Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
What's this I see?
About a week and a half ago, I was walking into the parking garage of a building in the Westside after coming out of a very important meeting as to the direction of my life (more to come later), and as I finished saying goodbye to my friend/business partner, I briefly saw myself in the side window of my car.
In that ever-so brief moment, I saw me in my charcoal suit, with my white shirt and dare I say, dashing red tie. I saw my hair slightly disheleved, but still intact, my face relatively clear and my possibilities beaming.
In that moment, I saw a man staring back at me.
I quickly jumped into my car and got the hell out of there.
In that ever-so brief moment, I saw me in my charcoal suit, with my white shirt and dare I say, dashing red tie. I saw my hair slightly disheleved, but still intact, my face relatively clear and my possibilities beaming.
In that moment, I saw a man staring back at me.
I quickly jumped into my car and got the hell out of there.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
M.A.Y.A. Music Addict
I've been a music nut for as long as I can remember--even back to my early elementary school days when I had my own record player and a stack of records I'd borrowed from my parents. As the years went by, my music obsession grew and evolved. There was my rap phase, my hard rock phase, my angry chick phase, etc. Somewhere along the way, though, I became concerned that I might one day become too grown-up for good, cutting-edge music, that there would be a magic age when I had to listen to the lame-ass "lite rock" radio station they play in doctors' offices. A magic age when contemporary music became irrelevant to my life. Or too loud. Or too offensive. And I feared this age.
I still believe that. I still believe there must be a point when everything changes, when I prefer the music of my youth to the music of "today," whenever that day is. I wonder when it will come?
In the meantime, I'll keep obsessing. I'm currently in a music phase best described as "wildly eclectic." I bought three new CDs this week: Linkin Park, Amy Winehouse, and Maroon 5. I'm 27 years old, and I still have no problem blasting each in my car with my windows rolled down and the bass rattling my rear view mirror so badly I can't use it.
I still believe that. I still believe there must be a point when everything changes, when I prefer the music of my youth to the music of "today," whenever that day is. I wonder when it will come?
In the meantime, I'll keep obsessing. I'm currently in a music phase best described as "wildly eclectic." I bought three new CDs this week: Linkin Park, Amy Winehouse, and Maroon 5. I'm 27 years old, and I still have no problem blasting each in my car with my windows rolled down and the bass rattling my rear view mirror so badly I can't use it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Two roads to odd greatness...
Two things happened today that were of unusual importance to me.
First, the Rev. Jerry Falwell passed away. Most celebrated this news with chinking of coffee mugs and statements of how the disenfranchised can rejoice and hope that Pat Robertson suffers the same fate in an expedited manner. In my opinion, it is the classic case of absolute power corrupting absolutely. The man lost his mind in the course of trying to change the American political landscape, which he did to a certain degree.
My grandfather went to college with Falwell in Missouri and mentioned that he was a very nice and earnest man. This is no doubt about Falwell's earnestness and sincerity. In fact, it was his earnestness that prompted a life-changing moment for me. I was living at the Willmore in Long Beach and was watching Meet the Press before leaving for church. On this show, Russert has brought together Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist convention, Al Sharpton, Jim Wallis, head of Sojourners (and a big favorite of Linterella and me) and Falwell. They were to talk about the state of American religion. Did they ever. It took about, oh, three minutes before the shouting and hexing up to the other person's great-grandchildren was in full swing.
What was unique about this conversation was the question Falwell asked Jim Wallis. "Who did you vote for?" Falwell inquired. Wallis answered that he voted for John Kerry, to which Falwell responded that he was in direct violation of Scripture and should resign from the pastorate immediately. Everyone was shocked and I was dumbfounded.
And thus the conversation went. I contributed to the discussion by saying a few "holy profanities" at a pretty loud level and then huffed out. On the way to church, I wondered aloud how we as Christians got to this point and felt genuine compassion over those that might have legitimate questions about faith, hear these morons and get turned off. In the midst of my own whining, I was impressed with this simple statement: "Well, what are you going to do about all of this?"
Tonight at All Saints, Paul Hawken was speaking and signing copies of his new book, "Blessed Unrest." Hawken wrote the book "The Ecology of Commerce," which has altered my thinking about the affairs of the world and life. His website is linked under "What are they thinking?" and I highly recommend checking out his stuff. It has completely slipped my mind that he was speaking until I saw his book in Borders yesterday and freaked out that it was last night. Luckily, it was tonight and I arrived just in time. (I hate L.A. traffic. Let me say that again. I hate L.A. traffic.)
During the talk, Hawken spoke about how there is an inherent mystery and wonder to how life works. For example, the immune system is the most complex process of a person. We have an understanding of how it works and when it works, but there is still so much to be learned about WHY it works. That is still a mystery. The processes of time and energy allow for history to take shape and cycle in the ultimate hope of true, lasting progress. There is over a million organizations that operate to help improve life. Environmental, social justice, economical, religious, local, global...people are at work seeking to change the world by changing their world.
Hawken's work really opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the process, the journey. That was emphasized by this statement: You cannot change the world on your own, so stop trying. You cannot control results and outcomes, so stop the ways of control. The only thing that you can do is control your intention.
As T.S. Eliot said, "All you have in life is the trying, the rest is none of your business."
I have a greatness complex: I want to be great. I want to do great things. In the name of Christ, in the name of good, healthy Christianity. In the name of saving the world. In the name of saving myself. Our generation has a greatness complex. The powers that pee have deemed that we as M.A.Y.A.s have the access, the skills, the mindset and the opportunities to do things that have yet to be achieved. I think I have safely say that the pressure is overwhelming. That is why people get degrees they don't need, take jobs they don't want and make decisions that shouldn't be made. That is a fundamental reason why adolescence flows into the 30s and probably further and why no one is in a hurry to become an adult.
So, you want to be great? Well, great in what? Working? Drinking? Finding the next big idea? Those answers are elusive, and that is because they don't exist. Moreover, greatness is found not in singularity, but rather community. Not fake, overpriced Christian college "chapel is the greatest thing in the world" community, but honest-to-God and honest-to-yourself community.
Rev. Falwell knew this. The Moral Majority and the Religious Right wanted to be great. They were great because they were right, but it wasn't just the subtle satisfaction of being on the right fence of eternity that was the focal point. It was the quest to exude their sense of rightness from the top down, because if everyone saw how right and how great they were, then the world would be as it should be. Christ would make an encore appearance, and the universe is right as rain. It's not that it was a Christian idea, but that it was Jerry Falwell's Christian idea. In his eyes, the ACLU caused God to enact 9/11 and that anyone who is pro-choice is violating God's laws.
I look at Jerry Falwell and look at Paul Hawken and the thousands of people that are working to make a difference and I see two paths which lead to greatness. Again, as I am a Christian, I don't view Rev. Falwell as a bad person. I just think he was part of the system that we wanted to change. I'm sure there was a time when that fire to bring forth the things that society needs was there, but like so many others, it gets lost in the quest for complete assimilation. And while I do disagree on Hawken on a few issues, he provides a viewpoint for a new systems theory in how we conduct business, engage in politics and commune with nature.
I say both paths lead to greatness based on the definitions of greatness that are offered. Is one great based on adhering to tents of faith, even to the minutiae on how one votes for or not? Is one great on making small, seemingly insignificant decisions that lack short-term profitability? They both offer a sense of hope and more important, a vision. How can things be? How should things be?
And that is the question I am asked. And that's the question we as M.A.Y.A.s are asked.
First, the Rev. Jerry Falwell passed away. Most celebrated this news with chinking of coffee mugs and statements of how the disenfranchised can rejoice and hope that Pat Robertson suffers the same fate in an expedited manner. In my opinion, it is the classic case of absolute power corrupting absolutely. The man lost his mind in the course of trying to change the American political landscape, which he did to a certain degree.
My grandfather went to college with Falwell in Missouri and mentioned that he was a very nice and earnest man. This is no doubt about Falwell's earnestness and sincerity. In fact, it was his earnestness that prompted a life-changing moment for me. I was living at the Willmore in Long Beach and was watching Meet the Press before leaving for church. On this show, Russert has brought together Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist convention, Al Sharpton, Jim Wallis, head of Sojourners (and a big favorite of Linterella and me) and Falwell. They were to talk about the state of American religion. Did they ever. It took about, oh, three minutes before the shouting and hexing up to the other person's great-grandchildren was in full swing.
What was unique about this conversation was the question Falwell asked Jim Wallis. "Who did you vote for?" Falwell inquired. Wallis answered that he voted for John Kerry, to which Falwell responded that he was in direct violation of Scripture and should resign from the pastorate immediately. Everyone was shocked and I was dumbfounded.
And thus the conversation went. I contributed to the discussion by saying a few "holy profanities" at a pretty loud level and then huffed out. On the way to church, I wondered aloud how we as Christians got to this point and felt genuine compassion over those that might have legitimate questions about faith, hear these morons and get turned off. In the midst of my own whining, I was impressed with this simple statement: "Well, what are you going to do about all of this?"
Tonight at All Saints, Paul Hawken was speaking and signing copies of his new book, "Blessed Unrest." Hawken wrote the book "The Ecology of Commerce," which has altered my thinking about the affairs of the world and life. His website is linked under "What are they thinking?" and I highly recommend checking out his stuff. It has completely slipped my mind that he was speaking until I saw his book in Borders yesterday and freaked out that it was last night. Luckily, it was tonight and I arrived just in time. (I hate L.A. traffic. Let me say that again. I hate L.A. traffic.)
During the talk, Hawken spoke about how there is an inherent mystery and wonder to how life works. For example, the immune system is the most complex process of a person. We have an understanding of how it works and when it works, but there is still so much to be learned about WHY it works. That is still a mystery. The processes of time and energy allow for history to take shape and cycle in the ultimate hope of true, lasting progress. There is over a million organizations that operate to help improve life. Environmental, social justice, economical, religious, local, global...people are at work seeking to change the world by changing their world.
Hawken's work really opened my eyes to a greater appreciation of the process, the journey. That was emphasized by this statement: You cannot change the world on your own, so stop trying. You cannot control results and outcomes, so stop the ways of control. The only thing that you can do is control your intention.
As T.S. Eliot said, "All you have in life is the trying, the rest is none of your business."
I have a greatness complex: I want to be great. I want to do great things. In the name of Christ, in the name of good, healthy Christianity. In the name of saving the world. In the name of saving myself. Our generation has a greatness complex. The powers that pee have deemed that we as M.A.Y.A.s have the access, the skills, the mindset and the opportunities to do things that have yet to be achieved. I think I have safely say that the pressure is overwhelming. That is why people get degrees they don't need, take jobs they don't want and make decisions that shouldn't be made. That is a fundamental reason why adolescence flows into the 30s and probably further and why no one is in a hurry to become an adult.
So, you want to be great? Well, great in what? Working? Drinking? Finding the next big idea? Those answers are elusive, and that is because they don't exist. Moreover, greatness is found not in singularity, but rather community. Not fake, overpriced Christian college "chapel is the greatest thing in the world" community, but honest-to-God and honest-to-yourself community.
Rev. Falwell knew this. The Moral Majority and the Religious Right wanted to be great. They were great because they were right, but it wasn't just the subtle satisfaction of being on the right fence of eternity that was the focal point. It was the quest to exude their sense of rightness from the top down, because if everyone saw how right and how great they were, then the world would be as it should be. Christ would make an encore appearance, and the universe is right as rain. It's not that it was a Christian idea, but that it was Jerry Falwell's Christian idea. In his eyes, the ACLU caused God to enact 9/11 and that anyone who is pro-choice is violating God's laws.
I look at Jerry Falwell and look at Paul Hawken and the thousands of people that are working to make a difference and I see two paths which lead to greatness. Again, as I am a Christian, I don't view Rev. Falwell as a bad person. I just think he was part of the system that we wanted to change. I'm sure there was a time when that fire to bring forth the things that society needs was there, but like so many others, it gets lost in the quest for complete assimilation. And while I do disagree on Hawken on a few issues, he provides a viewpoint for a new systems theory in how we conduct business, engage in politics and commune with nature.
I say both paths lead to greatness based on the definitions of greatness that are offered. Is one great based on adhering to tents of faith, even to the minutiae on how one votes for or not? Is one great on making small, seemingly insignificant decisions that lack short-term profitability? They both offer a sense of hope and more important, a vision. How can things be? How should things be?
And that is the question I am asked. And that's the question we as M.A.Y.A.s are asked.
Friday, April 06, 2007
To believe in God or not to believe in God..that really isn't the question...
Newsweek carried an intriguing debate between Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest and Sam Harris, a renowned atheiest who wrote the book, "A Letter to a Christian Nation," that I really want to read.
These types of subjects come up around this time because of Easter and Passover and whatnot. I'm rather happy though that Newsweek especially does a pretty good job in being thorough about religious topics. The interview between Warren and Harris shows that, as does editor's Jon Meachem's great article.
Here's the link here:
Warren/Harris debate
I do have to say that Rabbi Marc Gellman is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. He has such a strong pragmatism that is rooted in rich spiritual ideals. He responds to the debate and the article with the concept that both are right. In the end, what you believe in God really is contingent about what you believe about life, the world and yourself.
Here's his response:
Gellman's response
Have a great Easter and Passover, and no matter you're beliefs, have a good weekend.
These types of subjects come up around this time because of Easter and Passover and whatnot. I'm rather happy though that Newsweek especially does a pretty good job in being thorough about religious topics. The interview between Warren and Harris shows that, as does editor's Jon Meachem's great article.
Here's the link here:
I do have to say that Rabbi Marc Gellman is quickly becoming one of my favorite writers. He has such a strong pragmatism that is rooted in rich spiritual ideals. He responds to the debate and the article with the concept that both are right. In the end, what you believe in God really is contingent about what you believe about life, the world and yourself.
Here's his response:
Have a great Easter and Passover, and no matter you're beliefs, have a good weekend.
Monday, April 02, 2007
Grades, grades, go away...
I am now firmly convinced that graduate school shouldn't have grades. Here's why:
There comes a point, at least I hope there comes a point, where people should be "graded" on true analysis and comprehension. A professor should be able to engage a student on any particular topic with feedback and commentary, but in the end, the end result shouldn't be some dumb letter.
I understand the need of it for high school and maybe for undergrad. But this is grad school, you're here because you want to be here and you're paying a hell of a lot of money to learn. In the end, I'm here for the entire education, not for a piece of paper. Because of that, I want to feel like I can write how I feel I should write and engage the issues that need to be engaged...and not worry about the damn grade.
For example, I wrote a 30-page paper for my corporate communication class. I'm not sure how well I did, but I can tell you that I and the rest of my classmates are worried like hell about the grade we're gonna get. That's too bad. I would rather the professor write all over my paper and dismiss my arguments and my rhetoric, then I can respond and have a discussion instead of write a paper, get a grade and that defines my standing in the class.
It's almost as if there's the underlying idea that you're going to get graded on how well you did in life. It's not just a pass/fail, credit/no credit ideal, but somehow God/higher power/keeper of the Great Beyond is giving out a report card. You lived a B-plus life. How the hell can you live a B-plus life? Had the potential, but didn't make a full effort? You didn't answer the questions correctly or didn't format your M.A.Y.A. years right?
Wouldn't be the worst: you get up to Heaven and God tells you that the content was good, but the formatting wasn't correct. I'm sure there an existential metaphor there somewhere...
There comes a point, at least I hope there comes a point, where people should be "graded" on true analysis and comprehension. A professor should be able to engage a student on any particular topic with feedback and commentary, but in the end, the end result shouldn't be some dumb letter.
I understand the need of it for high school and maybe for undergrad. But this is grad school, you're here because you want to be here and you're paying a hell of a lot of money to learn. In the end, I'm here for the entire education, not for a piece of paper. Because of that, I want to feel like I can write how I feel I should write and engage the issues that need to be engaged...and not worry about the damn grade.
For example, I wrote a 30-page paper for my corporate communication class. I'm not sure how well I did, but I can tell you that I and the rest of my classmates are worried like hell about the grade we're gonna get. That's too bad. I would rather the professor write all over my paper and dismiss my arguments and my rhetoric, then I can respond and have a discussion instead of write a paper, get a grade and that defines my standing in the class.
It's almost as if there's the underlying idea that you're going to get graded on how well you did in life. It's not just a pass/fail, credit/no credit ideal, but somehow God/higher power/keeper of the Great Beyond is giving out a report card. You lived a B-plus life. How the hell can you live a B-plus life? Had the potential, but didn't make a full effort? You didn't answer the questions correctly or didn't format your M.A.Y.A. years right?
Wouldn't be the worst: you get up to Heaven and God tells you that the content was good, but the formatting wasn't correct. I'm sure there an existential metaphor there somewhere...
Friday, March 30, 2007
Not the blast from the cinematic past I would want...
Last week, a bunch of mutant reptiles knocked off half-naked Greeks from the box office perch. Only in America...
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or TMNT as they are now known, was the top movie last weekend, taking in $24.5 million. The turtles' reign won't last long because the new Will Ferrell movie comes in, which I'm seeing tonight and I'm pretty jazzed to check out.
While it was a decent success in the general audience, Warner Bros. was banking on twenty-somethings to take a stroll down memory lane in seeing the movie. It has been about 16 years since the last TMNT movie came out, and that was when the comic book and TV show was in its heyday. Later on this summer, Optimus Prime and the rest of the Transformers will make its way to the big screen. Michael Bay is bringing his Armageddon barrage of pyrotechnic greatness, so you know some robot is going to blow up the world.
I remember seeing the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle films. I even think I have a VHS copy somewhere in the garage. I wasn't much into Transformers: I was actually a big ThunderCats fan, so I'm hoping any studio that does that won't royally screw it up.
In this post-9/11 era, people are clamoring for heroes. That's why 300 is so big. Harry Potter is a hero to both adults and kids. In real life, we try to find heroes whenever we can. Anyone remember Jessica Lynch? I last saw her on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build a house for her friend who died in Iraq. But for that brief second, she was a hero, partially for propaganda purposes, but because citizens genuinely needed a good story.
I find it intriguing that we are reach back into the not-so-distant pasts of our childhood to find more heroes. What heroes do we M.A.Y.A.s have? G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, TMNT, ThunderCats, Transformers, even Batman and the Justice League. Now with Captain America dead, it is the job of animated turtles to help reclaim that sense of serenity found on reading comic books with friends or watching Saturday morning television.
Plus, the studio system doesn't come up with anything new anymore ... in a way, movie studios are the best example on how to properly recycle. It's quite tragic, I must say.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, or TMNT as they are now known, was the top movie last weekend, taking in $24.5 million. The turtles' reign won't last long because the new Will Ferrell movie comes in, which I'm seeing tonight and I'm pretty jazzed to check out.
While it was a decent success in the general audience, Warner Bros. was banking on twenty-somethings to take a stroll down memory lane in seeing the movie. It has been about 16 years since the last TMNT movie came out, and that was when the comic book and TV show was in its heyday. Later on this summer, Optimus Prime and the rest of the Transformers will make its way to the big screen. Michael Bay is bringing his Armageddon barrage of pyrotechnic greatness, so you know some robot is going to blow up the world.
I remember seeing the old Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle films. I even think I have a VHS copy somewhere in the garage. I wasn't much into Transformers: I was actually a big ThunderCats fan, so I'm hoping any studio that does that won't royally screw it up.
In this post-9/11 era, people are clamoring for heroes. That's why 300 is so big. Harry Potter is a hero to both adults and kids. In real life, we try to find heroes whenever we can. Anyone remember Jessica Lynch? I last saw her on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition build a house for her friend who died in Iraq. But for that brief second, she was a hero, partially for propaganda purposes, but because citizens genuinely needed a good story.
I find it intriguing that we are reach back into the not-so-distant pasts of our childhood to find more heroes. What heroes do we M.A.Y.A.s have? G.I. Joe, Masters of the Universe, TMNT, ThunderCats, Transformers, even Batman and the Justice League. Now with Captain America dead, it is the job of animated turtles to help reclaim that sense of serenity found on reading comic books with friends or watching Saturday morning television.
Plus, the studio system doesn't come up with anything new anymore ... in a way, movie studios are the best example on how to properly recycle. It's quite tragic, I must say.
Sunday, February 25, 2007
Lint's Oscar Picks
I'm running out of time, so I'll forgo the explanations...
BEST PICTURE: Little Miss Sunshine
ACTOR: Forest Whitaker
ACTRESS: Helen Mirren
SUP. ACTOR: Eddie Murphy
SUP. ACTRESS: Jennifer Hudson
ANIMATED FEATURE: Cars
ART DIRECTION: Dreamgirls
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Children of Men
COSTUME DESIGN: Marie Antoinette
DIRECTING: The Departed
DOC FEATURE: An Inconvenient Truth
DOC SHORT: Two Hands
FILM EDITING: United 93
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Pan's Labyrinth
MAKEUP: Pan's Labyrinth
ORIGINAL SCORE: The Queen
ORIGINAL SONG: "Love You I Do"
SHORT ANIMATED: The Little Matchgirl
SHORT LIVE ACTION: Eramos Pocos
SOUND EDITING: Pirates
SOUND MIXING: Apocalypto
VISUAL EFFECTS: Pirates
SCREENPLAY ADAPTED: The Departed
SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL: Little Miss Sunshine
BEST PICTURE: Little Miss Sunshine
ACTOR: Forest Whitaker
ACTRESS: Helen Mirren
SUP. ACTOR: Eddie Murphy
SUP. ACTRESS: Jennifer Hudson
ANIMATED FEATURE: Cars
ART DIRECTION: Dreamgirls
CINEMATOGRAPHY: Children of Men
COSTUME DESIGN: Marie Antoinette
DIRECTING: The Departed
DOC FEATURE: An Inconvenient Truth
DOC SHORT: Two Hands
FILM EDITING: United 93
FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Pan's Labyrinth
MAKEUP: Pan's Labyrinth
ORIGINAL SCORE: The Queen
ORIGINAL SONG: "Love You I Do"
SHORT ANIMATED: The Little Matchgirl
SHORT LIVE ACTION: Eramos Pocos
SOUND EDITING: Pirates
SOUND MIXING: Apocalypto
VISUAL EFFECTS: Pirates
SCREENPLAY ADAPTED: The Departed
SCREENPLAY ORIGINAL: Little Miss Sunshine
Saturday, February 24, 2007
the official M.A.Y.A. Years Oscar picks (well, at least my picks.)
I am proud to say that I have won whatever Oscar pool I have been in five out of the past six years. The one year I didn't do so well was the year I put money on it. I learned my lesson.
this year, the Oscars have snuck up on me. I FINALLY finished all the best picture films this week, so I feel set to make my official predictions. Come back tomorrow night, so I can gloat. Yay.
Oh, I'm only going to put the major categories. I didn't get to see all the animated shorts. Sorry.
Best Picture:
Should win: Little Miss Sunshine. Truthfully, this wasn't that great of a year for movies. Of course, I saw some phenomenal stuff, but as a whole...eh. However, I saw Little Miss Sunshine up in Monterey during a spontaneous trip before school started. It was in this small theater with a bunch of old people. Oh man, it was AWESOME. I have never heard a more pleased group of geriatrics. It was great. This is a typical comedy format, but the writing and acting give it freshness and vitality.
The other movies were good. I really liked Letters from Iwo Jima and it makes me want to see Flags of our Fathers. I dug The Queen...it was a lot different than what I expected. The Departed was a hoot, even though the film burnt out in the cheap-o theater I saw it in. I liked Babel, but wasn't that impressed, really.
Will win: Most likely Babel, but I'm going to go on a limb and say that Little Miss Sunshine will pull off the upset. I think it might happen.
The REAL best movie of the year: Pan's Labyrinth. Oh good lord was that amazing!!!!
Best actor:
Should win: I didn't see Venus, but I'm gonna say Peter O'Toole because it's a tragedy that he never won for Lawrence of Arabia.
Will win: Forest Whitaker. Dude, he rocked it in Last King of Scotland. That movie would have been a shell of a story if it wasn't for his performance.
Best Actress:
Should win: Helen Mirren. She was Queen Elizabeth II. I saw the actual Queen when I was in England. Mirren had her down to a tee. On the other hand, Kate Winslet is the best actor/actress this side of 30. Little Children was unbelievably good...worthy of a best picture nod.
Will win: Helen Mirren.
Best Supporting Actor:
Should win: Alan Arkin. He gave a level of depth that is very nuanced in this movie. A close second is Jackie Earle Haley who put in a haunting performance in Little Children. He's not only a feel-good story, he's really a great actor.
Will win: Eddie Murphy. Honestly, his performance was good, but not great, but he'll win.
Best Supporting Actress:
Should win: Jennifer Hudson. The only lock in any of these categories. Aside from her, Dreamgirls was highly overrated.
Will win: Jennifer Hudson.
Best Director:
Should win: Martin Scorsese. If he doesn't win, there is no justice in the world.
Will win: Scorsese, or else the mob is putting a hit on all the Academy voters.
Best Documentary:
An Unconvenient Truth. I don't care if you agree with global warming or not, go see this movie.
Best Foreign film:
I would like to take this brief opportunity and thank Guerillmo Del Toro for sticking to his guns and creating one of the best freaking movies I have seen in quite a while. I would also like to thank the country of Mexico for allowing such great directors to come into being. And I would finally like to the thanks the parents of Maribel Verdu for having sex and creating her. (She plays a crucial role in Pan's Labyrinth. Also, if you've seen Y Tu Mama Tambien, which I highly recommend you do, then you'll understand.)
Oh: Pan's Labyrinth better win this category.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Should win: Borat. Borat should have also been nominated for best picture and Sasha Baron Cohen should have nominated for best actor. He would had won if that would had happened. Alas, this great movie only gets some due in this category.
Will win: The Departed.
Best Original Screenplay:
This one is actually a toughie. All the screenplays were very cool and rather strong.
Should win: Pan's Labyrinth.
Will win: Probably Babel.
OK, as a last bit: here's my picks for the top five movies of the year. Like I said, this wasn't that strong of a year, but there were some really good movies.
1. Pan's Labyrinth. Just too good to be overlooked.
2. Borat. The genius is not in the character, but in the mirror it shows America.
3. The Fountain. I lot of people hated it. I loved it. I loved it for its purity and for its vision.
4. Little Children. What made this so good was that this could really happen and does happen. Everywhere and anywhere.
5. Little Miss Sunshine. Too good, too cute.
this year, the Oscars have snuck up on me. I FINALLY finished all the best picture films this week, so I feel set to make my official predictions. Come back tomorrow night, so I can gloat. Yay.
Oh, I'm only going to put the major categories. I didn't get to see all the animated shorts. Sorry.
Best Picture:
Should win: Little Miss Sunshine. Truthfully, this wasn't that great of a year for movies. Of course, I saw some phenomenal stuff, but as a whole...eh. However, I saw Little Miss Sunshine up in Monterey during a spontaneous trip before school started. It was in this small theater with a bunch of old people. Oh man, it was AWESOME. I have never heard a more pleased group of geriatrics. It was great. This is a typical comedy format, but the writing and acting give it freshness and vitality.
The other movies were good. I really liked Letters from Iwo Jima and it makes me want to see Flags of our Fathers. I dug The Queen...it was a lot different than what I expected. The Departed was a hoot, even though the film burnt out in the cheap-o theater I saw it in. I liked Babel, but wasn't that impressed, really.
Will win: Most likely Babel, but I'm going to go on a limb and say that Little Miss Sunshine will pull off the upset. I think it might happen.
The REAL best movie of the year: Pan's Labyrinth. Oh good lord was that amazing!!!!
Best actor:
Should win: I didn't see Venus, but I'm gonna say Peter O'Toole because it's a tragedy that he never won for Lawrence of Arabia.
Will win: Forest Whitaker. Dude, he rocked it in Last King of Scotland. That movie would have been a shell of a story if it wasn't for his performance.
Best Actress:
Should win: Helen Mirren. She was Queen Elizabeth II. I saw the actual Queen when I was in England. Mirren had her down to a tee. On the other hand, Kate Winslet is the best actor/actress this side of 30. Little Children was unbelievably good...worthy of a best picture nod.
Will win: Helen Mirren.
Best Supporting Actor:
Should win: Alan Arkin. He gave a level of depth that is very nuanced in this movie. A close second is Jackie Earle Haley who put in a haunting performance in Little Children. He's not only a feel-good story, he's really a great actor.
Will win: Eddie Murphy. Honestly, his performance was good, but not great, but he'll win.
Best Supporting Actress:
Should win: Jennifer Hudson. The only lock in any of these categories. Aside from her, Dreamgirls was highly overrated.
Will win: Jennifer Hudson.
Best Director:
Should win: Martin Scorsese. If he doesn't win, there is no justice in the world.
Will win: Scorsese, or else the mob is putting a hit on all the Academy voters.
Best Documentary:
An Unconvenient Truth. I don't care if you agree with global warming or not, go see this movie.
Best Foreign film:
I would like to take this brief opportunity and thank Guerillmo Del Toro for sticking to his guns and creating one of the best freaking movies I have seen in quite a while. I would also like to thank the country of Mexico for allowing such great directors to come into being. And I would finally like to the thanks the parents of Maribel Verdu for having sex and creating her. (She plays a crucial role in Pan's Labyrinth. Also, if you've seen Y Tu Mama Tambien, which I highly recommend you do, then you'll understand.)
Oh: Pan's Labyrinth better win this category.
Best Adapted Screenplay:
Should win: Borat. Borat should have also been nominated for best picture and Sasha Baron Cohen should have nominated for best actor. He would had won if that would had happened. Alas, this great movie only gets some due in this category.
Will win: The Departed.
Best Original Screenplay:
This one is actually a toughie. All the screenplays were very cool and rather strong.
Should win: Pan's Labyrinth.
Will win: Probably Babel.
OK, as a last bit: here's my picks for the top five movies of the year. Like I said, this wasn't that strong of a year, but there were some really good movies.
1. Pan's Labyrinth. Just too good to be overlooked.
2. Borat. The genius is not in the character, but in the mirror it shows America.
3. The Fountain. I lot of people hated it. I loved it. I loved it for its purity and for its vision.
4. Little Children. What made this so good was that this could really happen and does happen. Everywhere and anywhere.
5. Little Miss Sunshine. Too good, too cute.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Neil Postman lives on and on and on...
For those fans of the late philosopher Neil Postman, or those remembering Dr. Ganas's Senior Seminar, I found this article on The Disappearance of Childhood. I have not read that book and I wasn't a fan of Technopoly, but in my old age, I might reconsider.
Enjoy.
>Childhood
Enjoy.
>Childhood
Saturday, February 03, 2007
Alicia's Story
I stumbled across Alicia's Story yesterday. It's a series in the San Francisco Chronicle written by a M.A.Y.A. battling one of the rarest forms of cancer: alveolar soft part sarcoma. Alicia was first diagnosed almost two years ago, at age 23 (three years after her own mother died of breast cancer), and she chronicles every test and treatment and emotion along the way.
At the end of chapter one, Alicia wrote: "If I get through this, this story will help me remember the important moments along the way, the details, the dizzying emotions. And, in the worst of all circumstances, if I go through this life-changing ordeal and my body just wears out and I die, I will die a writer. The one thing I've always wanted to be."
Read it. You won't regret it.
Alicia's Story
At the end of chapter one, Alicia wrote: "If I get through this, this story will help me remember the important moments along the way, the details, the dizzying emotions. And, in the worst of all circumstances, if I go through this life-changing ordeal and my body just wears out and I die, I will die a writer. The one thing I've always wanted to be."
Read it. You won't regret it.
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
So, maybe the pre-historic people had the right idea...
This article ran in Sunday's L.A. Times. It deals perfectly about the shift in marriage and relationships. This author makes the point that what we understand as the "proper" view of marriage may not be what is most effective for both males and females.
Have a read:
here
Have a read:
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Is that wedding bells I hear...oh, just my ears ringing...
I do have to say that it's quite ironic that there is no one but me and the owner in Cafe Young and Lazy.
I personnally enjoy this place specificially for that reason. Faster Wi-Fi, good organic coffee and no reasons to slack off other than the ones I conjure up.
The new semester is in full swing, thus the late start to 2007 for the M.A.Y.A. Years. These next four months will challenge me in ways I haven't been challenged before, so I'll apologize up front for the lack of frequency, but I promise to be as consistent as possible.
A story spoke of how unmarried women now dominate the census landscape. There are now more unmarried people than married people. Either folks are getting married later in life, or choosing to live with a partner or partners.
I might be completely off-base here, but I've always surmised that the cultural understanding is that women are in more of a pressing need to be married than men. The economical gap and the desire to have a two-parent household has always made this so.
Of course, that isn't the case anymore, which is a great thing. However, the side effect of all of this is the shifting from a communal society to an individualistic society. In essence, the need of community and coupleship has altered in its definitions and forms. Community now comes with friends intead of spouses as the predominate factor. Self-reliance and actualization are tops in the life goals of people. I think of myself as an individual first, rather than a member of society first.
What does this mean for marriage? I'm not sure. I can say that this means a lot for the M.A.Y.A. Years. The first focus isn't on getting a wife, but rather establishing your life. Then maybe you can get married...maybe. Folks are having sex at an earlier age and the quest for intimacy takes on a different variable.
I do wonder...what is this doing to men? In my opinion, it is men who need to be married more than women. It is men who need a community more than women. Some would point to the presence of patriarchy as evidence. I think that is true to a point. But I feel the fundamental issue is the desire for connection for men, which I feel is different from women (of course, I speak this as a dude, so there you go.)
Men have gained an identity from being the man of the house, the head of the household, the leader of most things. That desire is inherent in most men. But as society shifts to self first, couple maybe, I wonder how masculinity and manhood will adapt, if it will at all.
I mean, God said, "It is not good that man should be alone." I think God was on to something.
What do you think?
I personnally enjoy this place specificially for that reason. Faster Wi-Fi, good organic coffee and no reasons to slack off other than the ones I conjure up.
The new semester is in full swing, thus the late start to 2007 for the M.A.Y.A. Years. These next four months will challenge me in ways I haven't been challenged before, so I'll apologize up front for the lack of frequency, but I promise to be as consistent as possible.
A story spoke of how unmarried women now dominate the census landscape. There are now more unmarried people than married people. Either folks are getting married later in life, or choosing to live with a partner or partners.
I might be completely off-base here, but I've always surmised that the cultural understanding is that women are in more of a pressing need to be married than men. The economical gap and the desire to have a two-parent household has always made this so.
Of course, that isn't the case anymore, which is a great thing. However, the side effect of all of this is the shifting from a communal society to an individualistic society. In essence, the need of community and coupleship has altered in its definitions and forms. Community now comes with friends intead of spouses as the predominate factor. Self-reliance and actualization are tops in the life goals of people. I think of myself as an individual first, rather than a member of society first.
What does this mean for marriage? I'm not sure. I can say that this means a lot for the M.A.Y.A. Years. The first focus isn't on getting a wife, but rather establishing your life. Then maybe you can get married...maybe. Folks are having sex at an earlier age and the quest for intimacy takes on a different variable.
I do wonder...what is this doing to men? In my opinion, it is men who need to be married more than women. It is men who need a community more than women. Some would point to the presence of patriarchy as evidence. I think that is true to a point. But I feel the fundamental issue is the desire for connection for men, which I feel is different from women (of course, I speak this as a dude, so there you go.)
Men have gained an identity from being the man of the house, the head of the household, the leader of most things. That desire is inherent in most men. But as society shifts to self first, couple maybe, I wonder how masculinity and manhood will adapt, if it will at all.
I mean, God said, "It is not good that man should be alone." I think God was on to something.
What do you think?
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
A list to end the year...
I know it's such a cliche, but I'm amazed how fast this year has flown by.
Last year, I was at my friend Tim's house, about to become a homeowner, start up a masters program, continue my work at the newspaper and flee the troubles of 2005.
This Sunday will find me at my friend Jason's house, which is down the street from my friend Tim's house, happy to no longer be a homeowner, be knee-deep in my master's program, no longer work at the newspapers and struggle to fully embrace the uncertainty of 2006.
I suppose one of the key elements of the M.A.Y.A. Years is this process of discovery. There are two questions that have to be asked and answered:
1. Who am I?
2. What am I going to do about it?
I am now fully convinced that once you come up with an answer, you realize how much it really doesn't suffice.
I used to be gung-ho about figuring out what exactly happening during the course of a year and creating resolutions for the new year. Last year, I even had a theme "Breathe and be." I think I accomplished that in some ways, and barely began to start in other ways.
This year, I don't want to set any goals. However, that's not gonna happen. I'm a goal-oriented person, whether I admit it or not. I need goals, challenges, dreams to keep going. My quarterlife crisis hasn't been not having something to strive for...it's been figuring out which thing to cross off the list first.
Nevertheless, one thing that did stick out this year that I want to keep with me. 2006 saw the story of the George Mason men's basketball team. Their rise to the Final Four was nothing short of amazing.
I read an article about the coach, Jim Larranga in the L.A. Times. In the story, the coach was talking about his team philosophy and how he got there. He talked about levels of commitments and being a real team. He spoke of meeting his mentor often and sharing the pages upon pages of "stuff" he had on basketball.
His mentor would eventually tell him that all the pages and pages were simply not needed. In the end, one only needs one page of "stuff" to coach basketball. Everything else is everything else.
So, Larranga set up to create one page worth of essentials. It took him about two years, but once it was done, he said he had a peace of mind and a clear philosophy about how to coach.
I have to say this article really affected me. I keep hearing that you know what you know when you know it. Everything else is everything else. Is this really true?
So, this year, I started this one page. What are the absolute essentials that I need to live a good life (in addition to salvation and such). Here's what I got so far:
Despite my hesitations, or maybe because of my hesitations, I do believe that God is a loving Being.
I believe that I am a good person.
My outlook of life and all that it entails depends solely on me. I alone provide the lenses upon which I see the world.
God and I are the only two beings that get to define who I am.
Life consists of forces and beings; this interaction creates connection and chaos. Because of this, I make choices, and choices make me. Some things can be attributed to God, other things are attributed to the forces of life.
I believe that I am a spiritual being having a human experience, not a human being having a spiritual experience. My spirit is the “key” to me.
I have an inherent need to connect with other people, and this inherent need must be nourished and fulfilled. My dual consciousness--having a strong self that is connected to others – demands my highest priority.
The real world is the world I make real.
The future, like the past, is a manifestation of now. The past is now memories, and the future is entrenched with expectation. I am living in the present, and the future is open and undefined. I trust the freedom of the spirit, which I believe comes from God, to open and unveil the future.
I know what I know when I know it.
I believe in Christ, and his message of redemption and hope. I claim Christ as my Savior, knowing my relationship with Christ is spirit to spirit.
I know that the truth is in the shifting middle: the endpoints are constantly moving, the middle point is quite vast, with huge pockets of undefined clarity yet to be discovered and revealed.
I know that time is a string of pearls, or a moving train, or some other metaphor. In essence, time is how I perceive it. Moments provide opportunities for life to occur. It is in those moments where life truly exists.
I do realize that this is very philosophical and such. I guess that's the foundation that's needed.
So, in leaving 2006 and looking forward to the new Year, the M.A.Y.A. Years (well, at least me) is calling on you, dear reader, for advice. What should I add? Take away? Any good ideas for this new year and enjoying the time of the Middle Aged Young Adult?
Anyways, may the New Year be one of greatness, fruitfulness and joy.
Last year, I was at my friend Tim's house, about to become a homeowner, start up a masters program, continue my work at the newspaper and flee the troubles of 2005.
This Sunday will find me at my friend Jason's house, which is down the street from my friend Tim's house, happy to no longer be a homeowner, be knee-deep in my master's program, no longer work at the newspapers and struggle to fully embrace the uncertainty of 2006.
I suppose one of the key elements of the M.A.Y.A. Years is this process of discovery. There are two questions that have to be asked and answered:
1. Who am I?
2. What am I going to do about it?
I am now fully convinced that once you come up with an answer, you realize how much it really doesn't suffice.
I used to be gung-ho about figuring out what exactly happening during the course of a year and creating resolutions for the new year. Last year, I even had a theme "Breathe and be." I think I accomplished that in some ways, and barely began to start in other ways.
This year, I don't want to set any goals. However, that's not gonna happen. I'm a goal-oriented person, whether I admit it or not. I need goals, challenges, dreams to keep going. My quarterlife crisis hasn't been not having something to strive for...it's been figuring out which thing to cross off the list first.
Nevertheless, one thing that did stick out this year that I want to keep with me. 2006 saw the story of the George Mason men's basketball team. Their rise to the Final Four was nothing short of amazing.
I read an article about the coach, Jim Larranga in the L.A. Times. In the story, the coach was talking about his team philosophy and how he got there. He talked about levels of commitments and being a real team. He spoke of meeting his mentor often and sharing the pages upon pages of "stuff" he had on basketball.
His mentor would eventually tell him that all the pages and pages were simply not needed. In the end, one only needs one page of "stuff" to coach basketball. Everything else is everything else.
So, Larranga set up to create one page worth of essentials. It took him about two years, but once it was done, he said he had a peace of mind and a clear philosophy about how to coach.
I have to say this article really affected me. I keep hearing that you know what you know when you know it. Everything else is everything else. Is this really true?
So, this year, I started this one page. What are the absolute essentials that I need to live a good life (in addition to salvation and such). Here's what I got so far:
Despite my hesitations, or maybe because of my hesitations, I do believe that God is a loving Being.
I believe that I am a good person.
My outlook of life and all that it entails depends solely on me. I alone provide the lenses upon which I see the world.
God and I are the only two beings that get to define who I am.
Life consists of forces and beings; this interaction creates connection and chaos. Because of this, I make choices, and choices make me. Some things can be attributed to God, other things are attributed to the forces of life.
I believe that I am a spiritual being having a human experience, not a human being having a spiritual experience. My spirit is the “key” to me.
I have an inherent need to connect with other people, and this inherent need must be nourished and fulfilled. My dual consciousness--having a strong self that is connected to others – demands my highest priority.
The real world is the world I make real.
The future, like the past, is a manifestation of now. The past is now memories, and the future is entrenched with expectation. I am living in the present, and the future is open and undefined. I trust the freedom of the spirit, which I believe comes from God, to open and unveil the future.
I know what I know when I know it.
I believe in Christ, and his message of redemption and hope. I claim Christ as my Savior, knowing my relationship with Christ is spirit to spirit.
I know that the truth is in the shifting middle: the endpoints are constantly moving, the middle point is quite vast, with huge pockets of undefined clarity yet to be discovered and revealed.
I know that time is a string of pearls, or a moving train, or some other metaphor. In essence, time is how I perceive it. Moments provide opportunities for life to occur. It is in those moments where life truly exists.
I do realize that this is very philosophical and such. I guess that's the foundation that's needed.
So, in leaving 2006 and looking forward to the new Year, the M.A.Y.A. Years (well, at least me) is calling on you, dear reader, for advice. What should I add? Take away? Any good ideas for this new year and enjoying the time of the Middle Aged Young Adult?
Anyways, may the New Year be one of greatness, fruitfulness and joy.
Monday, December 25, 2006
Tis the season for more postings...
But that will have to wait for just a bit longer.
Nevertheless, Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the M.A.Y.A. Years!
Nevertheless, Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the M.A.Y.A. Years!
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Life is in the coffee...
This comes from my friend Jamie. Very, very cool stuff.
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of
coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it 'it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...and then began eyeing each
other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups ... enjoy your coffee."
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, It means you've
decided to see beyond the imperfections
Live in peace and peace will live in you.
Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles, but it does ruin today's happiness.
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, got together to visit their old university professor. The conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in work and life. Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of
coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain-looking, some expensive, and some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee. After all the students had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said:
"If you noticed, all the nice looking expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is but normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress."
"Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases, it 'it's just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup, but you consciously went for the best cups...and then began eyeing each
other's cups."
"Now consider this: Life is the coffee, and the jobs, houses, cars, things, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life, and the type of cup we have does not define nor change the quality of life we live. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee God has provided us. God brews the coffee, not the cups ... enjoy your coffee."
Being happy doesn't mean everything's perfect, It means you've
decided to see beyond the imperfections
Live in peace and peace will live in you.
Worry doesn't help tomorrow's troubles, but it does ruin today's happiness.
Sunday, December 10, 2006
Barely afloat in a river of academia...
I am about six pages short of being done with this semester.
If anything, I learned that I shouldn't put off for tomorrow what I can do the day after.
Anyways, sorry for the lack of consistent posts. Both Linterella and I are swamped, but soon, we should return with more holiday M.A.Y.A. goodness.
If anything, I learned that I shouldn't put off for tomorrow what I can do the day after.
Anyways, sorry for the lack of consistent posts. Both Linterella and I are swamped, but soon, we should return with more holiday M.A.Y.A. goodness.
Monday, November 27, 2006
Hello. I'm Descartes.
I found the following quote by Descartes in an article in The New Yorker today:
"When I consider the fact that I have doubts, or that I am a thing that is incomplete and dependent, then there arises in me a clear and distinct idea of a being who is independent and complete, that is, an idea of God. And from the mere fact that there is such an idea within me, or that I who possess this idea exist, I clearly infer that God also exists, and that every single moment of my entire existence depends on him... And now, from this contemplation of the true God, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and the sciences lie hidden, I think I can see a way forward to the knowledge of other things."
Descartes. Damn.
I have a vague recollection of studying Descartes in school, probably in my college philosophy class, but I can't remember a thing about him. Before today I'm not sure I could have accurately attributed the famous line, "I think, therefore I am," to him. And I certainly don't remember finding him all that interesting, as I did after reading the above passage, which prompted further research and reading.
It is truly unfortunate the amount of information that was wasted on me in school. I just wasn't at all interested in most things presented to me, especially anything related to math, science, or history. There were too many formulas, too many laws, too many names, too many dates, to remember. So I just didn't bother. I clung to just-this-side-of-passing grades in these subjects for most of my life. In fact, I had to take both high school intermediate algebra and college algebra twice. I stayed afloat only because my grades in other subjects—like art, literature, creative writing, drama, leadership, yearbook, humanities, pop culture, etc.—more than made up for it.
During parent-teacher conferences in grade school, my teachers would often blame my performance, or lack thereof, on "boredom." They thought that I was not sufficiently challenged on an intellectual level, that this stuff was somehow below me. Eh. As wonderfully brainy as that makes me sound, I don't think that was the case. It wasn't boredom. It was laziness and egocentrism. I was only interested in learning what I wanted to learn when I wanted to learn it. I had nearly encyclopedic knowledge of some subjects while my other courses were merely blocks of time set aside for me to read, write poetry, pass notes, or doodle.
But a funny thing happened shortly after college graduation. I suddenly became very interested in everything I once ignored, especially the sciences, history, politics, and theology. For five years, I've been on something of a rabid quest to fill these gaping holes in my brain. And the more I know, the more I realize how much I don't know (didn't Einstein say something like that?), which then prompts me to know more. It's crazy, this quest. Endless. I have 14 magazine subscriptions—three of which are weeklies—from Time to Vanity Fair to National Geographic to Wired. I'm addicted to online news websites. I'm equally addicted to Merriam-Webster Online and Wikipedia. I keep word lists and subject lists to look up later. I'm an animal.
And to what end? I'm not sure, really. Information thrills me. It provides context. Challenge. I'm continually growing and adapting as I learn more about myself, the world, God. I have courage in my convictions. It's just a shame I didn't start earlier...
"When I consider the fact that I have doubts, or that I am a thing that is incomplete and dependent, then there arises in me a clear and distinct idea of a being who is independent and complete, that is, an idea of God. And from the mere fact that there is such an idea within me, or that I who possess this idea exist, I clearly infer that God also exists, and that every single moment of my entire existence depends on him... And now, from this contemplation of the true God, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and the sciences lie hidden, I think I can see a way forward to the knowledge of other things."
Descartes. Damn.
I have a vague recollection of studying Descartes in school, probably in my college philosophy class, but I can't remember a thing about him. Before today I'm not sure I could have accurately attributed the famous line, "I think, therefore I am," to him. And I certainly don't remember finding him all that interesting, as I did after reading the above passage, which prompted further research and reading.
It is truly unfortunate the amount of information that was wasted on me in school. I just wasn't at all interested in most things presented to me, especially anything related to math, science, or history. There were too many formulas, too many laws, too many names, too many dates, to remember. So I just didn't bother. I clung to just-this-side-of-passing grades in these subjects for most of my life. In fact, I had to take both high school intermediate algebra and college algebra twice. I stayed afloat only because my grades in other subjects—like art, literature, creative writing, drama, leadership, yearbook, humanities, pop culture, etc.—more than made up for it.
During parent-teacher conferences in grade school, my teachers would often blame my performance, or lack thereof, on "boredom." They thought that I was not sufficiently challenged on an intellectual level, that this stuff was somehow below me. Eh. As wonderfully brainy as that makes me sound, I don't think that was the case. It wasn't boredom. It was laziness and egocentrism. I was only interested in learning what I wanted to learn when I wanted to learn it. I had nearly encyclopedic knowledge of some subjects while my other courses were merely blocks of time set aside for me to read, write poetry, pass notes, or doodle.
But a funny thing happened shortly after college graduation. I suddenly became very interested in everything I once ignored, especially the sciences, history, politics, and theology. For five years, I've been on something of a rabid quest to fill these gaping holes in my brain. And the more I know, the more I realize how much I don't know (didn't Einstein say something like that?), which then prompts me to know more. It's crazy, this quest. Endless. I have 14 magazine subscriptions—three of which are weeklies—from Time to Vanity Fair to National Geographic to Wired. I'm addicted to online news websites. I'm equally addicted to Merriam-Webster Online and Wikipedia. I keep word lists and subject lists to look up later. I'm an animal.
And to what end? I'm not sure, really. Information thrills me. It provides context. Challenge. I'm continually growing and adapting as I learn more about myself, the world, God. I have courage in my convictions. It's just a shame I didn't start earlier...
Monday, November 20, 2006
Monday musings-Thanksgiving edition
This week, ABC News and USA Today begin a series on "Young and in Debt." From what I heard, it really will be something worth checking out.
Here's info:
young and in debt
In turkey news, this will be the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I can actually enjoy the family fights and scary snarls without having to rush off to work. I've been practicing my loving insults towards Grandpa in the mirror every night for the past two weeks! Yay!
Here's info:
In turkey news, this will be the first Thanksgiving in a long time that I can actually enjoy the family fights and scary snarls without having to rush off to work. I've been practicing my loving insults towards Grandpa in the mirror every night for the past two weeks! Yay!
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
All this talk about fat is making me hungry...
I'm sitting here in my Communication Policy class on Tuesday. This class is a simulation, in which class members take on official roles, either in government or in the private interest. I am Rupert Murdoch (the irony is so delicious...)
Right now, we are discussing regulation on advertising for junk food. The argument being offered is that the government has a responsibility to provide standards on how much advertising is directed at children and how much impetus should the industry have in providing healthy choices.
It's all great, but it leaves me with the issue of responsibility: at what point does personal responsibility end and social responsibility begin? Is there overlap? Or does it matter?
If working in tandem, than all aspects of accountability can be covered. Kids can eat healthier because parents are providing more nutrition, as well as the school, while the messages being sent through advertising is lessened.
But it doesn't work in tandem, and that is the problem.
What does that have to do with the M.A.Y.A. Years? Probably not a whole lot, except for the reality that somewhere along these lines, M.A.Y.A.s should have an active role in personal AND social responsibility.
Supposedly. (Of course, I say this with a slice of Domino's pizza next to me, as well as some Coke. And I really am craving a Krispy Kreme donut right now. Delicious.)
Right now, we are discussing regulation on advertising for junk food. The argument being offered is that the government has a responsibility to provide standards on how much advertising is directed at children and how much impetus should the industry have in providing healthy choices.
It's all great, but it leaves me with the issue of responsibility: at what point does personal responsibility end and social responsibility begin? Is there overlap? Or does it matter?
If working in tandem, than all aspects of accountability can be covered. Kids can eat healthier because parents are providing more nutrition, as well as the school, while the messages being sent through advertising is lessened.
But it doesn't work in tandem, and that is the problem.
What does that have to do with the M.A.Y.A. Years? Probably not a whole lot, except for the reality that somewhere along these lines, M.A.Y.A.s should have an active role in personal AND social responsibility.
Supposedly. (Of course, I say this with a slice of Domino's pizza next to me, as well as some Coke. And I really am craving a Krispy Kreme donut right now. Delicious.)
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