An ideal United States for me is hard to imagine. I don't like imagining a utopia, because then there's nothing to feel superior to; there's nothing to hate. I'm sorry if this sounds bad, but come on! Everyone needs to hate something, it's just in our genes. It feeds us anger, which can help power other emotions. People need to stop acting like anger is such a bad thing. Anger helps us, it can fuel us. I feel like there has to be something someone utterly hates and dislikes. It's a necessity.
Continuing my blog, I feel like a utopia would just suck. I guess it depends on the utopia, though. If it's a utopia where everyone is financially stable and no one goes hungry or whatever, then that's good! Well, not really. As a matter of fact, I'm fine with the poverty and death that goes on in the world. Again, it sounds bad, but everyone seems to overlook overpopulation. Sure, it's not an issue now, but at the rate we're heading it will be. I'm not saying let's commit mass genocides, but I'm saying something's gonna have to be done.
I would change some economic policies, eliminate the hold that religion seems to have on the entirety of the political system, and just try and make things better for the US. I would hope we wouldn't be looked at with such disdain, and that we would maybe be praised for being awesome. I'm not saying we're awesome, though. We're definitely not awesome. You know who was awesome? The founding fathers! They were freaking awesome, and we need to bring them back. No more of this crappy Palin and Cheney crap.
Also, I'd get rid of Fox News.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
My Favorite Director
I've chosen director because it's much broader than choosing only a favorite film. Plus, my favorite director composed much of my favorite movies, so there's that.
Actually, since it's been so long, I'm not sure if this is what this blog is supposed to be about. Let me check really quick...
Yep, I'm on track.
Moving along, my favorite thing to talk about is film. I love movies. I've developed a strong love of movies over the past few years, and along with this, I've grown a bit... snobby. It's a negative aspect, I know, and I'm working to get over it, but the road is a hard one. Anyways, the reason I'm telling you, my beloved reader, this is because of how it affects my taste in movies. I don't believe it's really possible to be a connoisseur of bad movies. Well, it's possible, but if one says they love movies and list their favorites as being Step Brothers, Transformers, The Happening, any movie with Dwayne Johnson in it, etc., then I'm not going to label them as a movie buff.
To get to my actual subject, my favorite director is Stanley Kubrick. Why? If I need to answer this question to anyone, then they're not into movies much. God, there's my snobbery, again... Whatever, it's true. Stanley Kubrick was just a genius of directing. None of his films could be ranked lower than four stars on a scale of one to five. Half of his films have become classics, and four of them are regularly quoted on a day-to-day basis. Each film is incredibly well-sculpted and toned to perfection.
2001: A Space Odyssey is indeed the greatest film ever made. Not only is it brilliantly acted and intelligent, but its visuals still look like they could have been made with today's technology. The philosophical and intellectual ideas it presents are mind altering, and will ring within each viewer's head for years to come. I'd like to think the film had an impact on cinema like that of World War II's impact on the world.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is more than just a movie I based my blog's title off of. It is my favorite film of all time. It's hilarious, enthralling, and intelligently witty in a way that is completely alluring. I have never enjoyed a movie more than I enjoyed Dr. Strangelove upon viewing.
A Clockwork Orange is without a doubt Kubrick's most violent film. Perhaps it's due to the character's love of "ultraviolence" that is a prominent theme in this film (as well as in the book). This film is not for the weak of heart, though. As a matter of fact, it was given an X rating at the time of its release due to its mountains of graphic content. Well, not mountains, but it does have one scene in particular that will leave you trembling in your mind from its disturbing content. Indeed, this is Kubrick's most psychologically tormenting film to date. It intelligently commands an arsenal of tactics used to leave the viewer with an odd taste in their mouth.
Some more Kubrick films that you may have heard of are Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, Lolita, and--I'm positive everyone's heard of this one--The Shining.
Actually, since it's been so long, I'm not sure if this is what this blog is supposed to be about. Let me check really quick...
Yep, I'm on track.
Moving along, my favorite thing to talk about is film. I love movies. I've developed a strong love of movies over the past few years, and along with this, I've grown a bit... snobby. It's a negative aspect, I know, and I'm working to get over it, but the road is a hard one. Anyways, the reason I'm telling you, my beloved reader, this is because of how it affects my taste in movies. I don't believe it's really possible to be a connoisseur of bad movies. Well, it's possible, but if one says they love movies and list their favorites as being Step Brothers, Transformers, The Happening, any movie with Dwayne Johnson in it, etc., then I'm not going to label them as a movie buff.
To get to my actual subject, my favorite director is Stanley Kubrick. Why? If I need to answer this question to anyone, then they're not into movies much. God, there's my snobbery, again... Whatever, it's true. Stanley Kubrick was just a genius of directing. None of his films could be ranked lower than four stars on a scale of one to five. Half of his films have become classics, and four of them are regularly quoted on a day-to-day basis. Each film is incredibly well-sculpted and toned to perfection.
2001: A Space Odyssey is indeed the greatest film ever made. Not only is it brilliantly acted and intelligent, but its visuals still look like they could have been made with today's technology. The philosophical and intellectual ideas it presents are mind altering, and will ring within each viewer's head for years to come. I'd like to think the film had an impact on cinema like that of World War II's impact on the world.
Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb is more than just a movie I based my blog's title off of. It is my favorite film of all time. It's hilarious, enthralling, and intelligently witty in a way that is completely alluring. I have never enjoyed a movie more than I enjoyed Dr. Strangelove upon viewing.
A Clockwork Orange is without a doubt Kubrick's most violent film. Perhaps it's due to the character's love of "ultraviolence" that is a prominent theme in this film (as well as in the book). This film is not for the weak of heart, though. As a matter of fact, it was given an X rating at the time of its release due to its mountains of graphic content. Well, not mountains, but it does have one scene in particular that will leave you trembling in your mind from its disturbing content. Indeed, this is Kubrick's most psychologically tormenting film to date. It intelligently commands an arsenal of tactics used to leave the viewer with an odd taste in their mouth.
Some more Kubrick films that you may have heard of are Full Metal Jacket, Barry Lyndon, Lolita, and--I'm positive everyone's heard of this one--The Shining.
Declaration of Art
I value creativity and uniqueness. It's something I've always liked. Why do I value this? I'm not sure. Something about art and the like has always seemed to draw me in. I don't like sports and business and all that monotonous stuff that doesn't really add to anything. It doesn't expand, it doesn't grow; it stays the same. In 20 years, people will still be making the same comments about football or still be talking about the same business ethics. When it comes to art, though, something will have indeed changed. No one will be referencing Twilight as a classic of literature (I hope to God they won't, at least...), they'll be talking about the newest book, the newest movie, the latest band.
Art seems to have a broad type of hold on society. It can be timeless, while at the same time always changing. We still reference Moby Dick and The Odyssey, yet also talk about the latest craze in everything else. The classics are unforgettable, yet the changes are constant. It's hard to believe in certain things of our time becoming classics of literature or film history, later on. Who knows if Kanye West will indeed become the next King of Pop?* The Twilight films and book could become the Nosferatu's and Dracula's of a later generation.** It's unpredictable.
Art isn't something that can be calculated, it cannot be estimated. It just is, and it won't be anything else. It's just like how sports will always be sports, sure the games could change, but the physical activity used for a greater purpose of teamwork and victory will always remain. Regardless of whether or not film or digital media will still exist in the next 100 years (who knows where the human race will take us on the road to armageddon), art will never be any different from what it always has been.
*Hell no, he won't.
**For the love of all that is holy, NO.
Art seems to have a broad type of hold on society. It can be timeless, while at the same time always changing. We still reference Moby Dick and The Odyssey, yet also talk about the latest craze in everything else. The classics are unforgettable, yet the changes are constant. It's hard to believe in certain things of our time becoming classics of literature or film history, later on. Who knows if Kanye West will indeed become the next King of Pop?* The Twilight films and book could become the Nosferatu's and Dracula's of a later generation.** It's unpredictable.
Art isn't something that can be calculated, it cannot be estimated. It just is, and it won't be anything else. It's just like how sports will always be sports, sure the games could change, but the physical activity used for a greater purpose of teamwork and victory will always remain. Regardless of whether or not film or digital media will still exist in the next 100 years (who knows where the human race will take us on the road to armageddon), art will never be any different from what it always has been.
*Hell no, he won't.
**For the love of all that is holy, NO.
Logic / Reasoning vs. Emotion for Support
Okay, so it's been about, what, three weeks since I've written a blog? I'm not sure. I doubt I'm in the mood to write, and the mediocre-ness of Employee of the Month is distracting me from writing. However! I will commit, and I will indeed write. The TV is muted, I'm talking to no one, and my brain is in writing mode, so let's get this show on the rode. I have eight blogs to write... Well, nine. I think.
When it comes to support, many things depend on the certain thing that needs support. If I am having trouble deciding between which color I like more, logic and reasoning have no say in this matter. Of course, they could, but it seems pointless and foolish to include them in such a minuscule decision. Now, this idea doesn't really bleed over into other arguments, though. As much as I hate the absent-minded, logical robots that some people can be, I'm not going to shoot them down. Logic and reasoning is indeed a key factor in winning any kind of debate or argument.
Think of this: Who would you trust more in a state of emergency? The crying, whining man who preaches about how mean these people have been to our country and have bullied us, or the level-headed man who keeps his wits about him and tells the people why we should retaliate or turn the other cheek. Emotion cannot be the sole source of support. It can be used to rally, it can be used to bring forth revolution and change, but it is rarely used to explain fact.
I do not condone explaining evolution with your feelings. Obviously, you cannot teach kids evolution by maliciously gnawing at religion's throat. Logically, you explain to them what evolution is, and if any sort of argument from the other side is presented, you reasonably shoo it away; it doesn't get any simpler. Of course, it's easier said than done, but who's trying, really? We're teenagers: We're irrational, idiots, and egocentric. That's what makes high school so hard to deal with, and that's what makes so many people get angry over getting a D on their paper when all they do is rant about things with no support other than the feelings coming off the top of their heads.
That was a strange ending, and an emotional one.
When it comes to support, many things depend on the certain thing that needs support. If I am having trouble deciding between which color I like more, logic and reasoning have no say in this matter. Of course, they could, but it seems pointless and foolish to include them in such a minuscule decision. Now, this idea doesn't really bleed over into other arguments, though. As much as I hate the absent-minded, logical robots that some people can be, I'm not going to shoot them down. Logic and reasoning is indeed a key factor in winning any kind of debate or argument.
Think of this: Who would you trust more in a state of emergency? The crying, whining man who preaches about how mean these people have been to our country and have bullied us, or the level-headed man who keeps his wits about him and tells the people why we should retaliate or turn the other cheek. Emotion cannot be the sole source of support. It can be used to rally, it can be used to bring forth revolution and change, but it is rarely used to explain fact.
I do not condone explaining evolution with your feelings. Obviously, you cannot teach kids evolution by maliciously gnawing at religion's throat. Logically, you explain to them what evolution is, and if any sort of argument from the other side is presented, you reasonably shoo it away; it doesn't get any simpler. Of course, it's easier said than done, but who's trying, really? We're teenagers: We're irrational, idiots, and egocentric. That's what makes high school so hard to deal with, and that's what makes so many people get angry over getting a D on their paper when all they do is rant about things with no support other than the feelings coming off the top of their heads.
That was a strange ending, and an emotional one.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
School Spirit
Contrary to popular belief, school spirit is not in any way important. It's having fun that's important. If someone likes going to school football games, then what's important is having fun, not cheering for your team. Of course, there are other points that complement school spirit. Without it, no one would really care about anything pertaining to the school. Clubs could potentially not be formed, support for sports teams would dwindle, and the entire foundation of the American educational system would collapse upon itself, causing a cataclysmic event that would shake the entirety of the cosmos, rupturing time and space and bring about the end of reality as we know it.
Okay, so that last part might have been overkill, but you never really know.
Anyhow, the value of school spirit is a bit overdone, to be honest. I guess I have some school spirit. It's fine to like certain aspects of your school, but overall I'm not too big a fan of the rest of it. I find too much bias towards sports and certain other things in the school, rather than an equal amount of attention towards everything in the entirety of the school. Because of this, it's hard to have complete respect for the school and the decisions it undergoes. Then again, it bought to Canon Rebels that I get to take pictures with, so I guess I can't complain.
Another reason it's not a big deal is that, in the end, it doesn't really matter. You're going to graduate (at least, I'd hope you will), move on to college, and then go out in the real world. No matter how big of a hot shot you were in high school, it's not going to just move on with you into your future jobs. People may respect you and think you're great for being the one painting your entire body red and blue and bringing a blow horn to deafen people while you scream until you lose your voice, but is that really something you want to put on a resume? And if, for some god-awful reason, you do put something like that on a resume, it's not like that's going to make you any more likely to get a job.
I'm just me, though. I do what I do because I like doing things that I would actually do. I don't truly care about the school all that much, so why exert the energy to make it seem like I do?
Okay, so that last part might have been overkill, but you never really know.
Anyhow, the value of school spirit is a bit overdone, to be honest. I guess I have some school spirit. It's fine to like certain aspects of your school, but overall I'm not too big a fan of the rest of it. I find too much bias towards sports and certain other things in the school, rather than an equal amount of attention towards everything in the entirety of the school. Because of this, it's hard to have complete respect for the school and the decisions it undergoes. Then again, it bought to Canon Rebels that I get to take pictures with, so I guess I can't complain.
Another reason it's not a big deal is that, in the end, it doesn't really matter. You're going to graduate (at least, I'd hope you will), move on to college, and then go out in the real world. No matter how big of a hot shot you were in high school, it's not going to just move on with you into your future jobs. People may respect you and think you're great for being the one painting your entire body red and blue and bringing a blow horn to deafen people while you scream until you lose your voice, but is that really something you want to put on a resume? And if, for some god-awful reason, you do put something like that on a resume, it's not like that's going to make you any more likely to get a job.
I'm just me, though. I do what I do because I like doing things that I would actually do. I don't truly care about the school all that much, so why exert the energy to make it seem like I do?
Thanks, Comedy Central
Wow. A show for a ventriloquist. Is Comedy Central grasping for straws, or something? First, we've got Mind of Mencia; thank god we're rid of that. Next we get The Sarah Silverman Program? How is that compensation? We've just had our minds dumbed down to nothing by the horrible "comedy" of Carlos Mencia and his damned "DE DEE DEE!" and you feed us more garbage? Low blow, Comedy Central.
Just as we climbed out of our pit, though, you dealt the (hopefully) final blow. There we were, blinded from the dark in our dank, nightmarish prison, with Sarah Silverman dangling her horrible comedy in front of our faces, exclaiming, "It shoves the horrible 'comedy' down its throat or else it gets the Mind of Mencia, again!" When she's finally taken away and we, who have been left alone to desperately grope and grasp our way out of this pit of stink, finally reach the beautiful and warm embrace of sunlight, you have Jeff Dunham step in with his puppets. He gingerly picks us up, assuring us everything will be okay. Before we know it, though, we're chained to a wall with Jeff sitting there in a dress, playing tea time with us and his alter ego puppets.
So thanks a lot, Comedy Central, on giving us another horrible show that will be canceled after one season. Dear god, I hope it will be...
Just as we climbed out of our pit, though, you dealt the (hopefully) final blow. There we were, blinded from the dark in our dank, nightmarish prison, with Sarah Silverman dangling her horrible comedy in front of our faces, exclaiming, "It shoves the horrible 'comedy' down its throat or else it gets the Mind of Mencia, again!" When she's finally taken away and we, who have been left alone to desperately grope and grasp our way out of this pit of stink, finally reach the beautiful and warm embrace of sunlight, you have Jeff Dunham step in with his puppets. He gingerly picks us up, assuring us everything will be okay. Before we know it, though, we're chained to a wall with Jeff sitting there in a dress, playing tea time with us and his alter ego puppets.
So thanks a lot, Comedy Central, on giving us another horrible show that will be canceled after one season. Dear god, I hope it will be...
Ethics / Values
Ethics and values: They vary greatly from person to person. It's been made obvious from people like Hitler and Stalin, in comparison to people like Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr. Yeah, I dropped some names. What are you going to do about it? Regardless, my point remains valid: No matter how wrong it may seem to other people in the world, your values are still your values... Except Hitler's. He killed millions of people...
Moving along, I have many morals and values, just like every other person. Sort of. Some people in the world just kind of live without any idea of what a moral is. They do things for themselves and think nothing of the repercussions that could transpire should they continue this negative lifestyle. These people, however, are few and far between, though I'm sure one day you will meet one of these people. My advice is to stay far away from them. You may feel as though I'm unethically putting myself before them, but in the end, it's best to keep far away from any of these people. Hey, you can't say I didn't warn you.
Finally, I guess we'll get to my ethics and values. First off, I try to be as nice to people as I can be. Even if they wrong me, I feel bad for anything that really happens to them. If they've really wronged me, though, I will feel nothing but contempt for said person. Of course, in the end, I'll just get over it and feel bad about anything that has to do with me being mean towards a person. It's a curse, and it seems like people take advantage of it at times, but whatever. I feel good for not being the one doing the wronging, so it's worth it in the end. I also value open-mindedness. I can't take people who can't reason with their own selves and see the big picture. If they can't accept something because of their inability to do so, then I'll lose some respect for them.
I don't respect how America teaches children about some things, as well. This is a school blog, though, so I guess I shouldn't be commenting on such touchy (and controversial) subjects. Now that I've chosen to lay off that, I'll just say that I also feel that caring is an important emotion. One that lacks caring is one that is not fully whole. It may sound mean to say, but in my world I think it makes very much sense. That's all I've really got to say right now, though. You guys have me in a bind.
Moving along, I have many morals and values, just like every other person. Sort of. Some people in the world just kind of live without any idea of what a moral is. They do things for themselves and think nothing of the repercussions that could transpire should they continue this negative lifestyle. These people, however, are few and far between, though I'm sure one day you will meet one of these people. My advice is to stay far away from them. You may feel as though I'm unethically putting myself before them, but in the end, it's best to keep far away from any of these people. Hey, you can't say I didn't warn you.
Finally, I guess we'll get to my ethics and values. First off, I try to be as nice to people as I can be. Even if they wrong me, I feel bad for anything that really happens to them. If they've really wronged me, though, I will feel nothing but contempt for said person. Of course, in the end, I'll just get over it and feel bad about anything that has to do with me being mean towards a person. It's a curse, and it seems like people take advantage of it at times, but whatever. I feel good for not being the one doing the wronging, so it's worth it in the end. I also value open-mindedness. I can't take people who can't reason with their own selves and see the big picture. If they can't accept something because of their inability to do so, then I'll lose some respect for them.
I don't respect how America teaches children about some things, as well. This is a school blog, though, so I guess I shouldn't be commenting on such touchy (and controversial) subjects. Now that I've chosen to lay off that, I'll just say that I also feel that caring is an important emotion. One that lacks caring is one that is not fully whole. It may sound mean to say, but in my world I think it makes very much sense. That's all I've really got to say right now, though. You guys have me in a bind.
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