Are we ever completely truthful to people?
I realize that this a fairly strong way to start a post, but I went through about ten different beginnings, and this was the only one I thought was was suitable enough. This thought has been seared in my mind for awhile 
- well, at least for the past two days - and the urge to write this down was exacerbated when I watched Munich earlier this evening.
For those of you who haven’t seen this film, it’s an espionage thriller based on the true story of the Israeli hostage crisis at the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in Munich, and the subsequent actions of the Mossad, Israel’s secret service.
While the very essence of espionage films is “who’s telling the truth?”, what set my thoughts in motion was the opening text, which stated the film was based on true events. But on whose account? Steven Speilberg, who directed the film? He obviously wasn’t around to see all of these things.
[more →]
So I was out on a couple of errands the other day, and one of them happened to be at Michael’s. As I was rummaging through their wares in my pursuit of Velcro (story in and of itself), I was solicited. This man, somehow assumed that I worked for the store 
(maybe it was the black shirt I was wearing, and the tag that said that said Michael’s pinned to my shirt ), and asked me about where he could find something or other (I don’t really remember that part).
I simply told him that I did not work for the store, and was intent on carrying about my business. His response was a strange concoction of placidity and indignation…
“Well, %&*@ you, then.”
To say the least, I was fairly stunned. I would hate to have heard his comments if I would have gotten one of those arts and crafts sticks they sell at Michael’s and started beating him with it, all the while calling him a pinata (my thoughts at the time).
10 minutes later…
[more →]
Toilet Paper Horror. There really is no other way to describe it. Toilet paper with a horror story written on it. I’ll say this for it; it’s definitely one of the more ingenious ideas I’ve seen in awhile. Usually I would elaborate, however, I see no roads for elaboration on this particular subject that would lead to any sort of sanitary talk. If you can find something profound about this, by all means enlighten me. Without further adieu, the link:
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5j1oHiEOixjD6ti_Pr8v56PxU1sbwD98CHSJ03
Today, I walked into a room. Since I wasn’t raised in a bar, I closed the door behind me. Then it suddenly occurred to me that it was dark. A lesser degree of panic kicked in, as I begin looking for the light switch. 
The natural place to look is within a foot of the door; however, some architects seem to overlook common sense. Fortunately, it was within the proximity of where I perceived it would be. All was well.
I thought about it momentarily. How did I know where the light switch was going to be? I simply deduced that experience was the reason I knew where to look for the light switch. I went about my business.
Fast forward to the supermarket, where I overhear a lady in the checkout aisle share an anecdote over the phone. The anecdote:
I was in downtown L.A. and had to park. I didn’t realize that I would have to pay for parking. So there I was without any cash, and I had left my cards at home…
My initial questions were:
[more →]
I woke up early this morning, in spite of myself. It was irritating. I like sleeping in on Sundays. It feels great after an entire week of hustling and living life that on one day you can take it easy. Yes, my friends, Sunday is my favorite day. 
Growing up in the South, it was my experience that Sunday was a revered day. Most shops are closed. The primary business that was industrious were restaurants, but only because they knew no one else was working, and, as a result, would have a beaucoup amount of customers.
While I am an advocate for having a day of rest (and believe me, I take advantage of it), I think the concept of Sunday has been misaligned over the years. Sunday is treated more as a day of escape, than rest. It’s the one day that people feel can get away from the drudgery that’s called “Monday through Saturday”. Even then, people are not entirely satisfied, as they begin wishing Sunday was longer, or that there were two Sundays.
[more →]
I was part of a discussion the other day, and the topic came to proving critics wrong. Out here in L.A., there’s approximately 10 million people who are trying to prove someone wrong. Many people that live here, upon my observation, either came to L.A. to seek fame and fortune in some capacity or believed that opportunities would be more bountiful here. They want to stay until the reached some merit of success to prove to others they could do it, and/or to prove it to themselves. 
However, putting L.A. aside, we’re in America, where there’s about 300,000,000 people trying to prove someone wrong. All the citizens here, nationals and foreign-born, have deemed this land of opportunity (and for good reason), work their fingers to the bone (most people anyway) to prove to others that they can succeed, and you know the rest…
Point is, none of us are alone. And as such, the forces that gets one person moving are the same forces that gets everyone else moving.
When you set out to achieve something, there’s two types of energy you can feed on to keep you going:
positive reinforcement or negative reinforcement
There’s varying opinions on which is more effective, but here’s something I’ve learned. When someone tells you something negative, such as the classic line “You can’t do it,”, just live well.
When someone pays you a compliment, smile, say thank you, and just live well.
[more →]
Among the vast number of international art located in Dublin’s National Gallery of Ireland are the works of the Spanish painter, Diego Velázquez. Velázquez, who lived from 1599 – 1660, was swept up in the contemporary baroque period of art. 
He used this style of art in many of his notable portrait paintings of important figures. These included Spanish royalty, noblemen, and even Pope Innocent X. In addition to these, however, Velázquez also created scenes from history, one of the most famous being Kitchen Maid with the Supper of Emmaus.
Kitchen Maid with the Supper of Emmaus is a depiction of a maid cleaning up after a meal that Jesus Christ supposedly had eaten. According to the Scriptures, two men, from the town of Emmaus, a village near Jerusalem, had encountered Jesus shortly after The Resurrection, and invited Him to come have supper at their house. Many religious works of art during the contemporary baroque period composed of a mixture of historical figures or stories with modern backgrounds, costumes, settings, etc.
[more →]
Just yesterday I received an mp3 file from my good friend, Jesse Owen Astin (aka Like Clockwork), featuring his new record “The Dark”. It is an engaging song that focuses on some of the struggles that JOA had to endure earlier in his life. If you haven’t heard Jesse’s music, or even if you have, I have provided a link to his Like Clockwork page, and you can listen to the songs of the up and coming singer/songwriter:
www.likeclockwork.net
I hardly ever do music reviews, but there is one aspect of this song that has made me think. Someone who wouldn’t know Jesse may hear this song and say “What’s with this guy; why can’t he sing about happy stuff??” 
What’s funny is people who know Jesse would say that he’s a content person. In fact, he’s one of the most content guys that I know, and in these dark and uncertain times, Jesse is a crusader for “Good”.
And herein lies the point: the world is a dark, fallen place, and the reason that it is that way is because not enough “Good” people are willing to stand up and face The Evil they will inevitably come across. Evil from society. Evil from other people. Their own Evil.
[more →]
After years of debating and negotiations, North Korea has decided that they are going to do what they feel is best for their country and maintain an operable nuclear plant. It seems that North Korea simply wants to develop their nuclear program, while the U.N. wants them to cease and desist in forming their nuclear capabilities. 
If they have the capability and knowledge, then North Korea can do whatever they want within their borders, as it is their sovereign right to do so. And the U.N. has every right to protest the decision in Pyongyang to pursue nuclear energy. However, if North Korea feels threatened by other nations in this world, then can anyone blame them for wanting to be just a little prepared for the days ahead?
But what I find difficult to understand is why it is suggested that there will be dangerous “days ahead” if North Korea has nuclear power. Nuclear power is an efficient way to supply energy, in much more viable ways than mineral fossils ever will be. In spite of this, there’s also the havoc that can be wrought as a result of using nuclear weapons in war. Visit the ruins of Nagasaki and Hiroshima; it’s quite a harrowing experience, so I’ve been told. Is it impossible for people to use nuclear energy for strictly good reasons?
[more →]
There’s a debate that has raged in my mind for the past couple of weeks, and it goes something like this. It’s simple, yet difficult to make an absolute resolution.
What is stronger? A question or an answer?
Questions and answers are two of the most powerful forces in the universe. Each has their respective strengths, making monumental strides that directly or indirectly impact our lives. The range of thoughts and emotions that are triggered as a result of both of these, and it would take the life’s work of many to even try to comprehend it. 
To expound on this even further, let’s look at each one separately. A question contains all sorts of powers. It’s the initiative. An exploration. Rules, principles, and answers that have governed this world have been broken and shattered due to a singular question. For thousands of years, Earth was the center of the universe. That was the answer. But questions from men like Galileo and Copernicus altered the way we view our universe and ourselves. Even leaving this grandiose scale, questions serve as life altering events on a more personal level.
“Do you accept the job?”
“How much?”
“Will you marry me?”
“What would you like, sir?”
“What would you like, miss?”
“Are you happy?”
[more →]