I posted this a while ago, almost 2 years ago maybe longer, on my Xanga site. The again with some tweaks on MySpace about 1 yr ago. I feel it still kinda resonates with me with some youthful hopes that seem to sound silly in philosophy at parts (ok maybe a lot of parts). But don't we all hold on to childish dreams to some extent and hope secretly one day they'll mature?:
Our mortality brings us one step closer to death and fear one step closer to life. It is fear of dying that ignites the desire for me to take actions that will cause immortal change.
People have asked me "What do you want to do with a major in journalism?"
To be the voice of a thousand. Or to change a thousand. Words are the most instrumental tools one can use to change a universe. They say laughter is contagious. Passion is just as pandemic. It eats at the spirit like an incurable flesh eating disease consuming the body from the inside out. Over the years our morality standards have slipped silently into the shadows of unspeakable sins causing to surface diseases without cure, disturbing statistics of death and their causes, and our aenesthization towards harmful and violent things. I want to call attention to them. Through words I can make others think twice about their actions and motivate change. Real change.
The voice of this generation has been marred by the mistakes of the previous ones and decompose our attempts at a necessary revolution as well as create uncertainty in the lives of the future generations. I have seen the corruption destroy those close to me. Through drugs, alcohol, and the search of acceptance through sexual promiscuity, all of these have become socially acceptable and have even become the norm though they continue to eat away at the conciousness and soul. Any small steps taken towards construction have been detoured. Our seemingly important triumphs are scattered and incohesive blurring into insignificance causing little or no effect on anything but our immediate environments. This is where I want to come in and call others to join in for a great cause.
The words of great leaders, prophets, and philanthropists have lived on for centuries, their full power untapped. We learn about them as little more than dead wise men in our english and history classes. Their actions and voices remain muffled under our own human selfishness and conceit. Few are touched deeply by them. But it is in those few the fire of passionate change continues to ember in people like me and perhaps even you reading this that will cause us to recognize the mistakes of the human existence give us the ability to change the 'now' into a greater 'next.' Hope still glows. Peace's dove still flies with olive branch intact. And Love still conquers. Though their achievements seem small individually their effects still spreads in us collectively. If we remain observant, still, and listen to our hearts, the faint beat of our determination can set forth the march of a new drummer...and another....and another....
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sex Sells. Sex Sells Votes
I remember just years ago reading an article on Drew Barrymore encouraging people to vote and wearing a "Politics is Like Sex. Protect Yourself. Vote." T-Shirt.
The shirt was quick, get-to-the point, and grabbed your attention. It was also true.
The idea of "Sex Sells" has caused years of controversey blending the lines of what's appropriate, what's necessary, and what's our personal right. From the exploitation of the female gender, to public indecency, to the now easily-accessible loss of innocence of children, there are times when the label has made it's mark (usually of negative influence) in both history and law.
If America wasn't so taboo about the subject and sex-crazy whenever any display of sexual nature appeared such measures wouldn't be necessary to get the much needed attention of important issues. There are times I, too, agree it's necessary. In 2004, when this article and t-shirt came around, it was a critical time when we were at war and economically struggling as a country. We recovered from terrible tragedy after tragedy joining our hands together as one to rebuild from the horrific 9-11 disaster that forever changed our world and state of minds. The 2004 election was one of the most important elections to have come around since, well for me, arguably Abraham Lincoln's.
Now having gone through another four years of war, four years of detruction, four years of little done for improvement and rebuilding of our economy, this election is just as critical.
Soooo, where am I going with this?
Sex Sells Votes of course.
Last week, a group of people decided to gather around and create a music video now supporting candidates. In particular (the start of the trend anyway) Amber Lee Ettinger and BarelyPolitical.com productions have come up with a new way to reach the MTV generation (haha I use that loosely) with a music video about love....
Yes love not just of politics but of the politicians themself.
Check out "I Gotta Crush On Obama"
I swear what will they think of next. It's unbelievable the amount of attention being received from this video.
Obama's campaign said they had no affiliation with this project.
So having pushed the envelopes of everything else, why not politics?
Vote 2008.
Wanna know more about Obamagirl and support his campaign. Get some t-shirts and read up at www.barelypolitical.com!
The shirt was quick, get-to-the point, and grabbed your attention. It was also true.
The idea of "Sex Sells" has caused years of controversey blending the lines of what's appropriate, what's necessary, and what's our personal right. From the exploitation of the female gender, to public indecency, to the now easily-accessible loss of innocence of children, there are times when the label has made it's mark (usually of negative influence) in both history and law.
If America wasn't so taboo about the subject and sex-crazy whenever any display of sexual nature appeared such measures wouldn't be necessary to get the much needed attention of important issues. There are times I, too, agree it's necessary. In 2004, when this article and t-shirt came around, it was a critical time when we were at war and economically struggling as a country. We recovered from terrible tragedy after tragedy joining our hands together as one to rebuild from the horrific 9-11 disaster that forever changed our world and state of minds. The 2004 election was one of the most important elections to have come around since, well for me, arguably Abraham Lincoln's.
Now having gone through another four years of war, four years of detruction, four years of little done for improvement and rebuilding of our economy, this election is just as critical.
Soooo, where am I going with this?
Sex Sells Votes of course.
Last week, a group of people decided to gather around and create a music video now supporting candidates. In particular (the start of the trend anyway) Amber Lee Ettinger and BarelyPolitical.com productions have come up with a new way to reach the MTV generation (haha I use that loosely) with a music video about love....
Yes love not just of politics but of the politicians themself.
Check out "I Gotta Crush On Obama"
I swear what will they think of next. It's unbelievable the amount of attention being received from this video.
Obama's campaign said they had no affiliation with this project.
So having pushed the envelopes of everything else, why not politics?
Vote 2008.
Wanna know more about Obamagirl and support his campaign. Get some t-shirts and read up at www.barelypolitical.com!
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Suicide or Homicide?: The Possible Tragic Death of A Talent
Omg, Lindsay Lohan is going to die.
"I was really sick. I had people sit me down who said, 'You are going to die if you don't take care of yourself.'" she was quoted saying after her first rehab stint.
You can see the raggedness of aging appearing on her face from nights of partying, hard-liquoring, and now cocaine use. It's given her a hard look at such a young age.
"I was really sick. I had people sit me down who said, 'You are going to die if you don't take care of yourself.'" she was quoted saying after her first rehab stint.
You can see the raggedness of aging appearing on her face from nights of partying, hard-liquoring, and now cocaine use. It's given her a hard look at such a young age.
Say it ain't so!
Regardless of what you may think of Lindsay personally, the girl's got acting chops.
Regardless of what you may think of Lindsay personally, the girl's got acting chops.
Who else can switch between the role of parent and child so quickly in Freaky Friday? Or play the misunderstood anti-hero in Mean Girls and still make you empathize and cheer for her? And need we forget the start of it all as the adorable little girl in the remake of The Parent Trap?
So why do people put up with the party-hardy, stuck-up starlet?
Felicity Hauffman and Jane Fonda had put up with the young diva arriving constantly late on the set of her new movie "Georgia Rule". Felicity was quoted saying Lindsay's performance in the movie will make people forget all about her misbehavior on the set. Shirley MacLaine who is starring in and producing a new movie called "Poor Things" featuring Lohan and Rosario Dawson and recently sent a letter out stating they're willing to work around Lindsay's rehab schedule.
MacLaine and her fellow producer on the film, Rob Hickman, issued a statement expressing support for the 20-year-old actress. "In the spirit of helping Lindsay Lohan and her rehabilitation, we have been asked by Lindsay to comply with her wishes to continue working on 'Poor Things,"' they said. "We are trying to rearrange the shooting schedule to facilitate her working at the end of the shoot to coincide with the completion of her rehabilitation. We wish her love and the blending of mind, body and spirit." Jane Fonda sang the girl's praises recently on Larry King talking about how it was working on the set of the new movie "Georgia Rule":
KING: Speaking of that, a role you might have taken 50 years ago is your granddaughter Lindsay Lohan. What was it like working with her?
FONDA: She breaks my heart.
KING: Meaning?
FONDA: Meaning, her talent runs so deep. She has an ability to access her emotions and what I can only surmise has been a really difficult, complicated life and she can bring it up and use it in a role like this. I think she will blow people away. She blew me away while we were working. I have seen the movie twice now and I feel like I have been kicked in stomach by a horse by her performance. It just blows me away. And she's a good girl.
KING: Georgia makes the rules, by the way. Lindsay Lohan came in for some negative publicity. She was in fact criticized by the CEO of Morgan Creek Productions, James Robinson, who produced the movie, chiding her for lateness and partying and immaturity. What's your read on Lindsay?
FONDA: "She turned 20 on this movie. Lest we forget, this is a very young person who's had a very difficult life, who has been famous since she was 12. And being famous now is not like when I was young, the scrutiny, the paparazzi, the every move you make, you know, she's in a really difficult situation. And she handles it -- I think she handles it really well."I don't know about her private life. All I know is that when she showed up for work, she was totally brilliant. And for most of the time when I was working with her, she was on time. There were one or two days she was late and I got mad at her. I went into her trailer and told her to get her ass on the set and left. And she said to her makeup person, "Barbarella just yelled at me." She's got a sense of humor. "
So is it a cry for attention? The media blowing things out of proportion? Or poor lack of grounded support in the young girls life?
She's been hospitalized from over exhaustion, admitted to an eating disorder, and now the more recent drug revelation showing her snorting lines of cocaine. What do her parents make of this? "Lindsay needs to let God into her life." her father now a prison minister has said. But who would take Mr. Lohan's advice having been in and out of jail for assault and money fraud? "It's something all teenagers go through." say her mom, who parties just about as hard as her daughter and is also mostly photographed with alcohol in hand looking trashed. When asked about how her daughter is holding up with the cocaine tape circulating she shows no concern about her daughter but more about the videographer.
“We’re not reading anything about it. You can’t let it bother you. We work so hard, then some girl just tried to make money off her [for that tape]. Lindsay doesn’t even know who her friends are."
Yeah Dina, nevermind your daughter is a crackhead on her way knocking at the door of death.
Rosie O' Donnell's view on LiLo's mom seems more accurate if anything, "It's just sad to me that when your daughter is obviously struggling with some addiction issues, the mother is posing with champagne in the back of "Vanity Fair" and doing interviews on the red carpet."
The media has caused LiLo to crash several Benzes and it seems the paparazzi have partially driven the young starlet into insanity. Yet Lindsay was once quoted saying about the paparrazi "I wouldn’t ever want them to not take my picture. I’d be worried. I’d be like, 'Do people not care about me?'" A desperate cry for help perhaps having lived her life, faults and all under the media microscope.
Going into rehab a 2nd time, it's unlikely it'll be a stable recovery. "I don't know that I'm necessarily an addict." LiLo's said.
Unfortunately, Lindsay still doesn't have the best people looking out for her interests. Her 21st birthday party in July 2nd is still scheduled to be in Vegas. And apparently, she doesn't have any plans to cancel despite her rehab. Lohan's lawyer, Mike Heller, sniped at skepticism that his client should not be going to nightclubs or having massive parties given her current situation. "Just because you’re sober doesn’t mean you can’t go out and have fun. Part of sobriety is that you can go out into normal society and just go out. Who say’s you can’t move your boot on the dance floor?" Heller asked.
Are these people serious? Between Lindsay's messed up parents and this guy no wonder she has no discipline. Too much money, too young. It's a shame.
BTW, I loved the reports from the police stating they "refused to comment on Lohan's blood alcohol content."
Geez, I can only imagine....
Friday, June 1, 2007
Media Manipulation: Reality or Perception?
Perhaps celebs are telling the truth about the media making them look bad and not revealing who they really are. The humdrum sing-song chorus of "Yeah-yeah-whatever" from us mere mortals seems to be put in a position of correction. Having watched the premeire of God knows what season of Simple Life, I found myself once again hooked on the hilariously rude but kind-hearted pair as they helped a camp of fatties try to lose weight, then after much complaining about the food at the health camp decided to attach the camp director's car to the locked up fridge in the barn and break it open (unsuccessfully to say the least). What can I say about these 2? It's more of a love-to-hate relationship with Americans. I personally just love 'em. Here in this clip they bonded with the overweights at a bon-fire and entered into a deep (at least for their standards) discussion. I found this interesting because 1) I've always wondered how the media labeling weight issues so easily on these celebrities effects their mindset and 2)Nicole actually comes off intelligent and makes valid points. I guess I found this shocking because all the media ever portrays of these two is being stupid, slutty, party girls when really other than having been born into money they're no different from us (okay so forget the Paris porn tapes). I found this show more or less humanizes them. And aren't celebrities after all just like us? Humans? One of the women at the camp asked how Nicole dealt with the media and their scrutinizing of her eating habits:
Thursday, May 10, 2007
The Beginnings of the Beginning: End of Introduction
I'm finding more and more of myself as time pushes me forward whether I want it to or not. My parents are shoving adult decisions down my throat I've been shirking and have been afraid to admit up until now; I guess I'm not as growed up as I thought.
I realized I really couldn't live entirely on my own at this point in my life. It makes me angry, bitter, pissed really. I don't like relying on people. I hate asking for help. But my pride has gotten me into enough garbage that I can no longer pick out anything valuable in its junkyard.
I need to suck it up and hustle.
I'm financially getting no where in my goals and at this point it looks like my grad date will be at the age of 25. I feel my sanity slipping away here and my potential withering in the state of Pennsylvania. My parents ask me what's wrong.
I'm restless. I have to move. I have to impress. I have to make something of myself. I've done nothing but live vicariously through the ideals and inspirations of others. I finally wanna take over the shoes and walk the hell out of them.
That being said I have $5K I need to pay off to Penn State before I can get my education mojo back on.
Time for a 2nd job.
God help me I've never been this productive in my life. Here's to firsts, fresh starts, and new beginnings.
Que end of intro...
I realized I really couldn't live entirely on my own at this point in my life. It makes me angry, bitter, pissed really. I don't like relying on people. I hate asking for help. But my pride has gotten me into enough garbage that I can no longer pick out anything valuable in its junkyard.
I need to suck it up and hustle.
I'm financially getting no where in my goals and at this point it looks like my grad date will be at the age of 25. I feel my sanity slipping away here and my potential withering in the state of Pennsylvania. My parents ask me what's wrong.
I'm restless. I have to move. I have to impress. I have to make something of myself. I've done nothing but live vicariously through the ideals and inspirations of others. I finally wanna take over the shoes and walk the hell out of them.
That being said I have $5K I need to pay off to Penn State before I can get my education mojo back on.
Time for a 2nd job.
God help me I've never been this productive in my life. Here's to firsts, fresh starts, and new beginnings.
Que end of intro...
Wednesday, May 2, 2007
Isn't It Obvious?
I figured out something about myself. I have a very short attention-span for certain types of bullshit.
There are 2 types of people that bother me entirely too much in this world.
1)People who miss the obvious constantly.
2)People who refuse to accept the obvious.
"Yes, but WHY?" I'll find myself asking someone constantly about their actions. They either babble on about everything BUT why or won't even pretend to care to know. If you don't even know why then there's really no point in talking about it let alone making a half-way decent conversation.
I guess this is why I'll never score high on my calls for empathy. I don't care how you feel. What's the problem, let me figure out why your phone is not working, fix it. No BS, no sugar coating, no tissues to wipe your eyes. My apology to you is fixing your broken phone (that you probably did something really fucked-up settings-wise to begin with) and sayoonara. My bosses want me to give the bullshit. You'd actually be surprised at how many people prefer this instead of my above method.
And then they talk on forever.
It's extremely hard to be empathetic to a problem you've been hearing back-to-back-to-back-to-back. Anyway where was I going with this.
So why? People do things so blindly these days. Whenever I bring why up people say "I don't know." Why don't you know? Is it really because you don't know or that you don't want to know?
It's insane. Why are you staying with this person? Why don't you feel you deserve better? Why don't you work on it? Why don't you do something about this?Why? Why?
Why won't people question why? We're not soldiers. We're not robots.
I guess I was always a rather inquisitive child. If a teacher didn't have an answer as to why things were the way they were deep down in my mind I didn't give it anymore importance as the carved-in designs written in pen by other students on my school desk.
Probably why I wasn't and will never be very fond of math.
Probably a good thing too my mom is such a book-smart woman that not only can she tell me why, she can usually give me the entire history dating back from 1802 for the creation of the reason.
I love that.
There are 2 types of people that bother me entirely too much in this world.
1)People who miss the obvious constantly.
2)People who refuse to accept the obvious.
"Yes, but WHY?" I'll find myself asking someone constantly about their actions. They either babble on about everything BUT why or won't even pretend to care to know. If you don't even know why then there's really no point in talking about it let alone making a half-way decent conversation.
I guess this is why I'll never score high on my calls for empathy. I don't care how you feel. What's the problem, let me figure out why your phone is not working, fix it. No BS, no sugar coating, no tissues to wipe your eyes. My apology to you is fixing your broken phone (that you probably did something really fucked-up settings-wise to begin with) and sayoonara. My bosses want me to give the bullshit. You'd actually be surprised at how many people prefer this instead of my above method.
And then they talk on forever.
It's extremely hard to be empathetic to a problem you've been hearing back-to-back-to-back-to-back. Anyway where was I going with this.
So why? People do things so blindly these days. Whenever I bring why up people say "I don't know." Why don't you know? Is it really because you don't know or that you don't want to know?
It's insane. Why are you staying with this person? Why don't you feel you deserve better? Why don't you work on it? Why don't you do something about this?Why? Why?
Why won't people question why? We're not soldiers. We're not robots.
I guess I was always a rather inquisitive child. If a teacher didn't have an answer as to why things were the way they were deep down in my mind I didn't give it anymore importance as the carved-in designs written in pen by other students on my school desk.
Probably why I wasn't and will never be very fond of math.
Probably a good thing too my mom is such a book-smart woman that not only can she tell me why, she can usually give me the entire history dating back from 1802 for the creation of the reason.
I love that.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
With Love, Signed Sarcasm
I find my mind is oozing with more and more sarcasm these days. I seem to be making more and more friends from it though I'm not sure why. I crack racial stereotypical jokes at myself, my friends, my family even. People seem to love it and think I'm awesome. I'm not trying to brag or come off conceited. Seriously, these are first words coming out of new people I've met lately "Ohmigod, you're awesome!" I have yet to offend anyone. I wish I could. Then it would spark some type of confrontation. A good debate even. Maybe I'm just feeling aggressive cuz Aunt Flow's visiting right now.
I was talking to an online friend who is an amazing writer and whose blog I've been reading for a good 5+ years give or take. She's 28 in CA, and a free-lance journalist, a little unsure in the department of love, but smart as hell. She was stumbling back between liking this guy and blaming herself.
"I feel a chunk of it is my fault." she IM'ed. "That I was too neurotic and needy."
"Being neurotic and needy is part of being in relationships." I replied, "you're always going to wonder about things and crave affection from the other person. i don't think you're needy. i think you know what you want deep down but can't seem to find it so it's making you nervous in wondering if you'll ever find it"
"I feel the same way" I said.
"Wow, that totally hit the nail on the head." she said.
More and more we got into conversation about the world, worry, life, love, and work.
"That's so weird." she said. "You're saying all these things that I've had conversations about in the past few days.... almost verbatim."
"Well, I guess that's confirmation then. Either that or I'm your long lost sibling with more of a tan." I joked
Having never been in a real relationship, I sometimes feel a bit silly trying to give relationship advice to someone. I feel like I don't know how it really is so that I'm missing some important factor that people will say "Oh. She doesn't really understand." but everytime I give the advice people take it for sound.
"I've seen enough of the ups and downs to get the gist of it." I argued my stance, more for myself really. "it's easy to tell when somethings feels right or wrong. People know too. They just choose not to listen to their gut. They overthink it way more than they should."
I'm not sure if I was of any help to her, but I hoped she was ok afterwards. She seemed rather down.
I find my brain is best at picking others. Sometimes better than trying to decipher what's in my own mind. I sit down and think about a lot of different things and situations. I guess it might be part of my bi-polarity. I don't even know if that's a word but sometimes silly ones are the best words to describe something. I wonder sometimes what I'd do if I didn't have anything to fret over. My imagination is often very vivid and sometimes fools even my own reality. That said, there are days when I will take notice of it but choose to live in the fantasy of the creative lies crafted beautifully in my head rather than to face uncomfortable truths.
"The world is too insane for anyone to stay sane." I told her.
I am excited about one thing today. My hair is growing like 'whoa!' right now. It feels like just yesterday the roots were straight. I went to pick up a curling iron and a lot of it seems wavy and getting knappy at the roots already. My hair used to be all the way down my back until I ran into a bad hairdresser a few years ago and it hasn't really grown back that length since so that's kind of exciting. I think because I've been eating a lot more. When the summer hits and the weather gets warmer I start to eat like crazy. I would like to get in shape this summer. Not lose fat-wise, but my endurance and stamina are terrible. I will try to quit smoking. It will be hard, but I'll try and put my mind to it. I'd like to run again. It felt so good running 6 miles a day.
And I can't believe I just said that. Even worse, I recorded it in a blog. Mark this historical day.
I was talking to an online friend who is an amazing writer and whose blog I've been reading for a good 5+ years give or take. She's 28 in CA, and a free-lance journalist, a little unsure in the department of love, but smart as hell. She was stumbling back between liking this guy and blaming herself.
"I feel a chunk of it is my fault." she IM'ed. "That I was too neurotic and needy."
"Being neurotic and needy is part of being in relationships." I replied, "you're always going to wonder about things and crave affection from the other person. i don't think you're needy. i think you know what you want deep down but can't seem to find it so it's making you nervous in wondering if you'll ever find it"
"I feel the same way" I said.
"Wow, that totally hit the nail on the head." she said.
More and more we got into conversation about the world, worry, life, love, and work.
"That's so weird." she said. "You're saying all these things that I've had conversations about in the past few days.... almost verbatim."
"Well, I guess that's confirmation then. Either that or I'm your long lost sibling with more of a tan." I joked
Having never been in a real relationship, I sometimes feel a bit silly trying to give relationship advice to someone. I feel like I don't know how it really is so that I'm missing some important factor that people will say "Oh. She doesn't really understand." but everytime I give the advice people take it for sound.
"I've seen enough of the ups and downs to get the gist of it." I argued my stance, more for myself really. "it's easy to tell when somethings feels right or wrong. People know too. They just choose not to listen to their gut. They overthink it way more than they should."
I'm not sure if I was of any help to her, but I hoped she was ok afterwards. She seemed rather down.
I find my brain is best at picking others. Sometimes better than trying to decipher what's in my own mind. I sit down and think about a lot of different things and situations. I guess it might be part of my bi-polarity. I don't even know if that's a word but sometimes silly ones are the best words to describe something. I wonder sometimes what I'd do if I didn't have anything to fret over. My imagination is often very vivid and sometimes fools even my own reality. That said, there are days when I will take notice of it but choose to live in the fantasy of the creative lies crafted beautifully in my head rather than to face uncomfortable truths.
"The world is too insane for anyone to stay sane." I told her.
I am excited about one thing today. My hair is growing like 'whoa!' right now. It feels like just yesterday the roots were straight. I went to pick up a curling iron and a lot of it seems wavy and getting knappy at the roots already. My hair used to be all the way down my back until I ran into a bad hairdresser a few years ago and it hasn't really grown back that length since so that's kind of exciting. I think because I've been eating a lot more. When the summer hits and the weather gets warmer I start to eat like crazy. I would like to get in shape this summer. Not lose fat-wise, but my endurance and stamina are terrible. I will try to quit smoking. It will be hard, but I'll try and put my mind to it. I'd like to run again. It felt so good running 6 miles a day.
And I can't believe I just said that. Even worse, I recorded it in a blog. Mark this historical day.
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