We as a nation are trillions of dollars in debt because weaponry costs more than peace and diplomacy. We spend more money on weapons than food. And that's maddening. We are no longer the isolationist nation we used to pride ourselves on being (but, really, were we ever?), thrusting ourselves like knives or penises into foreign affairs. I wish we spread more diplomacy that bombs.
It's because countries have the same mentality and animal instinct that all humans have. To be bigger, to be better. That great, competitive drive. In the words of Trevor Hoffman, "It's a lot cooler to strike out someone with an overpowering fastball than a changeup." Changeups are food drops and helping the starving millions both here and abroad. Here, too, we have the starving people, despite our great supermarkets. And we are interested in helping out terrorism? What is terrorism but a great relative term now given to "those goddam A-rabs?"
If there are to be numerous weapons, I at least want honesty in exchange. Why are we in Iraq? Is it because the Middle East has 2\3rds of the oil reserves?
Drop food not bombs. Ole cliche and I'm serious.
--
On a lighter note, I got tickets to Coachella. Be jealous.
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
I love your depression and I love your double chin...
In my years of writing, I've come to the realization recently that every novel, every story, every idea, has a sinking point. Not a sinking point as in the way of the idea going south, sinking into the echelon of broken thoughts and novels, but a sinking point in the way of breaking the surface on the water, and diving deep into the lake. Instead of catching the fish beneath the water, it's allowing the fish to catch you, pull you off the boat, and drag you along underneath. This is the point that the characters take over, which can cause great confusion and public disdain. Steinbeck did this with East of Eden, of of which, he had this to say: "In this book I am a bystander and I know it." The fish takes you along, not you hauling in the fish, because that's labor, that is superficial. Following the great fish throughout the water, wherever it wants to take you, like riding a great Whale, is not work, it is not forced, it is not superficial. It is real. Of pure writing convention, Charles Bukowski wrote, “There is a time to stop reading, there is a time to stop trying to write, there is a time to kick the whole bloated sensation of art out on its whore-ass.”
Kicking the whole bloated sensation of art out on its whore-ass. Giving the finger to genre. Giving the finger to reality. For far too often, novels are forced into pragmatism, leading to questions and analysis. But to question the surface is but mere ripples. What is amazing is when the sinking point hits and the fish says, "I will show you your answers," and leads you to the answers to the 1st, while making you question the second.
Alice down the rabbit hole and the cake saying to her, "EAT ME," and here she is, growing larger and larger. This whole idea of the sinking point, and swimming with the whale, swimming with the fish, is beyond the idea of stream-of-consciousness. It is going beyond what is conscious, and down deeper, into the subconscious, down to where this story, this essay, this book, this poem, really wants to go. Because, in the end, you will be swallowed by it, and spit out at least 100 miles closer in the right direction.
Kicking the whole bloated sensation of art out on its whore-ass. Giving the finger to genre. Giving the finger to reality. For far too often, novels are forced into pragmatism, leading to questions and analysis. But to question the surface is but mere ripples. What is amazing is when the sinking point hits and the fish says, "I will show you your answers," and leads you to the answers to the 1st, while making you question the second.
Alice down the rabbit hole and the cake saying to her, "EAT ME," and here she is, growing larger and larger. This whole idea of the sinking point, and swimming with the whale, swimming with the fish, is beyond the idea of stream-of-consciousness. It is going beyond what is conscious, and down deeper, into the subconscious, down to where this story, this essay, this book, this poem, really wants to go. Because, in the end, you will be swallowed by it, and spit out at least 100 miles closer in the right direction.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
You can sit on chimneys and put some fire up your ass.
I've said it before, and it' s going to be reiterated because of these comments.
If you are going to disagree with me and say that something is "retarded," please at least give a solid reason and not just come back a minute later and "second" the first "retarded" comment. Give me reason, and, c'mon, give me your name! What is really retarded is when people are so opinionated and yet can't put a name to their "taboo" statements or even have a reason for being "taboo." That's something I've found is that an opinion held in fear is an opinion held anonymously. At least Bethany, a while ago, had the guts to step up and say, "'Twas me, mofo!" That type of thing I dig upon. "Retarded," I do not.
Justify nothing, believe in everything. Except what Anonymous says.
--
Never fear the idea. Never fear the opinion. Never fear growth and rebuttal. Never fear being wrong. It's sad that the great intrinsic feeling is that to be wrong is to be dumb, when, in reality, wrongness is the the first step towards wisdom. Freedom takes mistakes. Without, we are hollow. Without wrong, there is no right. Without bad, there is no good. For it is the bad that carves that great chasm that will be filled up by the Goodness of God that is more pure than any Christmas gift and more gratifying than any candy in any egg found on any Easter. The bad is pivotal because it points out the good.
If you are going to disagree with me and say that something is "retarded," please at least give a solid reason and not just come back a minute later and "second" the first "retarded" comment. Give me reason, and, c'mon, give me your name! What is really retarded is when people are so opinionated and yet can't put a name to their "taboo" statements or even have a reason for being "taboo." That's something I've found is that an opinion held in fear is an opinion held anonymously. At least Bethany, a while ago, had the guts to step up and say, "'Twas me, mofo!" That type of thing I dig upon. "Retarded," I do not.
Justify nothing, believe in everything. Except what Anonymous says.
--
Never fear the idea. Never fear the opinion. Never fear growth and rebuttal. Never fear being wrong. It's sad that the great intrinsic feeling is that to be wrong is to be dumb, when, in reality, wrongness is the the first step towards wisdom. Freedom takes mistakes. Without, we are hollow. Without wrong, there is no right. Without bad, there is no good. For it is the bad that carves that great chasm that will be filled up by the Goodness of God that is more pure than any Christmas gift and more gratifying than any candy in any egg found on any Easter. The bad is pivotal because it points out the good.
Monday, January 22, 2007
That's Billy Madison, I heard he's retarded or something...
I don't know what to say anymore. I don't know what to do anymore. I'm uneployed, of my own accord, and I am alone, of my own accord. It's funny, I often wish I could be suave with women, etcetera, when in all reality, I'm timid beyond belief because I'm afraid that they're all sexually active. Narrowing the pool to girls I know well enough to ask that question to. Narrowing the pool to puddle to girls who aren't who I know well enough to ask that question to. So could I get a date? Probably. But do I want to? No, not really. I'd rather be friends first. And that's funny because it never was that way before. But now that it's necessity, I'm okay with it. Because I don't want to date or even consider dating a defiled woman. Because casual sex is awkward. And scary. Mostly scary.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Just something that needs to be said.
I love you. You are valuable.
In the words of Mos Def,
"Well, from my understanding people get better
when they start to understand that, they are valuable
And they not valuable because they got a whole lot of money
or cause somebody, think they sexy
but they valuable cause they been created by God
And God, makes you valuable."
Don't think you're not worth something. You are to me.
In the words of Mos Def,
"Well, from my understanding people get better
when they start to understand that, they are valuable
And they not valuable because they got a whole lot of money
or cause somebody, think they sexy
but they valuable cause they been created by God
And God, makes you valuable."
Don't think you're not worth something. You are to me.
Friday, January 12, 2007
shave the cat.
Fear.
The great driving fear.
Disenchanting, it tells us all we need to know.
"OH THE PEACEFUL SODOMY!"
Don't be such a queen. I know who you are, and you know who I am. I am not afraid to kick your ass. I am not afraid to run. I am afraid of you.
A purpose still to be fulfilled. Unnamed, but in need of fulfillment. Show me oh my father!
"Look, come to the window, she carries a candle in Mid-day while the sun's still so high!"
Gook, nigger, spic.
Beware and caveat emptor. A streaming conscience might reveal more than you expect. Hunger. Definitely hunger.
Hunger for what?
Love? Probably.
But what hinders hunger and keeps us starving?
Fear.
The great driving fear.
Disenchanting, it tells us all we need to know.
"OH THE PEACEFUL SODOMY!"
Don't be such a queen. I know who you are, and you know who I am. I am not afraid to kick your ass. I am not afraid to run. I am afraid of you.
A purpose still to be fulfilled. Unnamed, but in need of fulfillment. Show me oh my father!
"Look, come to the window, she carries a candle in Mid-day while the sun's still so high!"
Gook, nigger, spic.
Beware and caveat emptor. A streaming conscience might reveal more than you expect. Hunger. Definitely hunger.
Hunger for what?
Love? Probably.
But what hinders hunger and keeps us starving?
Fear.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Under the boughs unbound
I just got home from seeing the movie Pan's Labyrinth. And the movie indicated a few things to me: that this is going to be another solid filled with movies I will enjoy, that damn near no one in the audience was expecting Pan's Labyrinth to (gasp!) actually be in Spanish, and, finally, that no one likes magical realism these days. It's not acceptable to have a world where magical things happen and everything's alright. No one likes fairy tales. No one likes Kafka. Not that no one cares, for that's a different story, but that no one wants it because it's awkward to revert to these "childish" ideas, when, in reality, our childishness is also some our most insightful.
Magically real, or not; in Spanish or not, I highly recommend Pan's Labyrinth.
--
Now, it's been said to me that there's a fine line between worldliness and sovereignty. There's a thin line between sin and war. There's a fine line that is tottered between the drunk's new year's and the church's.
There's also the great brushstrokes of immersion into the world or into American Christianity. Think about it, there are just as many Christian books and Christian shirts as there are non. The Christian culture is just as capitalistically driven as the non. The only differences are the metaphysical ones--intoxication, celibacy, et al.--and so for one to totter that thin line between worldly and godly, couldn't it also be said that they are walking that great and narrow path towards that great and narrow gate? For in their metaphysics and in their beliefs and in their beign, they are sovereign, while in their habits they are sometimes worldly, and mostly sovereign.
There's no way around sin, I'm just saying that the one who can have the social agility to totter the two sides and have the spiritual wherewithall to survive both sides of the fence deserves much more merit than the caved and plain Christians. I wish I was that strong.
Magically real, or not; in Spanish or not, I highly recommend Pan's Labyrinth.
--
Now, it's been said to me that there's a fine line between worldliness and sovereignty. There's a thin line between sin and war. There's a fine line that is tottered between the drunk's new year's and the church's.
There's also the great brushstrokes of immersion into the world or into American Christianity. Think about it, there are just as many Christian books and Christian shirts as there are non. The Christian culture is just as capitalistically driven as the non. The only differences are the metaphysical ones--intoxication, celibacy, et al.--and so for one to totter that thin line between worldly and godly, couldn't it also be said that they are walking that great and narrow path towards that great and narrow gate? For in their metaphysics and in their beliefs and in their beign, they are sovereign, while in their habits they are sometimes worldly, and mostly sovereign.
There's no way around sin, I'm just saying that the one who can have the social agility to totter the two sides and have the spiritual wherewithall to survive both sides of the fence deserves much more merit than the caved and plain Christians. I wish I was that strong.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Without a Queen.
If you know me, which you probably do, you'll know that I enjoy movies. And 2006 was definitely the year I got really into movies and really excited about them--sort of switching my love for roller coasters over to my love for film. This Top Ten is more like a tie for #1, since I thoroughly enjoyed all of these movies. Out of the whole 12 I actually enjoyed enough to place here (most comedies got omitted because they're good but they're not transcendental "Oh my God" movies. Except for a few, and I'll explain.).
The year had its bad too, lest we forget Apocalypto and Date Movie. Most would cry heresy seeing Apocalypto in the same breath as Date Movie, but, hey, that's my opinion. And my opinion is that Apocalypto was absolutely shit. Talladega Nights and Beerfest were two really good comedies that were released this year, but, once again, not good enough to be considered for the list.
Here's my Top 10, with explanations... Some are esoteric but all are highly, highly recommended.
10. Bobby
So, basically, this movie is about Bobby Kennedy. And, as a democrat, I must include it. Although there were some needless plot lines within the movie, it was overall a very touching and sentimental story about the effect of RFK, bringing up many "What ifs" along the way.
9. This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Compelling and angering as all shit-get-out. This documentary was muckraking at its best. It was enfuriating enough to get me to do a speech about the issues with the MPAA in my Speech class last quarter at the college. Frustrating who controls everything because no one wants art to speak for itself.
8. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Ah, comedy #1. A movie that was hilarious and also showed off some very bigoted ideals still alive in America. We hate Iraqis, just watch the rodeo scene. This movie was funny and infuriating all the same. And funny, again. I can't not recommend this movie. Or leave it off of the list.
7. Monster House
This spot was between Monster House and Cars. What made me choose Monster House was that it was a coming of age tale that I could relate with. Not the house part, the girl part. It was awkward for the boys to be around her. And the prophet at the video arcade was genius. And, c'mon, the house died. And the ending wasn't happy at all. It was fucking masterful, though. Rarely do I like a kids movie as much as I enjoyed Monster House.
6. An Inconvenient Truth
Another "typical socialist necessity movie," it was boring and engaging at the same time. To hear not only about global warming but to have the pictoral visual aids, and all of it punctuated by Gore discussing his own life and why he was doing it, gave it a ton of heart. This good Earth is being destroyed. And now everyone knows it.
5. Little Miss Sunshine
The first great movie of the year. When I heard about it from trailers and reading preliminary reviews online, I dragged my friend JP along to Hollywood where there was an exclusive engagement... The hype was basically a setup for disaster. Driving 50-odd miles, paying out-the-ass for parking, and for the Arclight's higher-than-average ticket prices made us beg for this movie to be great. Hopes were high. And this movie definitely delivered. Funny and touching and sentimental and sad and real and definitely different. Offbeat and genius and wonderful.
4. The Departed
Ever since Titanic, I didn't like Leonardo DiCaprio. He was hokey, and I lost faith in him. I knew this movie, with all its a-list stars and its a-list directors, had a lot of weight. And it could have definitely collapsed under that weight. Instead, it delivered a top-notch mobster movie. So good that, hell, Mark Wahlberg actually looked like he was acting.
3. Dirty Sanchez: The Movie
The grossest movie I have ever seen. Based on the show "Dirty Sanchez," or "Team Sanchez" in the USA, it's basically the same premise as the Jackass movies and show. Only taken four steps further. The stunts are nasty (tattooed penises, liposuction and the subsequent eating of that liposucked out during a "drinking" game), and fucking insane. If you saw Jackass 2, you'll recognize the drinking beer by the anus stunt that Steve-o did, but, instead of shying away, the Sanchez boys drink the beer. Gross gross gross. And fucking hilarious. I've never laughed so hard in my life. If you're into gross-out, stupid human tricks, I highly recommend this movie. If you have a weak stomach, and don't want to see a lot of full frontal male nudity and brutality, don't see this. Although you definitely will be missing out. Although the version that gets released in the US straight to DVD will probably be hacked and cut by censors. Find a UK bootleg. Hah.
2. The Fountain
This movie posed the ultimate question for me: What if you could live forever? And it also solidifed Darren Aronofsky as one of my all-time favorite directors. It's a transcendental love story that spans across 2000 years and confuses and awes and strikes and retreats and plucks and prods. See this film. The scene where everything collapses into a single dot is worth it enough. I absolutely loved it. Except Tai Chi in space. That's why it's not #1. Oh and because the next movie is the greatest fucking movie of all time. Yea.
1. INLAND EMPIRE
I love David Lynch. He's a genius. Okay, I didn't like Eraserhead, but this is, definitely his magnum opus. This is David Lynch off the Deep End. And he took us with him. Convoluted and incomprehensible and absolutely mashed up, it's a nightmare that stirs and destroys without remorse. It's not cohesive, and it's confusing, and I love it so much. Go to Pasadena and see this movie. It will mess you up. And you will love it. Okay, maybe you won't. But I definitely did.
Go ahead and disagree with this list. I don't care. It's mine.
Here's to 2007. Go Dodgers. Go Humboldt. Go forth O my Love.
The year had its bad too, lest we forget Apocalypto and Date Movie. Most would cry heresy seeing Apocalypto in the same breath as Date Movie, but, hey, that's my opinion. And my opinion is that Apocalypto was absolutely shit. Talladega Nights and Beerfest were two really good comedies that were released this year, but, once again, not good enough to be considered for the list.
Here's my Top 10, with explanations... Some are esoteric but all are highly, highly recommended.
10. Bobby
So, basically, this movie is about Bobby Kennedy. And, as a democrat, I must include it. Although there were some needless plot lines within the movie, it was overall a very touching and sentimental story about the effect of RFK, bringing up many "What ifs" along the way.
9. This Film Is Not Yet Rated
Compelling and angering as all shit-get-out. This documentary was muckraking at its best. It was enfuriating enough to get me to do a speech about the issues with the MPAA in my Speech class last quarter at the college. Frustrating who controls everything because no one wants art to speak for itself.
8. Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan
Ah, comedy #1. A movie that was hilarious and also showed off some very bigoted ideals still alive in America. We hate Iraqis, just watch the rodeo scene. This movie was funny and infuriating all the same. And funny, again. I can't not recommend this movie. Or leave it off of the list.
7. Monster House
This spot was between Monster House and Cars. What made me choose Monster House was that it was a coming of age tale that I could relate with. Not the house part, the girl part. It was awkward for the boys to be around her. And the prophet at the video arcade was genius. And, c'mon, the house died. And the ending wasn't happy at all. It was fucking masterful, though. Rarely do I like a kids movie as much as I enjoyed Monster House.
6. An Inconvenient Truth
Another "typical socialist necessity movie," it was boring and engaging at the same time. To hear not only about global warming but to have the pictoral visual aids, and all of it punctuated by Gore discussing his own life and why he was doing it, gave it a ton of heart. This good Earth is being destroyed. And now everyone knows it.
5. Little Miss Sunshine
The first great movie of the year. When I heard about it from trailers and reading preliminary reviews online, I dragged my friend JP along to Hollywood where there was an exclusive engagement... The hype was basically a setup for disaster. Driving 50-odd miles, paying out-the-ass for parking, and for the Arclight's higher-than-average ticket prices made us beg for this movie to be great. Hopes were high. And this movie definitely delivered. Funny and touching and sentimental and sad and real and definitely different. Offbeat and genius and wonderful.
4. The Departed
Ever since Titanic, I didn't like Leonardo DiCaprio. He was hokey, and I lost faith in him. I knew this movie, with all its a-list stars and its a-list directors, had a lot of weight. And it could have definitely collapsed under that weight. Instead, it delivered a top-notch mobster movie. So good that, hell, Mark Wahlberg actually looked like he was acting.
3. Dirty Sanchez: The Movie
The grossest movie I have ever seen. Based on the show "Dirty Sanchez," or "Team Sanchez" in the USA, it's basically the same premise as the Jackass movies and show. Only taken four steps further. The stunts are nasty (tattooed penises, liposuction and the subsequent eating of that liposucked out during a "drinking" game), and fucking insane. If you saw Jackass 2, you'll recognize the drinking beer by the anus stunt that Steve-o did, but, instead of shying away, the Sanchez boys drink the beer. Gross gross gross. And fucking hilarious. I've never laughed so hard in my life. If you're into gross-out, stupid human tricks, I highly recommend this movie. If you have a weak stomach, and don't want to see a lot of full frontal male nudity and brutality, don't see this. Although you definitely will be missing out. Although the version that gets released in the US straight to DVD will probably be hacked and cut by censors. Find a UK bootleg. Hah.
2. The Fountain
This movie posed the ultimate question for me: What if you could live forever? And it also solidifed Darren Aronofsky as one of my all-time favorite directors. It's a transcendental love story that spans across 2000 years and confuses and awes and strikes and retreats and plucks and prods. See this film. The scene where everything collapses into a single dot is worth it enough. I absolutely loved it. Except Tai Chi in space. That's why it's not #1. Oh and because the next movie is the greatest fucking movie of all time. Yea.
1. INLAND EMPIRE
I love David Lynch. He's a genius. Okay, I didn't like Eraserhead, but this is, definitely his magnum opus. This is David Lynch off the Deep End. And he took us with him. Convoluted and incomprehensible and absolutely mashed up, it's a nightmare that stirs and destroys without remorse. It's not cohesive, and it's confusing, and I love it so much. Go to Pasadena and see this movie. It will mess you up. And you will love it. Okay, maybe you won't. But I definitely did.
Go ahead and disagree with this list. I don't care. It's mine.
Here's to 2007. Go Dodgers. Go Humboldt. Go forth O my Love.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
