When are you most relaxed? What soothes your body and puts your mind at rest?
Ever since I have been a little kid riding in the car at night has been my niche. Being able to sprawl out in the backseat, looking out the window at the dark background whipping by is the most peaceful feeling. A little light music fits perfectly with the sleepy atmosphere. The car ride has to take place in the rural countryside, preferably in the mountains where you can get gorgeous views of the terrain.
The car is my bubble of safety. It is warm and comforting, whereas the woods around me are dark and somewhat ominous. With not a care in the world you can fall asleep or if you prefer you can reflect while looking up at the bright stars. The stars have mesmerized me many a time in the back of my mom's saturn. I have been blessed enough to make several peaceful trips through the Applachian Mountains with my head tilt back blankly staring at the world.
Monday, November 23, 2009
11/16
While all the interviewees of the documentary were vital to the overall piece, there was one star of the show. Henry Rollins was that star. Perhaps it was his charming favorite one-liner, "fuck" that grabbed my attention. For whatever reason, Rollins is just an angry individual and you can tell by his demeanor. Everything from his posture to the tight black shirt he wears screams attitude. His presence is commanding. If I was not scared to death of the man, I would want to meet him. Black Flag is one of my favorite punk bands and I respect them and Henry Rollins for their hardcore roots.
11/13
The documentary Punk: Attitude gives great insight into the true depth of the genre. Several of the bands highlighted in the film I have heard of before like the Clash, the Ramones, Black Flag, the MC5, the Velvet Underground, the Sex Pistols, the New York Dolls, and Sonic Youth. There were also several bands though that I have never heard like the Slits, the Heartbreakers, X-Ray Spex, and Siouxsie & the Banshees. The title sums up all that is punk. Punk is truly just attitude. As Henry Rollins stated, "Punk is a state of mind, not a type of dress." He was referring to all the wannabe punk kids who purposely ripped apart their clothes just to safety pin it back together. The movement got somewhat of a bad reputation for the misrepresentation of their interests. True punk rockers disapproved of these young teenage kids calling themselves punk just because they spiked their hair. And parents disapproved of their kids' rebellion.
But parents would never understand it. Punk is doing whatever the fuck you want to do, when you want to do it. It was about paving your own path and speaking up for what you believe in. Don' be afraid to be controversial. The MC5 was insistent upon "kick out the jams MOTHERFUCKER". The New York Dolls were unphased by people bashing them for dressing like women. And the Clash were always itching to express their political opinions through songs such as "Rock the Casbah". Unabashed, raw attitude and the f-bomb make punk what it is.
But parents would never understand it. Punk is doing whatever the fuck you want to do, when you want to do it. It was about paving your own path and speaking up for what you believe in. Don' be afraid to be controversial. The MC5 was insistent upon "kick out the jams MOTHERFUCKER". The New York Dolls were unphased by people bashing them for dressing like women. And the Clash were always itching to express their political opinions through songs such as "Rock the Casbah". Unabashed, raw attitude and the f-bomb make punk what it is.
11/11
Rupert Murdoch is a name that I hear quite alot. And until now I never really understood who he was. Upon googling him and looking through this article, I have found out that he is just another rich snob trying to get money. Murdoch was the founder of News Corp. Through creating the media giant, he has benefited from much of its profits to the tune of a $4 billion net worth. The man is clearly well endowed yet he strives for more.
According to this article, Murdoch would like to file a lawsuit with companies like Google, Microsoft, Ask.com, and the BBC for using clippings from his newspapers. But really how does one not use stories from some of the biggest newspapers in the world? In all reality it really is unavoidable. Murdoch knows this, yet he holds the threat of a lawsuit over their heads. Murdoch is simply one of those wealthy men who gets too much attention because of his money. Like the article states, "Rupert Murdoch knows two modes: doing things and talking about doing things." Murdoch's age may be playing a factor in his stubborn appeal, but he should certainly never be considered down for the count. Even though Murdoch's investment in Myspace is failing rapidly, he is looking to liquidize his assets and start new.
According to this article, Murdoch would like to file a lawsuit with companies like Google, Microsoft, Ask.com, and the BBC for using clippings from his newspapers. But really how does one not use stories from some of the biggest newspapers in the world? In all reality it really is unavoidable. Murdoch knows this, yet he holds the threat of a lawsuit over their heads. Murdoch is simply one of those wealthy men who gets too much attention because of his money. Like the article states, "Rupert Murdoch knows two modes: doing things and talking about doing things." Murdoch's age may be playing a factor in his stubborn appeal, but he should certainly never be considered down for the count. Even though Murdoch's investment in Myspace is failing rapidly, he is looking to liquidize his assets and start new.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
11/9
John Swansburg opens up with a little constructive critism. He commends Richard Kelly's previous attempts at making a blockbuster, referring to "Donnie Darko" and some lesser known earlier films. His support of Kelly noticeably begins to dwindle as he rips apart the plot of "The Box". Swansburg states, "A simple premise and an avowed intent to make a crowd-pleaser-- this could have been the Kelly picture I'd been waiting for. Alas Kelly just can't seem to keep his imaginative id at bay." The inherently simple plot of pushing the button or not is cluttered with little side stories, according to Swansburg compareable to the plot of the televison series "Lost".
The situation the couple is placed in is quite perplexing, especially for modern society because we are so fascinated by wealth. But one has to ask themselves the moral question: Is it really worth it? Answers to this might include: yes, strangers die every day, so what's the difference? or no, I would never risk a life for money. If I were to be posed this dilemma there would be much debate. After a while sitting on it, I would not press the button. It is not simply because I would never risk a life for money. The problem lies within the amount offered. $1 million is simply far too little. Yes, I have morals. It's just that everybody has their price.
The situation the couple is placed in is quite perplexing, especially for modern society because we are so fascinated by wealth. But one has to ask themselves the moral question: Is it really worth it? Answers to this might include: yes, strangers die every day, so what's the difference? or no, I would never risk a life for money. If I were to be posed this dilemma there would be much debate. After a while sitting on it, I would not press the button. It is not simply because I would never risk a life for money. The problem lies within the amount offered. $1 million is simply far too little. Yes, I have morals. It's just that everybody has their price.
Monday, November 9, 2009
11/6
Is it so bad not to give money to a homeless person? But what if they ask for it? Do you feel inclined to for moral reasons? Or perhaps for safety reasons, in the event that they follow you or hassle you in a threatening way?
Panhandling is a huge problem on the streets of Atlanta. I'm quite sure that all of us have had our own personal experiences with this living downtown. The police have recently illegalized such actions, but perhaps I have not lived here long enough to notice a difference. I am still getting hassled walking to class nearly every day. Now I do not mean to turn a cold shoulder to the huge population of homeless people Atlanta has. The overcrowded homeless shelters have already done that.
I mean to target the panhandlers. You know, the ones who go out and hustle blue-collar people out of their hard-earned money. These panhandlers are not the ones who truly need the money. This is just one of their hobbies after a day of work in the office. I have heard such horror stories in which people pretend to be paralyzed in a wheelchair just to sucker others into handing out donations. As I was saying, these monsters are giving the true homeless a bad name. The people that need it the most are the ones who do not ask for it. The person living out of a ratty old blanket under the highway overpass needs the money. The nice old gentleman who holds the door open for everyone at the Shell needs it. Several of us are guilty of often confusing the two, so next time you see a panhandler asking you for money on a street corner, leave that dollar in your pocket and take it out the next block for that lonely man sleeping on the church's stairs.
Panhandling is a huge problem on the streets of Atlanta. I'm quite sure that all of us have had our own personal experiences with this living downtown. The police have recently illegalized such actions, but perhaps I have not lived here long enough to notice a difference. I am still getting hassled walking to class nearly every day. Now I do not mean to turn a cold shoulder to the huge population of homeless people Atlanta has. The overcrowded homeless shelters have already done that.
I mean to target the panhandlers. You know, the ones who go out and hustle blue-collar people out of their hard-earned money. These panhandlers are not the ones who truly need the money. This is just one of their hobbies after a day of work in the office. I have heard such horror stories in which people pretend to be paralyzed in a wheelchair just to sucker others into handing out donations. As I was saying, these monsters are giving the true homeless a bad name. The people that need it the most are the ones who do not ask for it. The person living out of a ratty old blanket under the highway overpass needs the money. The nice old gentleman who holds the door open for everyone at the Shell needs it. Several of us are guilty of often confusing the two, so next time you see a panhandler asking you for money on a street corner, leave that dollar in your pocket and take it out the next block for that lonely man sleeping on the church's stairs.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
11/4
What is the one thing that has sustained humans for thousands of years? What provides us with comfort when we need it most? What would we not be able to live without?
Fire is the root of our beginnings. Cavemen used fire to cook their food, warm their bodies, and secure themselves from dangerous predators. What else is it about fire that makes it so moral lifting? Is it the fact that once you spark that flame there is hope immediately restored to your possibly dismal situtation?
This past weekend I went camping and upon arriving at our campsite after dark we realized that we had misplaced our tent. It was supposed to drop down to a cool 35 degrees that night. We got to setting up an A-frame structure with wet firewood. It took a while but once the smoke came we knew there was hope. Soon the twigs set ablaze and the larger sticks caught thereafter. Everyone was chipper. A simple thing as fire uplifted all of our moods and we soon forgot about not having the tent. We sat fireside and stared at the fire, mesmerized by the embers for 5 hours.
Fire is the root of our beginnings. Cavemen used fire to cook their food, warm their bodies, and secure themselves from dangerous predators. What else is it about fire that makes it so moral lifting? Is it the fact that once you spark that flame there is hope immediately restored to your possibly dismal situtation?
This past weekend I went camping and upon arriving at our campsite after dark we realized that we had misplaced our tent. It was supposed to drop down to a cool 35 degrees that night. We got to setting up an A-frame structure with wet firewood. It took a while but once the smoke came we knew there was hope. Soon the twigs set ablaze and the larger sticks caught thereafter. Everyone was chipper. A simple thing as fire uplifted all of our moods and we soon forgot about not having the tent. We sat fireside and stared at the fire, mesmerized by the embers for 5 hours.
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