and so does and keep borrowing money like you've got it." "You have this problem where you don't know how to work or want to work." --Pleeeaase. Just stop telling me things about myself like you know me in any way.
My response to people who assume things is usually to not bother telling them things. (they already "know" them anyway right?) Take for instance that my parents have no clue what my life goals are, or my long term goals are, or my short term goals are, in fact, they don't know WHY I come home every weekend anymore, they don't know how I am doing in school, they don't know WHAT I am doing in school, they don't even know what classes I am taking this semester or what I plan to get a degree for. They also don't know that my degree is really my plan B in life. Literally I could not even go to school, get terrible grades and nearly get kicked out and they wouldn't know anything.
When my mother calls me on the phone it's usually to tell me to do things (she doesn't ever really ask). Or she'll tell me things that are going on with the rest of the family or with her work, or with our house or property. She RARELY tells me how she feels and if she does it usually includes a "sob"-story about something I don't care about like how she nearly cried when the bolt didn't thread at work and she had to waste 3 hours fixing it. It's usually weird stuff in other words that get her to have emotions. The only other times I've seen her have emotions were when she would get upset about her dad or my brother or sister and usually they were weird emotions anyway (things that she shouldn't bawl about--they weren't things like them getting in a wreck or making poor decisions)
My dad never calls me. If he talks to me on the phone it's because my mother called and he passed it over. I have to call him if I want to hear from him, or else I have to catch him during his "leisure time" while he's browsing the internet for stupid things. The only times I have had semi-real conversations with him have been while we were eating lunch or while we were working on a project together. We don't even talk while we're watching TV together or playing chess, it's all about what's going on at the moment.
Under this light it is understandable why they would assume things about me. Because they also assumed long ago that I would tell them if a problem occurred or if something new happened. New? Yes. Problems? no.
I tell them about new occurrences all of the time. Usually while they are working.
My mother goes non-stop like a robot. She's either working from home on her laptop, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, gardening/outdoor, shopping, or a lot of really stupid things that take a lot of time and aren't necessary. She's not like my dad, I can't talk to her while she does those things because she can't focus very well. She's all over the place usually and she makes phone calls left and right. If I want to talk to her it has to be over the phone because usually she'd rather watch/listen to the TV than talk to someone in person.
My dad too is usually working. Both of my parents are workaholics. My dad is different though in that a lot of the things that he does are things you can't do while talking. Driving a tractor around, tending animals, selling things, typing things or making phone calls. By the time it hits 10:30 he's ready to go out cold so he can wake up at 6:30.
So when I have new things to share with my parents, it's usually right when they get home from work and are going in and out of the garage unloading their car. Then they work until dinner time and then finish some things up for the next day before heading to bed. I weasel as much in as I can but usually I'm told "Shhh, I'm trying to hear this" (on the news) or my mother will walk away or lose focus; my dad will find a way to dismiss whatever I say, either because he doesn't trust that I know what I'm talking about or because he is busy doing other things. Both of my parents claim they would love to have some free time to do things, but in reality they don't want free time--they love working too much.
As for problems in my life? Why bother? They aren't heard anyway. Usually I wait until I know the solution to the problem and can ask them for something specific. Then I have to go through a process where I prove to them why the solution works and eventually I get what I want. There are a lot of non-verbal things that go on though for my life to exist, like leaving out batteries on the table so that they know we are out of batteries--or that I used batteries because I get in trouble for using them and not telling anyone yet I can't tell them anything.
Sometimes it's frustrating, but I've learned to manage things...really I just learned to accept that they aren't really listening to me so I should find other people who will.
So with this non-listening relationship that I have with them, occasionally they'll ask me a leading question that if answered would make the situation look bad when it really isn't. "What time are you coming home," is a fun question to answer when there is a snow storm heading for the canyon and I know that the time I am going through the canyon is right when it hits and I know that they know when it will hit as well. --Of course I don't want my parents to worry and I don't want them to assume things that aren't true, but when I weigh risks and take them for myself then I really don't want them yelling at me or creating a conflict when there's nothing to worry about, nothing is going wrong, etc.
Often times I respond to their questions with the absolute truth in a sarcastic tone: "I'm coming home right when the snow storm is at its worst". They of course think I am joking but I'm really not.
My parent's lifestyle is one in which I am shaped by, and one in which I hope I do not fall into. One of my life goals in fact is to have a life that is unlike theirs. --I don't want to have kids that I don't really talk to. I don't want to work more than 3/4 of the time; I want to enjoy life around me and be able to take breaks occasionally. Maybe I am being unreasonable for wanting that, but at least I know what I am working towards and I'm willing to not assume anything that I can't back up.
My parents in particular have that nasty habit. My mom assumes that people already know what she's talking about when she says things, so a lot of her sentences are half sentences that are really vague. It's sometimes hard to communicate with her. "K, did you see that thing that was was mailed here the other day?" (assuming that I know what "that thing" is or that I get the mail. Both of which I do not know or do).
Both of my parents also assume that they know things others do not (I know...it's kinda conflicting for my mother to do both, but she finds a way to do it). "When you feed the horses you need to put the food in four containers instead of three because they like to fight over it and play musical chairs, and you'll get mad at Zippy because he likes to be a butt. The other day I fed them and he started biting and kicking the other horses until they left." (assuming I don't already know how much of a punk that zippy is, and that I care about those details--all I asked for in that situation was instructions, not explanations, I was on the phone in my car waiting to get out and hurry and start feeding the animals and get back to doing other things).
How about this one: "You need job experience or no one will hire you." Often times they refer back to other people who are not like me and made a few mistakes here and there that got them in trouble. "Don't do what so and so does and keep borrowing money like you've got it." "You have this problem where you don't know how to work or want to work." --Pleeeaase. Just stop telling me things about myself like you know me in any way.
My response to people who assume things is usually to not bother telling them things. (they already "know" them anyway right?) Take for instance that my parents have no clue what my life goals are, or my long term goals are, or my short term goals are, in fact, they don't know WHY I come home every weekend anymore, they don't know how I am doing in school, they don't know WHAT I am doing in school, they don't even know what classes I am taking this semester or what I plan to get a degree for. They also don't know that my degree is really my plan B in life. Literally I could not even go to school, get terrible grades and nearly get kicked out and they wouldn't know anything.
When my mother calls me on the phone it's usually to tell me to do things (she doesn't ever really ask). Or she'll tell me things that are going on with the rest of the family or with her work, or with our house or property. She RARELY tells me how she feels and if she does it usually includes a "sob"-story about something I don't care about like how she nearly cried when the bolt didn't thread at work and she had to waste 3 hours fixing it. It's usually weird stuff in other words that get her to have emotions. The only other times I've seen her have emotions were when she would get upset about her dad or my brother or sister and usually they were weird emotions anyway (things that she shouldn't bawl about--they weren't things like them getting in a wreck or making poor decisions)
My dad never calls me. If he talks to me on the phone it's because my mother called and he passed it over. I have to call him if I want to hear from him, or else I have to catch him during his "leisure time" while he's browsing the internet for stupid things. The only times I have had semi-real conversations with him have been while we were eating lunch or while we were working on a project together. We don't even talk while we're watching TV together or playing chess, it's all about what's going on at the moment.
Under this light it is understandable why they would assume things about me. Because they also assumed long ago that I would tell them if a problem occurred or if something new happened. New? Yes. Problems? no.
I tell them about new occurrences all of the time. Usually while they are working.
My mother goes non-stop like a robot. She's either working from home on her laptop, cooking, cleaning, doing laundry, gardening/outdoor, shopping, or a lot of really stupid things that take a lot of time and aren't necessary. She's not like my dad, I can't talk to her while she does those things because she can't focus very well. She's all over the place usually and she makes phone calls left and right. If I want to talk to her it has to be over the phone because usually she'd rather watch/listen to the TV than talk to someone in person.
My dad too is usually working. Both of my parents are workaholics. My dad is different though in that a lot of the things that he does are things you can't do while talking. Driving a tractor around, tending animals, selling things, typing things or making phone calls. By the time it hits 10:30 he's ready to go out cold so he can wake up at 6:30.
So when I have new things to share with my parents, it's usually right when they get home from work and are going in and out of the garage unloading their car. Then they work until dinner time and then finish some things up for the next day before heading to bed. I weasel as much in as I can but usually I'm told "Shhh, I'm trying to hear this" (on the news) or my mother will walk away or lose focus; my dad will find a way to dismiss whatever I say, either because he doesn't trust that I know what I'm talking about or because he is busy doing other things. Both of my parents claim they would love to have some free time to do things, but in reality they don't want free time--they love working too much.
As for problems in my life? Why bother? They aren't heard anyway. Usually I wait until I know the solution to the problem and can ask them for something specific. Then I have to go through a process where I prove to them why the solution works and eventually I get what I want. There are a lot of non-verbal things that go on though for my life to exist, like leaving out batteries on the table so that they know we are out of batteries--or that I used batteries because I get in trouble for using them and not telling anyone yet I can't tell them anything.
Sometimes it's frustrating, but I've learned to manage things...really I just learned to accept that they aren't really listening to me so I should find other people who will.
So with this non-listening relationship that I have with them, occasionally they'll ask me a leading question that if answered would make the situation look bad when it really isn't. "What time are you coming home," is a fun question to answer when there is a snow storm heading for the canyon and I know that the time I am going through the canyon is right when it hits and I know that they know when it will hit as well. --Of course I don't want my parents to worry and I don't want them to assume things that aren't true, but when I weigh risks and take them for myself then I really don't want them yelling at me or creating a conflict when there's nothing to worry about, nothing is going wrong, etc.
Often times I respond to their questions with the absolute truth in a sarcastic tone: "I'm coming home right when the snow storm is at its worst". They of course think I am joking but I'm really not.
My parent's lifestyle is one in which I am shaped by, and one in which I hope I do not fall into. One of my life goals in fact is to have a life that is unlike theirs. --I don't want to have kids that I don't really talk to. I don't want to work more than 3/4 of the time; I want to enjoy life around me and be able to take breaks occasionally. Maybe I am being unreasonable for wanting that, but at least I know what I am working towards and I'm willing to not assume anything that I can't back up.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Performance
I had a chat about this last night, plus I received a comment on here that relates to this topic. The topic is performance.
There are a lot of people out there who have fears of performing. Some studies have showing more people fear public speaking (or any kind of performing in front of people) than fear death.
I've always been under the impression that the fear isn't really the performance. The fear is that they won't be able to make the correct decisions if things go bad. Often times in public speaking things go terribly wrong; you stumble of the words, you don't speak loud enough and they don't hear you, you bore them to death, etc etc. Every performer has suffered from it numerous times, but what separates the ones who are comfortable from the uncomfortable is that they have a preplanned response, or they're good at making decisions on their feet.
Most people are pretty good at acting--they do it every day of their life. It's not that people are bad at "acting" and need more practice, it's that they need to be more comfortable and confident. Most of the acting problems I've worked out with people have been problems in which they worry more about how they look than actually doing the acting. The thought processes kind of block off part of their acting abilities and limit them. One of the easiest fixes a director can do is to assure the actor that they're doing a good job.
In any case, when an actor or other performer understands the big picture (that their job is to entertain, and that even when they mess up they are still entertaining**[follow the stars down to the bottom where I talk about this more]), they become 10x better at performing. Performing is more about confidence than acting.
You can apply this truth to a whole bunch of other things, like dating. Try being conscientious and worried about whether or not your date will like you. Now try to build a relationship in which that is ALL you do. --see, understanding that there is a bigger picture than just impressing the other person can help them get what they really want: a relationship. (they don't care if you're the shiz, they care if they can have a good relationship with you)
Apply it to sales. When you worry whether or not they will buy the product or not, you limit yourself from discovering what the customer really wants and how you can fulfill that need with your product. (they don't care whether or not the product is awesome and has a lot of features, they care about how it can help them)
----
**Take a look at why people go to theaters: a) they want to be entertained for a couple hours because regular life is boring b) they want to experience humanity in a way that can only be observed c) they want to exert their mind d) they want to critic the story/actor/whatever.
When you recognize that even if you goof up here and there you're still fulfilling SOMEONE's need for watching the show, you also realize that you have nothing to fear about acting.
There are a lot of people out there who have fears of performing. Some studies have showing more people fear public speaking (or any kind of performing in front of people) than fear death.
I've always been under the impression that the fear isn't really the performance. The fear is that they won't be able to make the correct decisions if things go bad. Often times in public speaking things go terribly wrong; you stumble of the words, you don't speak loud enough and they don't hear you, you bore them to death, etc etc. Every performer has suffered from it numerous times, but what separates the ones who are comfortable from the uncomfortable is that they have a preplanned response, or they're good at making decisions on their feet.
Most people are pretty good at acting--they do it every day of their life. It's not that people are bad at "acting" and need more practice, it's that they need to be more comfortable and confident. Most of the acting problems I've worked out with people have been problems in which they worry more about how they look than actually doing the acting. The thought processes kind of block off part of their acting abilities and limit them. One of the easiest fixes a director can do is to assure the actor that they're doing a good job.
In any case, when an actor or other performer understands the big picture (that their job is to entertain, and that even when they mess up they are still entertaining**[follow the stars down to the bottom where I talk about this more]), they become 10x better at performing. Performing is more about confidence than acting.
You can apply this truth to a whole bunch of other things, like dating. Try being conscientious and worried about whether or not your date will like you. Now try to build a relationship in which that is ALL you do. --see, understanding that there is a bigger picture than just impressing the other person can help them get what they really want: a relationship. (they don't care if you're the shiz, they care if they can have a good relationship with you)
Apply it to sales. When you worry whether or not they will buy the product or not, you limit yourself from discovering what the customer really wants and how you can fulfill that need with your product. (they don't care whether or not the product is awesome and has a lot of features, they care about how it can help them)
----
**Take a look at why people go to theaters: a) they want to be entertained for a couple hours because regular life is boring b) they want to experience humanity in a way that can only be observed c) they want to exert their mind d) they want to critic the story/actor/whatever.
When you recognize that even if you goof up here and there you're still fulfilling SOMEONE's need for watching the show, you also realize that you have nothing to fear about acting.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Picture Proof
I have a saying that I like to mock around with everyone I talk to. The situation is usually like this: they tell me how awesome something was that happened to them and I respond by saying "It didn't happen unless you have a picture of it". Usually it is just to see if they will produce a picture so I can enjoy the moment as well. Occasionally, I say it just to see if they'll get riled up and defend the truth.
In any case, every time that they have been lying about the event my line has stopped them in their tracks because they fear having to produce evidence for something that isn't real.
"Dude, I swear I just saw sasquach with my friends"
"It didn't happen if you don't have a picture of it."
"..well...jim saw it...he'll prove it"
"Does he have a picture?"
"No."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...ok."
Do I really think you need picture proof? No. In fact, working in the film industry I already know how easy it is to tweak photos to make them look real. --And videos.
Rhetoric is the real trick. Prove it to me in words and I'll believe you.
In any case, every time that they have been lying about the event my line has stopped them in their tracks because they fear having to produce evidence for something that isn't real.
"Dude, I swear I just saw sasquach with my friends"
"It didn't happen if you don't have a picture of it."
"..well...jim saw it...he'll prove it"
"Does he have a picture?"
"No."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"...ok."
Do I really think you need picture proof? No. In fact, working in the film industry I already know how easy it is to tweak photos to make them look real. --And videos.
Rhetoric is the real trick. Prove it to me in words and I'll believe you.
Wednesday, April 6, 2011
Government Shutdown Friday
I've been studying this issue for a month or so now and I swear the only comments that Dems. are making about the issue is that they think the reps are being unreasonable, and the only thing the reps are saying is that we need to cut between $61-100bill from the budget. Tea Party of course support the cuts. As do libertarians. So it's really just coming down to an issue of whether or not the Dems. will stop complaining about losing budget cuts and will actually MAKE THE CUTS.--I don't see any way around this issue with the way politics are at this time...cuts will be made and next election the supporters of such cuts will be reelected while the biggest opponents to cuts will be evicted.
Republicans have a pretty strong claim right now that we are $6trillion in debt and can't continue, it's causing economic effects and making plenty of people worried about the U.S.'s future as a world power, and just as history has proven in the past: economic problems take the forefront of American votes. If you have a valid solution for the economic problems and your opponent doesn't, you'll win every election.
This battle over the budget is just a long postponed fight over how we will fix the economic crisis that started several years ago (about 10 years). The problem has been swept under the rug for a long time as people refused to tackle it, it's just a shame that we're being forced to handle it now during the low point in our economy.
Personally, I think the government really is going to shut down for a day or two. If I were in the position of conservative senators right now I'd refuse to accept any deal with a number less than $61bill for this year and a promise of even more for next year's budget.
It really does come down to the democratic senators whether or not they'll accept the budget cuts or accept a surefire ticket out of office next term. But if I were in the democrats situation I'd keep blaming the republicans all the way to hell because the moment they side with them they lose SOME of their voters. It's a catch-22: they either side with republicans on the deal that cuts out $100billion and they lose the support of a lot of liberals; or they refuse to make any cuts, let the government shut down and then they lose the support of all moderates and many liberals. The pressure is so high that they probably aren't thinking straight, because you would never want to lose the ability to work with moderates.
The president, who has said very little about the issue until recently, is of course sideing with democrats and blaming republicans. It's a political move so he can later say "hey, I was just doing what my party elected me to do, I didn't REALLY agree with the government shut down" and he could also pass the buck a second time with, "it's the republican's fault for not being willing to bend". So far, what I'm seeing of his presidency he's merely used rhetoric to get what he wants and does very little as far as execution goes. His ETHOS is lacking on the side of action, but it is also boosted by the rhetorical victories he has had throughout his career. (rhetoric isn't everything though!)
I'm going to make a prediction on the outcome of these budget talks:
Next election the democrats are going to be completely ousted from the senate, the president will be a moderate republican. A shutdown will occur, and the american people will wine and complain for a while like a baby calf weened from its mother, but in ten years we will have cut 4trillion from our national debt, and we'll be back on top of our game. At that point democrats will slowly build up power again and push in new programs that they want the government to pay for.
Taxes will probably rise slightly, but not for two or three years.
It will be a long time before racist america votes another black president into office, the last tainted by the economic problem.
Tea Party will grow slightly and then disappear before the 10 years is up.
And we'll have opened a lot of new markets in other parts of the world, particularly the middle east and china.
Republicans have a pretty strong claim right now that we are $6trillion in debt and can't continue, it's causing economic effects and making plenty of people worried about the U.S.'s future as a world power, and just as history has proven in the past: economic problems take the forefront of American votes. If you have a valid solution for the economic problems and your opponent doesn't, you'll win every election.
This battle over the budget is just a long postponed fight over how we will fix the economic crisis that started several years ago (about 10 years). The problem has been swept under the rug for a long time as people refused to tackle it, it's just a shame that we're being forced to handle it now during the low point in our economy.
Personally, I think the government really is going to shut down for a day or two. If I were in the position of conservative senators right now I'd refuse to accept any deal with a number less than $61bill for this year and a promise of even more for next year's budget.
It really does come down to the democratic senators whether or not they'll accept the budget cuts or accept a surefire ticket out of office next term. But if I were in the democrats situation I'd keep blaming the republicans all the way to hell because the moment they side with them they lose SOME of their voters. It's a catch-22: they either side with republicans on the deal that cuts out $100billion and they lose the support of a lot of liberals; or they refuse to make any cuts, let the government shut down and then they lose the support of all moderates and many liberals. The pressure is so high that they probably aren't thinking straight, because you would never want to lose the ability to work with moderates.
The president, who has said very little about the issue until recently, is of course sideing with democrats and blaming republicans. It's a political move so he can later say "hey, I was just doing what my party elected me to do, I didn't REALLY agree with the government shut down" and he could also pass the buck a second time with, "it's the republican's fault for not being willing to bend". So far, what I'm seeing of his presidency he's merely used rhetoric to get what he wants and does very little as far as execution goes. His ETHOS is lacking on the side of action, but it is also boosted by the rhetorical victories he has had throughout his career. (rhetoric isn't everything though!)
I'm going to make a prediction on the outcome of these budget talks:
Next election the democrats are going to be completely ousted from the senate, the president will be a moderate republican. A shutdown will occur, and the american people will wine and complain for a while like a baby calf weened from its mother, but in ten years we will have cut 4trillion from our national debt, and we'll be back on top of our game. At that point democrats will slowly build up power again and push in new programs that they want the government to pay for.
Taxes will probably rise slightly, but not for two or three years.
It will be a long time before racist america votes another black president into office, the last tainted by the economic problem.
Tea Party will grow slightly and then disappear before the 10 years is up.
And we'll have opened a lot of new markets in other parts of the world, particularly the middle east and china.
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Done with my life?
So my roommates today tried to convince me that I am not intelligent because I thought Demetri Martin was actually pretty stupid. --for starters let's just point out that opinions aren't signs of intelligence. Sorry, but if that were the case then Donald Trump, Bill Gates, and Einstein, all of which are very opinionated people, would be stupid. So using that argument falls pretty flat.
In any case, I'll roll with this idea and argue why I think Demetri Martin is a fairly stupid individual. Let's take a look at his comedy style: It is NOT high comedy. It's not so much witty comedy as it is obvious comedy. All of his jokes are about obvious things that people should naturally know. Here are just a few:
"Some guy looked at me from a far away distance gave me a smile. He started running twords me, looked at me, and said, 'Sorry, I thought you were someone else.' I said, 'I am.' "
Let's break that down and analyze it: The humor comes from the obvious: demetri really is what the guy said. It's ironic humor. The audience laughs because they are led to believe throughout the whole joke that they are smart people and that this joke isn't going to be ironic and it's not going to "catch" them offguard. But when they get to the punch line they think: "I'm an idiot, of course this is true"
"My favorite fruit is grapes. Because with grapes, you always get another chance. 'Cause, you know, if you have a crappy apple or a peach, you're stuck with that crappy piece of fruit. But if you have a crappy grape, no problem - just move on to the next. 'Grapes: The Fruit of Hope.' "
Ok, where is the intelligence in that? He made a simple observation that when you buy grapes you eat a bunch of them at a time rather than just one sour apple. And what he failed to realize was that whole bunches (that means about a half barrel) can be bad grapes under certain conditions.
Finally (I'm doing this randomly but I figure I'd throw out 3):
"The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly. " This is a cleaver joke. Only people who understand that the world reminisce implies looking back after a long period of time, but does this prove that Demetri is intelligent?
He's a comedian. He gets paid to write (does he write his own jokes anymore?) jokes and tell them. I have several friends who are comedians and I find them very humorous most of the time. But the truth is, I don't think they are "intelligent".
Demetri was given a full ride scholarship to NYU law school. Do scholarships mean intelligence? --I know many people who have full ride scholarships. That means they fulfilled the requirements to the scholarship, not that they are intelligent. In fact, most scholarships presented by private enterprises (which is all of them) are designed to give people an education so that they will: A) be recruited by the capitalist or elite class because of their new understanding of life or B) because the foundation feels obligated to give someone an opportunity because they themselves were given that opportunity.
The rest of the story about demetri is that he dropped out of law school and had a mid life crisis (he's only 37 now).
With all that said, I also need to point out that Demetri's comedy is solely designed to make the audience feel stupid, feel awkward about being stupid, and laugh out of embarrassment. People who would find that humorous are people who have an ego and think they are smart yet get fooled by the obvious things. I thought it was completely stupid, not because I somehow "got" all of the jokes, but because that's not my style of comedy. I like situational comedy that can only be enacted. Stories help, sure, but they aren't stories about being witty, they're stories about life that I enjoy and make me laugh. Things like saying "it can't get any worse" then to have it REALLY rain and get worse.
My comment about Demetri (after my roommate brought him up) was simply: "what has he done with his life?"
My other roommate jumped in to say "What have YOU done with YOUR life?"
I have done things with my life. More things than anyone in that room had ever done. I didn't really have a response to them because I recognized that it was just one of those situations where people let their own egos control them (both of my roommates are pretty arrogant and I often have to just let it blow right past me because I think they're ridiculous when they act that way, but of course I don't say anything)
I'll write a simple answer to that question on here:
What have I done with my life?
I have served an LDS mission. I have graduated High school, entered college, my GPA is doing fine (it's only a 3.15 but that's better than most people and it's what I want to be at anyway) I've successfully started up a relationship coaching business and I'm nearly finished with a book related to it. and I've started into a film making career (which is better than quite a lot of people). I turn 22 in June. I'm usually the youngest person in any group of individuals I work with. I know it's not a lot, but considering I am always working towards goals, I'm always progressing, and I'm always happy with my life, I'd say I've accomplished the main goal I want to have in life: Remain Optimistic and Happy with the way things turn out.
I have no regrets about my life, and most of the problems that people my age have and see as their biggest problems, are not problems in my own. I don't know how that worked out but somehow relationship problems, not knowing what I want to do with life, and not knowing how to be happy are all things I'm actually quite skilled at.
I DO things with my life; a day doesn't go by that I wouldn't be able to say I am DOING something, whether it's film, or relationship coaching, or marketing, or having a relationship, or church. I DO things. Need I prove that one too?
In any case, I'll roll with this idea and argue why I think Demetri Martin is a fairly stupid individual. Let's take a look at his comedy style: It is NOT high comedy. It's not so much witty comedy as it is obvious comedy. All of his jokes are about obvious things that people should naturally know. Here are just a few:
"Some guy looked at me from a far away distance gave me a smile. He started running twords me, looked at me, and said, 'Sorry, I thought you were someone else.' I said, 'I am.' "
Let's break that down and analyze it: The humor comes from the obvious: demetri really is what the guy said. It's ironic humor. The audience laughs because they are led to believe throughout the whole joke that they are smart people and that this joke isn't going to be ironic and it's not going to "catch" them offguard. But when they get to the punch line they think: "I'm an idiot, of course this is true"
"My favorite fruit is grapes. Because with grapes, you always get another chance. 'Cause, you know, if you have a crappy apple or a peach, you're stuck with that crappy piece of fruit. But if you have a crappy grape, no problem - just move on to the next. 'Grapes: The Fruit of Hope.' "
Ok, where is the intelligence in that? He made a simple observation that when you buy grapes you eat a bunch of them at a time rather than just one sour apple. And what he failed to realize was that whole bunches (that means about a half barrel) can be bad grapes under certain conditions.
Finally (I'm doing this randomly but I figure I'd throw out 3):
"The digital camera is a great invention because it allows us to reminisce. Instantly. " This is a cleaver joke. Only people who understand that the world reminisce implies looking back after a long period of time, but does this prove that Demetri is intelligent?
He's a comedian. He gets paid to write (does he write his own jokes anymore?) jokes and tell them. I have several friends who are comedians and I find them very humorous most of the time. But the truth is, I don't think they are "intelligent".
Demetri was given a full ride scholarship to NYU law school. Do scholarships mean intelligence? --I know many people who have full ride scholarships. That means they fulfilled the requirements to the scholarship, not that they are intelligent. In fact, most scholarships presented by private enterprises (which is all of them) are designed to give people an education so that they will: A) be recruited by the capitalist or elite class because of their new understanding of life or B) because the foundation feels obligated to give someone an opportunity because they themselves were given that opportunity.
The rest of the story about demetri is that he dropped out of law school and had a mid life crisis (he's only 37 now).
With all that said, I also need to point out that Demetri's comedy is solely designed to make the audience feel stupid, feel awkward about being stupid, and laugh out of embarrassment. People who would find that humorous are people who have an ego and think they are smart yet get fooled by the obvious things. I thought it was completely stupid, not because I somehow "got" all of the jokes, but because that's not my style of comedy. I like situational comedy that can only be enacted. Stories help, sure, but they aren't stories about being witty, they're stories about life that I enjoy and make me laugh. Things like saying "it can't get any worse" then to have it REALLY rain and get worse.
My comment about Demetri (after my roommate brought him up) was simply: "what has he done with his life?"
My other roommate jumped in to say "What have YOU done with YOUR life?"
I have done things with my life. More things than anyone in that room had ever done. I didn't really have a response to them because I recognized that it was just one of those situations where people let their own egos control them (both of my roommates are pretty arrogant and I often have to just let it blow right past me because I think they're ridiculous when they act that way, but of course I don't say anything)
I'll write a simple answer to that question on here:
What have I done with my life?
I have served an LDS mission. I have graduated High school, entered college, my GPA is doing fine (it's only a 3.15 but that's better than most people and it's what I want to be at anyway) I've successfully started up a relationship coaching business and I'm nearly finished with a book related to it. and I've started into a film making career (which is better than quite a lot of people). I turn 22 in June. I'm usually the youngest person in any group of individuals I work with. I know it's not a lot, but considering I am always working towards goals, I'm always progressing, and I'm always happy with my life, I'd say I've accomplished the main goal I want to have in life: Remain Optimistic and Happy with the way things turn out.
I have no regrets about my life, and most of the problems that people my age have and see as their biggest problems, are not problems in my own. I don't know how that worked out but somehow relationship problems, not knowing what I want to do with life, and not knowing how to be happy are all things I'm actually quite skilled at.
I DO things with my life; a day doesn't go by that I wouldn't be able to say I am DOING something, whether it's film, or relationship coaching, or marketing, or having a relationship, or church. I DO things. Need I prove that one too?
Monday, April 4, 2011
The truth is out there to be found
This has been on my mind a lot lately. Particularly though while watching general conference. We literally have all of the truth of life placed before us--often right in front of us. We just need to look for it among all the garbage. I would relate it to skimming through a massive book for a two sentence quote without having read the book before. It can be very challenging but you can do it. Plus, while you're looking for a specific quote you usually find other amazing things.
While watching general conference I noticed that everything that the prophets said isn't new. They repeat the words of previous prophets and if necessary they relate it to our time, but usually the words are already applicable to us. This is what I find most facinating about the Lord's gospel: it always applies.
I am not the type of person to be afraid of anything, but I am developing a fear of reaching a point in my life where I really need to know the truth, but that it will be too close in front of me to notice it. About like being unable to read a book when it is an inch or two from your face and your eyes can't physically focus on it (I'm far sighted). That would be terrible I think. That's why I'm writing this blog--to give myself a brainstorming place that I can explore the truth through writing and rhetoric.
While watching general conference I noticed that everything that the prophets said isn't new. They repeat the words of previous prophets and if necessary they relate it to our time, but usually the words are already applicable to us. This is what I find most facinating about the Lord's gospel: it always applies.
I am not the type of person to be afraid of anything, but I am developing a fear of reaching a point in my life where I really need to know the truth, but that it will be too close in front of me to notice it. About like being unable to read a book when it is an inch or two from your face and your eyes can't physically focus on it (I'm far sighted). That would be terrible I think. That's why I'm writing this blog--to give myself a brainstorming place that I can explore the truth through writing and rhetoric.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Wisdom
There are many people who live on this earth with excessive amounts of truth. They have lived and been shaped by truth. This weekend is LDS general conference. The people who will speak at this conference possess wisdom beyond their years (and they are very old).
I'm going to bow out of writing an article tomorrow because I think whatever I would have to say is well beyond important compared to what these men and women are going to speak to the world.
I'm going to bow out of writing an article tomorrow because I think whatever I would have to say is well beyond important compared to what these men and women are going to speak to the world.
Friday, April 1, 2011
Magazines
I really look forward to the magazines that I subscribe to (I only subscribe to one presently but read my parents' magazines as well).
I don't know what it is but there is a certain kind of pleasure that comes from getting a glossy, ink doused binding of papers. I think I like the experience that magazines create the most: they're better than the internet, but the internet has the potential to be similar. Essentially Magazines are really asthetic. When they take photos for a magazine, they know relatively what the article will look like on the page and they use intricate designs and framing to make the photos match with the pages. Plus, all of the magazines that I read use modern photos, usually the first sighting of that photo is right there in my hand because it hasn't been published anywhere else yet.
Think a little longer about the way magazines are designed and I think you can understand how important asthetics, or the overall experience, really is. Truth be told, if you do a shotty job here and there on your individual parts, yet you can make the "asthetic" look great, you'll hide all of those blemishes. For instance, walk around your house paying close attention to the joints and corners--chances are there is something wrong with them, yet you don't really notice it living there for several years.
There's some deep truth in this that I'm only scratching the surface on and will likely explain later.
I don't know what it is but there is a certain kind of pleasure that comes from getting a glossy, ink doused binding of papers. I think I like the experience that magazines create the most: they're better than the internet, but the internet has the potential to be similar. Essentially Magazines are really asthetic. When they take photos for a magazine, they know relatively what the article will look like on the page and they use intricate designs and framing to make the photos match with the pages. Plus, all of the magazines that I read use modern photos, usually the first sighting of that photo is right there in my hand because it hasn't been published anywhere else yet.
Think a little longer about the way magazines are designed and I think you can understand how important asthetics, or the overall experience, really is. Truth be told, if you do a shotty job here and there on your individual parts, yet you can make the "asthetic" look great, you'll hide all of those blemishes. For instance, walk around your house paying close attention to the joints and corners--chances are there is something wrong with them, yet you don't really notice it living there for several years.
There's some deep truth in this that I'm only scratching the surface on and will likely explain later.
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