Coffee Mug

Have you ever spent the day just watching people and invent stories of what is going on. Or maybe you just watch them to see the marvel of humanity working. I believe it gives incredible perspective on the world around us. I find it too easy to get lost in this microcosm of Earth that is my life. There are over six billion people who are alive and breathing on this planet every day. Each person owns a story so unique and original, and they all carry their own agenda. That is a daunting idea to grasp; to know that the person sitting next to you on the bus or the cop directing traffic. Or what about the guy that comes behind you and cleans the buildings you use what is his story like? I enjoy taking a day and setting it aside and going to the cafe or the park just to watch people. We are beautiful creatures and I believe we take for granted not only our own mortality, but we take for granted how simple and how magnificent mankind can really be. I see in the media and in politics words like evil, hate, war, destruction, murder, and rape. But I choose to think that humans are truly well meaning, and good natured. Are we perfect by no means. But do I think Hitler was born out of the womb thinking how can I destroy an entire race? No. Hitler was a failed artist, something drove him to that madness and perversion. I'm not defending him, but I'm trying to establish a point that no one is born "evil" in my opinion, and I feel like media pundits and politicians use words like that to manipulate us. I believe they've established a culture that has Americans distrustful and cynical to their neighbor along with insensitive hearts to those who are in dire need. We should take a page from the past and reach out to those in need with an honest heart and give as much as we can to build them up from the destitute situation they may find themselves in. There is a shortage of love on this planet, and it's not because of evildoers. The shortage is mainly in part because some agenda is being pushed on us. We are being conned into believing community is not the only answer. Community in neighborhoods, community within a country where we grow and bond together, and no global community where we try to save this rock from the doom we are creating for it. We're all a part of the human race. Let's stop the civil war. Let's offer some meaningful peace. Let's look at humanity with a different lense. Let's look at our neighbor and appreciate the invaluable life they have. If our life is so important to us why shouldn't their's be just as important. Don't be afraid to reach out even if they pull back. You'll make a ripple on the still waters and you're impact will be seen all around. Then slowly together we'll make some waves and change the world.

Pause, Rewind, Replay, Move On

I think it's a crucial necessity for those of us in the United States and around the world to take a moment and just pause. To have a complete portion of time in peace and quiet to reflect. An instant where we can rewind all the events in what far off in our past. If we do so with an objective eye and a concious effort to see where we perhaps took a wrong step or mispoke, we could finally see our biggest faults. Our culture of bigger, better, and faster has us only looking foward. But for some reason we never heed the advice that says, "Those who don't know history are doomed to repeat it." The most disheartening part in my opinion is many of us don't know our history, we don't know where exactly we've came from, and how much we've grown as human beings. I find that to be a tragedy and it causes a little seed to grow within us that makes us lose our true identity and get caught in the mind numbing bombardment like MTV and the like. The dillema is only growing, and the solutions that are being tossed around don't seem feasible to most Americans. Perhaps we can find a solution one day. Until then enjoy.

(+44)

Plus 44 a new band that has emerged from the ashes of the trio that was Blink 182. Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Craig Fairbaugh, and Shane Gallagher make up the band. Forget about Blink 182 if you weren't a fan, I must advise you give the new band a chance, I believe many who were not Blink fans will actually enjoy the darker, more mature, and very different vibe given off by Plus 44. The name comes from the international dialing code calling from England. As a Blink fan I am naturally biased, but I must bring up a point that may upset a few people. Those people would be Green Day fans. Blink 182 was indisputably a better band. And like many great bands they often dissolve or split before they have fully reached their potential. Any objective music listener who has heard the early years of both bands can see that throughout the years Blink 182 progressed as artists while Green Day continued to pump out the same catchy tunes with different lyrics. Blink 182 although in the beginning seemed more geared for adolescent males grew into a band with anthems any teen or young adult could relate to. Anyone who has listened to the two most recent studio albums from the two bands can see the growth. Green Day became jumped on the political bandwagon along with Springsteen and cashed in. But Blink 182 showed the spectrum of their amazing range. They departed from what everyone expected. A touching moment in the album comes as a wife from a deceased soldier from the war in Iraq reads a letter after the song aptly named "Violence". Forgive my rant about Blink, but I must strongly endorse the new band Plus 44 after hearing the album online. The album is titled "When You're Heart Stops Beating" and is by far a must to pick up. It's out Nov. 14'th.

Missed Opportunity

It's near dark and I'm sitting a recliner the television is shining awfully bright, I might add the laptop doesn't help. There's something about fall weather that is so enticing to me. I feel like I'm in some movie. I'm not sure what it is but fall just puts me in that mood I admit. I wonder if any parks are still open I could really enjoy a walk in the cool fall evening right now. I confess there is no better way for anyone to clear their head. The only thing better is a walk in the rain. If you haven't had one of those walks I really must encourage you to do so. It's liberating and enlightening, the fresh air can rejuvenate your weary mind. And if you believe in a higher power you can really put into perspective how small you are in the much bigger picture of things. It's humbling and can ground even the most self-centered.

Creed

A man must live by some idea or creed, whether it is noble or not may be an entirely different topic altogether. Can you imagine a world where not one person holds to a truth or ideology? I'm not saying we should tell others what to think or believe. But I find it an interestingly scary thought to think what a world would be like if people lived sole off instinct like animals.
So I pose this question which is more frightening? A world where ideology rules society and to go against the ideology means expulsion or worse. Or a world without anything to believe or hold to.
Balance between the two?
I think this is an underlying struggle we grapple with everyday.
I don't know. Just a thought.

Truth is out there somewhere. Have you found it?

No Need For Over Exposure

I watch the news, read the paper, and listen to the radio. I feel as though we're bombarded by the media with violence and sex. I'm not one to infringe on anyone's first ammendment rights but I believe there needs to be limits. You can't yell fire in a movie theater, so why should you show a man being run over by a bus? And does anyone truly care about another police chase in Los Angeles? I think there is a formula news networks use, "Celebrity rumors, Iraq violence, Feel Good Story, Criminal Case, Weather, War On Terror. Repeat." Does anyone get tired of it? It's a sensory overload, the Amish girls that were killed by the copy cat killer in Pennsylvania of the Colorado shooting has been all over the news. Someone pull the plug please on all the coverage. Dare I say the constant barrage of news information is an overload. Has anyone noticed how much the media in fact sways public opinion and how much it sets political agenda. I believe it's not just the fat cats in Washington but also the big wigs in New York and L.A. who are equally guilty for nothing getting done. The big wigs create sensationalist headlines that get Joe American afraid, and the fat cats chase the headlines for the photo-op. Here's what I mean, "Dubai Port Deal" made Americans upset that an Arab company out of the United Arab Emirates would be handling port security. Yet the media failed to mention a great number of other ports were in foriegn hands. Let's see next there was "Illegal Immigration" Congress came up with all these ideas and again after the limelight left the issue nothing's been done. Now it seems to be the "Pervert In Congress" matter with Fmr. Congressman Mark Foley in rehab after some 'Overly Friendly' internet encounters with a 16 year old page. Overly friendly? You know what I'm not going to say anything in respect to that. I would be feeding the flame I suppose. But can you see where this is going? Is anyone else tired of this? I turned to sports radio to retreat from the bickering in politics. I found a certain Wide Reciever for the Dallas Cowboys on every channel, and on every show. I think if I hear that players name one more time in the news I'll pull my hair out. What happened to independent Americans who built and grew things, Americans who fulfilled the American dream? Are we that enamored by Celebrity divas we ourselve amount to nothing? If so I'm ashamed of my country. I'm ashamed we let New York, and L.A. determine what we need to be afraid of. I'm ashamed we are addicted to this overload. I'm ashamed and disappointed. Where is truth when all we see and hear is scandal.

I don't know.

I think today I'm going to avoid radio, newspaper, and especially the tube. Maybe I can have some peace.