Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Lana Del Rey - Diet MTN Dew
Oh, I figured out why I like her. She seems like someone who needs saving, and for some reason it's something that has, unfortunately, been appealing to me. It seems like she is really desperate to be liked and has thus molded herself into such.
She's getting a lot of flack for being phony and has also gotten a lot of press from media industry outlets. Whatever, I like her music.
M83 - Midnight City
This song is also on the HTMIIA Mixtape. Looking forward to M83 album. If this song is any indication, it will be a good one.
Blood Orange - Sutphin Boulevard
I saw this a while back, but didn't really pay attention to it. It's in the How to Make it in America Mixtape 2 though.
Monday, September 12, 2011
Lana Del Rey - Video Games + Blue Jeans
I saw the video for Video Games a month or two ago and kind of liked it. It has a throwback feel and a kind of melancholic sound. I don't think that her look matches her sound though. It's such a shame that she got that terrible work done on her lips - if not for that, she would be quite attractive.
I saw this video for Blue Jeans today on Huffington Post. Apparently, they think she is the next big thing.
Moenia con Juan Carlos Lozano - Contigo Estare
What a great song. It is so good to see Juan Carlos Lozano singing with Moenia again, if only for one song. Both Alfonso and Juan Carlos have great voices. I've seen Moenia live and they were great. I hope to be able to see them again.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
On Perspective
Despite my gripes with not being where I hoped to be, I have to put everything in perspective. Times are tough.
I have a girlfriend that I love. We live in a very nice apartment. We have food and sufficient money. Work is decent.
But times are tough. I get lots of headaches trying to manage the finances at work. Lots of people are out of work. Things are not looking so hot.
So in the greater scope of things, my annoyances are pretty minimal.
I have a girlfriend that I love. We live in a very nice apartment. We have food and sufficient money. Work is decent.
But times are tough. I get lots of headaches trying to manage the finances at work. Lots of people are out of work. Things are not looking so hot.
So in the greater scope of things, my annoyances are pretty minimal.
On Nostalgia
Yesterday at work, Morbo's Se me acaba came on my ipod.
I listened to other songs from then, and then...
Nostalgia hit me like an awesome wave. The song did not bring up any particular memories beyond listening to this song in my room in college. It reminded me of my time in college, but more than memories, it brought back a state of mind.
It brought back the time when I was younger, more inexperienced, and perhaps because of that, hopeful, optimistic, and even a little naive. I was back when life was for the sake of living, learning was the goal, and before me lay endless possibilities. Life was carefree, untouched by worries of bills and deciding what to do with my life.
I thought that anything was possible, but more importantly, I felt that lack of limits. I yearned.
But now, ten years older, I am more jaded, more cynical, less trustworthy, and more and more, receding into myself.
Life has not spread its offerings for my choosing, as I had assumed it would. I am not where I wanted to be, even though I had no idea where that was - but that didn't matter, I had hope.
Now, that hope is tempered. Certainties has become tentative wishes, always out of reach, so because of that, I have stopped reaching. Always denied, there is no point to strive for more - a constant lull.
Now, an infinite future is broken down to a couple of years or continued strike, months of rent, days of work, hours to do this or that, but always waiting. Waiting. Waiting. For what?
I turned 28 on July 17. Not terribly old, but not terribly young either. More old than young, and less accomplished that I expected. So it goes.
I listened to other songs from then, and then...
Nostalgia hit me like an awesome wave. The song did not bring up any particular memories beyond listening to this song in my room in college. It reminded me of my time in college, but more than memories, it brought back a state of mind.
It brought back the time when I was younger, more inexperienced, and perhaps because of that, hopeful, optimistic, and even a little naive. I was back when life was for the sake of living, learning was the goal, and before me lay endless possibilities. Life was carefree, untouched by worries of bills and deciding what to do with my life.
I thought that anything was possible, but more importantly, I felt that lack of limits. I yearned.
But now, ten years older, I am more jaded, more cynical, less trustworthy, and more and more, receding into myself.
Life has not spread its offerings for my choosing, as I had assumed it would. I am not where I wanted to be, even though I had no idea where that was - but that didn't matter, I had hope.
Now, that hope is tempered. Certainties has become tentative wishes, always out of reach, so because of that, I have stopped reaching. Always denied, there is no point to strive for more - a constant lull.
Now, an infinite future is broken down to a couple of years or continued strike, months of rent, days of work, hours to do this or that, but always waiting. Waiting. Waiting. For what?
I turned 28 on July 17. Not terribly old, but not terribly young either. More old than young, and less accomplished that I expected. So it goes.
Juan Carlos Lozano - Nada haces por mi
Leave it to a great song to get me posting again.
The song is very airy and whimsical and the video suits it perfectly.
Juan Carlos Lozano is a true artists beginning with Moenia, continuing with Morbo, and now going at it on a solo project.
The entire album is great. I hope there is a US tour.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Metronomy - The Bay
Damn, I did not even know they had a video for this. It is one of their best songs.
Dinos
A Triceratops fossil was recently found that corroborates the theory that a large meteor was responsible for the mass extinction of the dinosaurs.
Shakira - Rabiosa
The Spanish version is so much better. I can't understand anything she says in the English version.
She looks great with dark brown hair.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
NY Marriage Equality!
Finally! Not only does it make sense as a civil liberty an equality issue, but also as a fiscal issue.
Brittany's friend posted this: Three words to get us out of a recession: GAY BRIDAL REGISTRY!
Mexico 4 - USA 2 Gold Cup 2011 Final
The Gold Cup is not a great tournament - CONCACAF is not a powerful conference, so the final game is usually Mexico vs. The United States. So was the case this year. Mexico had been playing well throughout the tournament while the US struggled in some games. I expected a good game since the US has dominated in the ten years.
Brittany and I went to watch the game at Lansdowne Road (a very very good sports bar). Clay came and Fisola was in from DC.
The game was painful at the beginning. Mexico tried a few times but could not get past Howard, arguably the best player on the US team. Out of nowhere, Bradley scored. Not to long after that, Donovan scored and Mexico found itself in a 2-0 deficit. Mexico was able to tie in the first half and add two more in the second half. Giovanni Dos Santos sealed the game with an amazing goal.
Here is a recap of all of the goals:
Here is a clip of the last goal... amazing:
Brittany and I went to watch the game at Lansdowne Road (a very very good sports bar). Clay came and Fisola was in from DC.
The game was painful at the beginning. Mexico tried a few times but could not get past Howard, arguably the best player on the US team. Out of nowhere, Bradley scored. Not to long after that, Donovan scored and Mexico found itself in a 2-0 deficit. Mexico was able to tie in the first half and add two more in the second half. Giovanni Dos Santos sealed the game with an amazing goal.
Here is a recap of all of the goals:
Here is a clip of the last goal... amazing:
Yeasayer!
The Yeasayer show was almost two weeks ago.
When we got there, the first opening act was wrapping up. It was this German rapper/singer called Hush Hush... This guy looked terrible - tall, skinny, balding but with a long reddish beard to compensate. He was terrible - he sang songs about girls having their periods and girls licking his asshole like a donut. Apparently, his parents were in the crowd... I really hope they do not speak English. At one point, two 'dancers' went up on stage and proceeded to jiggle around the stage. One of them was Indian and we could only imagine her poor, hard-working parents and all the sacrifices they made to come here and now their daughter is pulling out red stuff out of her underwear to simulate her period.
The second act, The Smith Westerns, were not much better. They reminded me of a bands from 80s and 90s movies from the prom scenes.
Yeasayer was good. They played most of the good songs, but skipped I Remember because they fucked up the setlist or one of the instruments fucked up. They also played three new songs that were pretty awful...
When we got there, the first opening act was wrapping up. It was this German rapper/singer called Hush Hush... This guy looked terrible - tall, skinny, balding but with a long reddish beard to compensate. He was terrible - he sang songs about girls having their periods and girls licking his asshole like a donut. Apparently, his parents were in the crowd... I really hope they do not speak English. At one point, two 'dancers' went up on stage and proceeded to jiggle around the stage. One of them was Indian and we could only imagine her poor, hard-working parents and all the sacrifices they made to come here and now their daughter is pulling out red stuff out of her underwear to simulate her period.
The second act, The Smith Westerns, were not much better. They reminded me of a bands from 80s and 90s movies from the prom scenes.
Yeasayer was good. They played most of the good songs, but skipped I Remember because they fucked up the setlist or one of the instruments fucked up. They also played three new songs that were pretty awful...
Zombie Crawl
About a month ago, Brittany and I and a few other people went to the Williamsburg Zombie Crawl. It was tons of fun.
It was like a Halloween Pt. 2!
It was like a Halloween Pt. 2!
AWOLNATION - Sail
I saw this video for the first time this morning. AWOLNATION is the solo project of Aaron Bruno of Under the Influence of Giants. His new stuff is not bad, but I really liked UTIOG. I even saw them live.
Rise Against - Help Is On the Way
I don't think the song is particularly good, but the video is crazy and sadly depicts the lack of aid that many people desperately needed.
Remember Kerry's tag line in the 2004 election, 'Help is on the way!' Sadly, it wasn't. Even more sad is the fact that if one were to ask the average American if the US would be better now had Kerry or Gore won their respective elections (well, if Gore had not been robbed), he would say no.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Music in 2011
This year has been awful for music releases. I don't think I have gotten very excited for anything released so far.
I hope this changes.
I hope this changes.
Monday, June 6, 2011
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers
I thought her new album was kind of disappointing, but this song is good and after seeing the live performance, I might try to go to her show in August.
She's also very good looking. And damn, that part at the end where she's looking into the camera. Yeah.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
WTF?!
Last night, Brittany and I had dinner at my mom's with some of my family who was here for my cousin's graduation from Cornell. Afterward, we went to Studio Square Beer Garden in Astoria. We took a cab home, the traffic was crazy and about 30 minutes and $40 later, we got out of the cab.
We got off on 29th street in the covered road under the USPS complex. We heard a quarrel but could only see several sets of feet since there was a semi-trailer blocking the rest of our view. As we turned the corner, we saw an older man in uniform on the ground and two women on the floor getting up and one or two guys. We ran up to the older man and asked if he needed help. His face was bleeding, his glasses were on the ground, and the wind had been knocked out of him. I ran down to 28th to see where the attackers went and also saw a police car across tenth avenue. Brittany and I told them where the people went and about five minutes later, about ten cop cars were in the area and had captured the attackers.
I took Romeo down and Brittany got a sandwich, then we neared the scene where the people were arrested on the ground. One of the women was yelling 'this is discrimination, he called me fat, it's because we are black, he fell on his own.' The cops took down a quick statement and contact info and we went around the corner back to where the officer had been knocked down.
We spoke with a security guard who told us that the man was a national guard officer working for the USPS and so is a federal officer. He caught one of the women urinating on the USPS building and issued her a $75 summons. The scuffle ensued.
How stupid do you have to be to 1) pee on a government building where there are tons of cameras, 2)punch a man in his 50s or 60s, 3) have that person be a federal officer, 4) not run away so that you are caught around the corner, and 5) yell stupid, irrelevant things at the cops when you should be quiet and ask for a lawyer? They went from a $75 fine to jail time.
The group was arrested and the attack caught on video (a guy punched the officer). Seriously, people, don't be this fucking stupid!
Today when I was coming home from the gym, I saw a guy running being chased by a cab driver. I was about a block away so I couldn't do anything but watch. I'm guessing the cab driver was on the phone and his window was rolled down and this hoodrat guy reached in and grabbed something or the guy got a cab ride and skipped out on the fare.
Finally, about a week ago when Brittany and I saw The Hangover II, we saw a squad of police officers dressed in riot/attack gear. They had full on assault rifles/machine guns (not sure) and had a few dogs. We asked if it was a drug sniffing dog, they said no. We didn't know what was going on, but seeing heavily armed people is never a calming sight.
We got off on 29th street in the covered road under the USPS complex. We heard a quarrel but could only see several sets of feet since there was a semi-trailer blocking the rest of our view. As we turned the corner, we saw an older man in uniform on the ground and two women on the floor getting up and one or two guys. We ran up to the older man and asked if he needed help. His face was bleeding, his glasses were on the ground, and the wind had been knocked out of him. I ran down to 28th to see where the attackers went and also saw a police car across tenth avenue. Brittany and I told them where the people went and about five minutes later, about ten cop cars were in the area and had captured the attackers.
I took Romeo down and Brittany got a sandwich, then we neared the scene where the people were arrested on the ground. One of the women was yelling 'this is discrimination, he called me fat, it's because we are black, he fell on his own.' The cops took down a quick statement and contact info and we went around the corner back to where the officer had been knocked down.
We spoke with a security guard who told us that the man was a national guard officer working for the USPS and so is a federal officer. He caught one of the women urinating on the USPS building and issued her a $75 summons. The scuffle ensued.
How stupid do you have to be to 1) pee on a government building where there are tons of cameras, 2)punch a man in his 50s or 60s, 3) have that person be a federal officer, 4) not run away so that you are caught around the corner, and 5) yell stupid, irrelevant things at the cops when you should be quiet and ask for a lawyer? They went from a $75 fine to jail time.
The group was arrested and the attack caught on video (a guy punched the officer). Seriously, people, don't be this fucking stupid!
Today when I was coming home from the gym, I saw a guy running being chased by a cab driver. I was about a block away so I couldn't do anything but watch. I'm guessing the cab driver was on the phone and his window was rolled down and this hoodrat guy reached in and grabbed something or the guy got a cab ride and skipped out on the fare.
Finally, about a week ago when Brittany and I saw The Hangover II, we saw a squad of police officers dressed in riot/attack gear. They had full on assault rifles/machine guns (not sure) and had a few dogs. We asked if it was a drug sniffing dog, they said no. We didn't know what was going on, but seeing heavily armed people is never a calming sight.
On Our New Apartment
Brittany and I have been browsing for apartments on Craigslist and other website for several months to get an idea of what is out there. We focused primarily on the UWS and certain parts of Brooklyn.
About a week and a half ago, we went to look at a bunch of apartments with a real estate agent in Brooklyn. One we saw in a brand new building in Gowanus was great and we decided to apply for it.
We were approved on Thursday and will go in to sign the lease on Monday!
The apartment is on the second floor and about 650 square feet. The kitchen has very nice finished and has a dishwasher. We have tons of closets and the bathroom has tons of storage. There is laundry in the basement and a roof deck on the sixth floor. We are really excited.
On a side note, when we were walking around, we saw a bunch of kids hooting and hollering looking into a window. We looked down into a basement apartment at a naked couple having sex. The kids said they do it at the same time every day. That was one of the craziest things I've ever seen.
Also, Lance, the agent we are working with, looks like SkyBlu from LMFAO.
About a week and a half ago, we went to look at a bunch of apartments with a real estate agent in Brooklyn. One we saw in a brand new building in Gowanus was great and we decided to apply for it.
We were approved on Thursday and will go in to sign the lease on Monday!
The apartment is on the second floor and about 650 square feet. The kitchen has very nice finished and has a dishwasher. We have tons of closets and the bathroom has tons of storage. There is laundry in the basement and a roof deck on the sixth floor. We are really excited.
On a side note, when we were walking around, we saw a bunch of kids hooting and hollering looking into a window. We looked down into a basement apartment at a naked couple having sex. The kids said they do it at the same time every day. That was one of the craziest things I've ever seen.
Also, Lance, the agent we are working with, looks like SkyBlu from LMFAO.
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Airborne Toxic Event - Changing
This song is not bad. They were really sorry for themselves in their last album, so maybe they are changing.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
On the Soviet Space Program?!
Holy shit!
So this writer Annie Jacobsen just published a book title 'Area 51' about Area 51.
In the book, she claims that the Roswell UFO crash was a product of the Soviet Space program. Supposedly, Stalin wanted to show that he could create a massive scare of an alien invasion. The aliens that were found in the wreckage are claimed to be mutated children/teenagers products of Josef Mengele's work after the fall of Germany in WWII.
HOLY SHIT!!!
If this is indeed true, imagine how sick someone has to be to manufacture deformed children and fly them out in a saucer to certain death.
Here is a short interview with the author.
So this writer Annie Jacobsen just published a book title 'Area 51' about Area 51.
In the book, she claims that the Roswell UFO crash was a product of the Soviet Space program. Supposedly, Stalin wanted to show that he could create a massive scare of an alien invasion. The aliens that were found in the wreckage are claimed to be mutated children/teenagers products of Josef Mengele's work after the fall of Germany in WWII.
HOLY SHIT!!!
If this is indeed true, imagine how sick someone has to be to manufacture deformed children and fly them out in a saucer to certain death.
Here is a short interview with the author.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Woodkid - Iron
Woodkid - Iron from WOODKID on Vimeo.
I saw this video several months ago and today, I was looking for it all day long. I didn't remember where I had seen it, the name of the song, or the name of the artist. Luckily I was able to find it again.
On People
I like people. Sometimes, or rather most often than not, I do not like people.
I have always been somewhat of a loner. I feel comfortable being and doing things by myself. There are very few people with whom I feel totally comfortable. As I get older, I am disliking people more and more.
People are strange, or rather, kind of pathetic. To some degree, we are always looking to fit in and achieve some level of acceptance. We follow norms, follow others, and try desperately to always be liked. Humans are, after all, social animals, but that need to always be social is off putting.
Nothing makes me lose faith in humanity more than going out on a weekend night in New York City. Tiny spaces are filled by drunk people who want to be on the right side of exclusivity. They dress up, coif themselves, do this and that, with the goal of having some bizarre amusement. A person given just a bit of control holds on to those reigns for dear life. Moving about in one of these spaces requires pushing and groping and immense patience. To top it off, one has to deal with the stench of bodies and perfumes.
Of course we have all been there. Drunk, annoying, hoping someone will think one is cool.
I was out last night and trying to get a taxi was impossible. So I walked home. It was about a 40 minute walk, but the weather was nice and the sights were ridiculous. A guy passe out alone in the middle of the sidewalk. People arguing. police sirens blaring. Bums asking for change, cigarettes, and whatever else.
Eh, we are just animals, I guess.
I have always been somewhat of a loner. I feel comfortable being and doing things by myself. There are very few people with whom I feel totally comfortable. As I get older, I am disliking people more and more.
People are strange, or rather, kind of pathetic. To some degree, we are always looking to fit in and achieve some level of acceptance. We follow norms, follow others, and try desperately to always be liked. Humans are, after all, social animals, but that need to always be social is off putting.
Nothing makes me lose faith in humanity more than going out on a weekend night in New York City. Tiny spaces are filled by drunk people who want to be on the right side of exclusivity. They dress up, coif themselves, do this and that, with the goal of having some bizarre amusement. A person given just a bit of control holds on to those reigns for dear life. Moving about in one of these spaces requires pushing and groping and immense patience. To top it off, one has to deal with the stench of bodies and perfumes.
Of course we have all been there. Drunk, annoying, hoping someone will think one is cool.
I was out last night and trying to get a taxi was impossible. So I walked home. It was about a 40 minute walk, but the weather was nice and the sights were ridiculous. A guy passe out alone in the middle of the sidewalk. People arguing. police sirens blaring. Bums asking for change, cigarettes, and whatever else.
Eh, we are just animals, I guess.
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream + Limit to Your Love - Live
Carles from Hipster Run Off thinks he's a hack despite having buzzed him earlier. I like James Blake, but sadly, these two songs are by far the best ones on the album.
The Hundred in the Hands - Pigeons - A Take Away Show
The Hundred in the hands | Pigeons | A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
A Take Away Show has some really great impromptu performances.
P90X Phase 2
I finished the Phase 1 with an extra week. My diet has been pretty good, save a few cheats in eating and drinking.
I've lost some fat and am building muscles and becoming more defined. Awesome.
For the recovery week, I just alternated between Core Synergistics and Kenpo X (instead of including yoga and stretch).
I am two days into phase 2. I have not modified my food intake too much, except adding a few carbs.
P90X! No excuses! Bring it!
I've lost some fat and am building muscles and becoming more defined. Awesome.
For the recovery week, I just alternated between Core Synergistics and Kenpo X (instead of including yoga and stretch).
I am two days into phase 2. I have not modified my food intake too much, except adding a few carbs.
P90X! No excuses! Bring it!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Osama Bin Laden is Dead
Obama issued a notice that he would be making an announcement around 10:30 pm. A little after 10:30 pm, Obama still had not issued his statement. Commentators were saying he would be speaking on a national security issue, and I was afraid he would be announcing an expected attack.
Then the news started leaking that Osama Bin Laden was dead. And finally, Obama announced it. And though the world is not at peace, it is a step to going back to before the attacks on September 11.
Then the news started leaking that Osama Bin Laden was dead. And finally, Obama announced it. And though the world is not at peace, it is a step to going back to before the attacks on September 11.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
P90X - Phase 1 Extra Week
Since I have taken a few extra days off here and there and had too many cheat days, I decided to do an extra week of the first phase of P90X. That means that instead of doing week 4, I am doing an extra regular week.
I have seen significant improvements in strength.
For instance:
Standard push ups
25 reps v. 35-40 reps now
Heavy pants
10 reps @ 45lbs/arm v. 8 reps @ 70lbs/arm now.
My bicep and tricep weights have gone up 10 lbs and shoulder weights have gone up 15lbs at the most.
I still have two cardio days and legs + back left for this week.
I have seen significant improvements in strength.
For instance:
Standard push ups
25 reps v. 35-40 reps now
Heavy pants
10 reps @ 45lbs/arm v. 8 reps @ 70lbs/arm now.
My bicep and tricep weights have gone up 10 lbs and shoulder weights have gone up 15lbs at the most.
I still have two cardio days and legs + back left for this week.
Sleep No More
On Wednesday, we went to Sleep No More.
What an experience. I'll just paste my review here so I don't have to retype all about it:
Excellent, bizarre, intricate, eerie, beautiful.
I will not give too much away beyond the basic procedures since it is definitely nice going in without too much knowledge of what to expect. I strongly suggest that you go if you like theater, dance, film noir, Shakespeare, immersive experiences (haunted houses are a joke compared to this). The tickets might seem a bit steep, but it will probably be like something you have never experienced before (and it spans several hours).
Our tickets were for 7:20 entrance time, but there was a line to get in. A group of girls were asked by the bouncer to get stamped before they got on line and they thought they were about to skip the whole line, to which the bouncer said: go to the back of the line, this isn't a club. Awesome.
Once inside, you can check your belongings, but that means standing on line at the beginning and at the end. I suggest you bring nothing besides ID and maybe some cash for a drink.
Then you check in, get your tickets, and are directed to the bar. The bar is gorgeously done. The bathrooms are super slick and modern (this space was previously Home + GuestHouse). The host at the bar is quite charming and calls guests up to begin the experience.
Once inside, you are greeted by Constance, are given masks ('completely adjustable with the plastic things,' thanks Constance), and instructions (no cell phones, no talking, there are guards along the way to keep you safe).
Then you are set free and told 'fortune favors the bold.' So be bold.
The sets are incredible and can be quite spooky. The actors/ dancers are amazing, graceful, and in excellent shape. The choreography is powerful, I'm surprised that the actors are not all banged up - some of the fight scenes look quite real. The finale was CRAZY. I was a bit disappointed that the actors and crew didn't get a round of applause at the end though, there really was no way of showing our appreciation.
There is some nudity. One of the actresses bares her chest (woo woo -as Chris Rock says about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction: 20 year-old titty, community titty; 40 year-old titty, your man's titty.) One of the actors shows his peen... wamp wamp.
Some tips:
- Definitely brush up on Macbeth. Though I read it a while ago, I was a bit lost at times.
- Wear the most comfortable shoes you can. Really. We walked a lot, back and forth, up and down. Do not wear $500 Louis Vuitton loafers, they might get dirty, wet, and/or worn down from so much walking (yeah a guy in front of us was wearing a pair).
- Wear deodorant/antiperspirant. You are walking a lot and it gets warm in there, especially not that it is heating up. Please spare others from your stench.
- Drinking lots of water or have gum handy (some people had foul breath). There is a bathroom in the bar area and somewhere else in the space.
- The masks are meant to make you anonymous - it definitely works and makes it a bit creepy. Your face will get sweaty though.
- If you go with someone and do not want to separate, it is possible, and might not take away from your experience, but just know that at some point or another, you will have to lead or follow. I went with my girlfriend and she followed me most of the time, but I still had to look back to make sure she was keeping up. Despite my best efforts, I lost her at one point. If that happens, don't worry, you'll find each other.
- Shows were recently extended through the end of June.
What an experience. I'll just paste my review here so I don't have to retype all about it:
Excellent, bizarre, intricate, eerie, beautiful.
I will not give too much away beyond the basic procedures since it is definitely nice going in without too much knowledge of what to expect. I strongly suggest that you go if you like theater, dance, film noir, Shakespeare, immersive experiences (haunted houses are a joke compared to this). The tickets might seem a bit steep, but it will probably be like something you have never experienced before (and it spans several hours).
Our tickets were for 7:20 entrance time, but there was a line to get in. A group of girls were asked by the bouncer to get stamped before they got on line and they thought they were about to skip the whole line, to which the bouncer said: go to the back of the line, this isn't a club. Awesome.
Once inside, you can check your belongings, but that means standing on line at the beginning and at the end. I suggest you bring nothing besides ID and maybe some cash for a drink.
Then you check in, get your tickets, and are directed to the bar. The bar is gorgeously done. The bathrooms are super slick and modern (this space was previously Home + GuestHouse). The host at the bar is quite charming and calls guests up to begin the experience.
Once inside, you are greeted by Constance, are given masks ('completely adjustable with the plastic things,' thanks Constance), and instructions (no cell phones, no talking, there are guards along the way to keep you safe).
Then you are set free and told 'fortune favors the bold.' So be bold.
The sets are incredible and can be quite spooky. The actors/ dancers are amazing, graceful, and in excellent shape. The choreography is powerful, I'm surprised that the actors are not all banged up - some of the fight scenes look quite real. The finale was CRAZY. I was a bit disappointed that the actors and crew didn't get a round of applause at the end though, there really was no way of showing our appreciation.
There is some nudity. One of the actresses bares her chest (woo woo -as Chris Rock says about Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction: 20 year-old titty, community titty; 40 year-old titty, your man's titty.) One of the actors shows his peen... wamp wamp.
Some tips:
- Definitely brush up on Macbeth. Though I read it a while ago, I was a bit lost at times.
- Wear the most comfortable shoes you can. Really. We walked a lot, back and forth, up and down. Do not wear $500 Louis Vuitton loafers, they might get dirty, wet, and/or worn down from so much walking (yeah a guy in front of us was wearing a pair).
- Wear deodorant/antiperspirant. You are walking a lot and it gets warm in there, especially not that it is heating up. Please spare others from your stench.
- Drinking lots of water or have gum handy (some people had foul breath). There is a bathroom in the bar area and somewhere else in the space.
- The masks are meant to make you anonymous - it definitely works and makes it a bit creepy. Your face will get sweaty though.
- If you go with someone and do not want to separate, it is possible, and might not take away from your experience, but just know that at some point or another, you will have to lead or follow. I went with my girlfriend and she followed me most of the time, but I still had to look back to make sure she was keeping up. Despite my best efforts, I lost her at one point. If that happens, don't worry, you'll find each other.
- Shows were recently extended through the end of June.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Source Code
Brittany and I have been seeing a lot of movies recently thanks to her parents' Optimum card.
We have seen La Potiche, Win Win, Hanna, and Source Code. Win Win and La Potiche were quite funny. Hanna was a bit disappointing. I really enjoyed Source Code.
Sure, it's a Hollywood movie, but it has some good ideas:
- The idea that a person's brain can keep memories for up to eight minutes after death. I don't know if that is true, but a human brain remains active for a certain amount of time after being decapitated.
- The idea that there are many alternate universes.
- The idea that one can alter the past.
I don't know, maybe those ideas weren't actually explored too deeply, but it made me think about where I am.
The point is, I need to be more accomplished.
Also, I wonder what my alternate selves are up to.
We have seen La Potiche, Win Win, Hanna, and Source Code. Win Win and La Potiche were quite funny. Hanna was a bit disappointing. I really enjoyed Source Code.
Sure, it's a Hollywood movie, but it has some good ideas:
- The idea that a person's brain can keep memories for up to eight minutes after death. I don't know if that is true, but a human brain remains active for a certain amount of time after being decapitated.
- The idea that there are many alternate universes.
- The idea that one can alter the past.
I don't know, maybe those ideas weren't actually explored too deeply, but it made me think about where I am.
The point is, I need to be more accomplished.
Also, I wonder what my alternate selves are up to.
On The Soviet Space Program
At one point, the Soviet economy had such fast paced growth that it led Khrushchev to say: When we catch up and pass you by, we'll wave to you. However, the growth came at heavy human cost. People were constructing nuclear plants wheeling materials in wheel barrows and freezing to death.
There have been a lot of pieces on the Soviet space program to commemorate the anniversary of Gagarin's trip to space. I cam across several pieces that show the makeshift nature of the space program - something that was characteristic of the entire Soviet system: Slapdash and inconsiderate of human cost.
This Cracked article lists a few crazy things the Soviets did, including sending up stray dogs, possibly sending up and not bringing back some cosmonauts, and sending Komarov to a certain death.
This NPR article expands on Komarov's death. You can even listen to his last words.
I was actually more angered by Laika's death, but it is sickening how regimes take advantage of silly ideas like political beliefs, patriotism, heroism, etc.
There have been a lot of pieces on the Soviet space program to commemorate the anniversary of Gagarin's trip to space. I cam across several pieces that show the makeshift nature of the space program - something that was characteristic of the entire Soviet system: Slapdash and inconsiderate of human cost.
This Cracked article lists a few crazy things the Soviets did, including sending up stray dogs, possibly sending up and not bringing back some cosmonauts, and sending Komarov to a certain death.
This NPR article expands on Komarov's death. You can even listen to his last words.
I was actually more angered by Laika's death, but it is sickening how regimes take advantage of silly ideas like political beliefs, patriotism, heroism, etc.
On the Burden of Graduating from Harvard
Brittany and I recently went to Boston and Cambridge.
Walking around Harvard made me really miss college. I forget how great Harvard is and I feel like an idiot for having taken it for granted. It also made me feel a bit unaccomplished. Graduating from Harvard comes with the burden of doing something significant... One is supposed to be great, be wealthy, change the world.
I have not done anything of the sort. I don't even know what it is exactly that I want to do in the long term. I finished the first year of law school and hated it. I've been working for three years at the same firm. I'm contemplating the idea of returning to school - possibly an MBA or a PhD. in History.
Going to a school like Harvard makes me feel intelligent, but at the same time, makes me feel unintelligent since there are so many other people who are infinitely more intelligent than I.
But then, I think that at which one is meant to be great has really been narrowed down... a lot of people end up doing law school or business school, something far from revolutionary. I also think that up to this point in my life, I have been relatively happy. I have received and given a good amount of love. And although I am far from a saint, I have been a good person.
I think that is good enough for now.
Edit: I can also say that I dropped out of law school at the best possible time and avoided the extra expenses and debt. Finally, I have been quite lucky and have been able to pay down a good portion of my debt. Sadly, it seems that expectations have been lowered for people in my age bracket... no more high rolling for us and now just having a stable jobs is a luxury.
Walking around Harvard made me really miss college. I forget how great Harvard is and I feel like an idiot for having taken it for granted. It also made me feel a bit unaccomplished. Graduating from Harvard comes with the burden of doing something significant... One is supposed to be great, be wealthy, change the world.
I have not done anything of the sort. I don't even know what it is exactly that I want to do in the long term. I finished the first year of law school and hated it. I've been working for three years at the same firm. I'm contemplating the idea of returning to school - possibly an MBA or a PhD. in History.
Going to a school like Harvard makes me feel intelligent, but at the same time, makes me feel unintelligent since there are so many other people who are infinitely more intelligent than I.
But then, I think that at which one is meant to be great has really been narrowed down... a lot of people end up doing law school or business school, something far from revolutionary. I also think that up to this point in my life, I have been relatively happy. I have received and given a good amount of love. And although I am far from a saint, I have been a good person.
I think that is good enough for now.
Edit: I can also say that I dropped out of law school at the best possible time and avoided the extra expenses and debt. Finally, I have been quite lucky and have been able to pay down a good portion of my debt. Sadly, it seems that expectations have been lowered for people in my age bracket... no more high rolling for us and now just having a stable jobs is a luxury.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Grimes - Vanessa
Grimes - Vanessa from Arbutus Records on Vimeo.
Cool song.
The song is available here.
Download an album for free here.
Beacon Projects - Last Friday Night
Last Friday Night from Beacon Projects on Vimeo.
This is an excellent cover/reworking of a random Katy Perry song.
They have a five track ep available here.
Friday, April 22, 2011
P90X - Weeks 2 + 3
I've been pretty good at following P90X. Week 2 went well, but I skipped Kenpo X since I was out of the city. I also took an extra day off on Monday and did not follow the diet so well over the weekend.
However, I am almost done with week 3 and am back on track. I can already see some improvements. In pushups, I am able to do 10 more reps than week 1 on some moves. On pullups, I can do a few more pullups. For arms and shoulders, I have been able to increase weight by about 10 pounds since week 1. Not too bad, I think.
However, I am almost done with week 3 and am back on track. I can already see some improvements. In pushups, I am able to do 10 more reps than week 1 on some moves. On pullups, I can do a few more pullups. For arms and shoulders, I have been able to increase weight by about 10 pounds since week 1. Not too bad, I think.
The Republic Tigers - The Nerve (Nervous Dancing)
The Republic Tigers released an EP titled No Man's Land for Record Store Day. The Nerve (Nervous Dancing) is included - it is a remake of The Nerve into a pop-ier, dancy-er tune. The original version is my most listened to track according to last.fm. It helped me get through a difficult time, but this new version is more appropriate for my current point in life.
The only place I can find it is on Pop Sucker: the Pop Sucker: get up the nerve
The only place I can find it is on Pop Sucker: the Pop Sucker: get up the nerve
Sunday, April 10, 2011
P90X - Week 1
I completed the first week of P90X. I decided to restart the program and fully embrace the workout schedule as well as the diet plan.
Though I had been working out and becoming stronger, my schedule was not consistent. I also was not losing weight. The first time I almost completed P90X, I saw great results by sticking closely to the diet.
So far, I have been very good. I have only cheated a few times. I had one drink (with light vodka, eh) at a Yelp event. One night, I had an extra slice of toast. A couple of days, I had an extra serving of fruit since I put in some strawberries in protein shakes. I have also been drinking coffee and continue to chew sugar free gum. That is the extent of my cheating, so I am doing pretty well.
Though I had been working out and becoming stronger, my schedule was not consistent. I also was not losing weight. The first time I almost completed P90X, I saw great results by sticking closely to the diet.
So far, I have been very good. I have only cheated a few times. I had one drink (with light vodka, eh) at a Yelp event. One night, I had an extra slice of toast. A couple of days, I had an extra serving of fruit since I put in some strawberries in protein shakes. I have also been drinking coffee and continue to chew sugar free gum. That is the extent of my cheating, so I am doing pretty well.
Friday, April 8, 2011
Best Dream Ever
This morning, I had a dream that I stumbled upon a secret Bloc Party concert. There were not very many fans there and the band was not on a stage, so I was able to make my way right next to the band. Kele said, 'hey, nice to see you,' as if we had met already. Two of the guys were wearing the same workout shirt I just bought yesterday.
The best part came when I heard the first few cords for Skeleton. I went nuts. Matt, the drummer was pissed. I was so happy that I only made it halfway through the song... I woke myself up and posted about it on facebook (at 5:25 am!). Well, it really made my day.
This is the sickest song:
The best part came when I heard the first few cords for Skeleton. I went nuts. Matt, the drummer was pissed. I was so happy that I only made it halfway through the song... I woke myself up and posted about it on facebook (at 5:25 am!). Well, it really made my day.
This is the sickest song:
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Metronomy - The Look
I already like this more than some of their older stuff - it's more coherent and polished.
Apparently, they are also sounds great live:
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
The Strokes - Under Cover of Darkness
The first single from The Stroke's new album. 'Under Cover of Darkness' sounds like the best song on the album, though I've only listened to the album twice or thrice.
I'm not a huge Strokes fan and I think that individual/side projects by 4 out of the 5 guys have put out better music (Albert Hammond Jr. solo, Julian Casablancas solo, Nickle Eye, Little joy), which is kind of sad if you think about it - together, these guys should be busting out some of the best music out there.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Sin Fang - Because of the Blood
Sin Fang - Because Of The Blood from Máni M. Sigfússon on Vimeo.
Sin Fang is the main guy from Seabear. He just came out with an album and I guess this is his first single. I like it. I have to listen to the rest of the album - I hope it's as good as Seabear's album.
Sleigh Bells - Rill Rill
Definitely the best song on the album. I don't really get why so many hipsters are all hot and bothered by this band, but I do think the singer is kind of sexy.
By the way, the 'have a heart, have a heart' chorus reminds me of the guy in Harvard Square who sold newspapers to help the homeless.
The Streets - Banquet Remix
A friend posted a video by The Streets on facebook and it reminded me of this. It's quite funny and has the excellent Banquet music.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
On Japan
It has been almost a week since the earthquake and tsunami hit Japan and the conditions are getting worse. Aftershocks continue to hit the country and nuclear plants are on the brink of meltdown. I've seen figures for the death toll near 4,300. Then there are 12,000 people who are missing.
I was watching a movie the other night in bed cuddling with Romeo. I was trying to be positive and think that I would be able to survive a disaster like in Japan. I was sure that the first thing I would do is grab Romeo and run out and do whatever I needed to do. However, upon deeper reflection, I realized that a disaster like that catches almost all of its victims unprepared, going about their daily activities, in bed, in the subway, etc. So if I were in bad and something happened all if a sudden, I would probably die almost instantly without even knowing it.
That is the nature of life and death, I guess... that one can never fully comprehend it and there is no justice as to who and why someone dies. There is no need to become preoccupied with it. Of course, we all have primal instinct of survival, but there is a point when nothing can be done to improve survival and so we must go forth quietly, resigned into death's icy grip.
I was watching a movie the other night in bed cuddling with Romeo. I was trying to be positive and think that I would be able to survive a disaster like in Japan. I was sure that the first thing I would do is grab Romeo and run out and do whatever I needed to do. However, upon deeper reflection, I realized that a disaster like that catches almost all of its victims unprepared, going about their daily activities, in bed, in the subway, etc. So if I were in bad and something happened all if a sudden, I would probably die almost instantly without even knowing it.
That is the nature of life and death, I guess... that one can never fully comprehend it and there is no justice as to who and why someone dies. There is no need to become preoccupied with it. Of course, we all have primal instinct of survival, but there is a point when nothing can be done to improve survival and so we must go forth quietly, resigned into death's icy grip.
Shingles II
I'm already almost over my shingles. What was that? A week and a half tops?
The rash is pretty much gone, as is any pain.
It'll take a better war to kill a college man like me.
I feel like Wolverine.
The rash is pretty much gone, as is any pain.
It'll take a better war to kill a college man like me.
I feel like Wolverine.
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Capitalism = The Illusion of Choice
Bernie Sanders knows the truth.
I love the quotation 'the illusion of truth.' It is a perfect description of the world that we live in. We think that we are free to do as we wish, but in truth, our lives are dictated by forces beyond our control.
How TV Ruined Your Life
Episode 1 of 6.
This show is hilarious. Really, what a great show! TV does nothing but scare you and feed you a false, unattainable lifestyle.
Oh My Shingles
I have shingles.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
Shingles is most common in older people and those with weakened immune systems, so I am not sure why I got it... stress is one trigger, so i probably got it due to work.
Fortunately, I have not experience much pain, flu-like symptoms, or any vision loss - just an itchy, burning rash.
Amusingly enough, Brittany got shingles when she was in college. I like to complain 'oh my shingles!' because I know it annoys her!
Also, I constantly have the urge to say I have rickets, which is something totally different.
Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful, blistering skin rash due to the varicella-zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox.
Shingles is most common in older people and those with weakened immune systems, so I am not sure why I got it... stress is one trigger, so i probably got it due to work.
Fortunately, I have not experience much pain, flu-like symptoms, or any vision loss - just an itchy, burning rash.
Amusingly enough, Brittany got shingles when she was in college. I like to complain 'oh my shingles!' because I know it annoys her!
Also, I constantly have the urge to say I have rickets, which is something totally different.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Inequality in the United States of America
The United States is quite a special case. Since this country offers so many freedoms and the lure of the American Dream where anyone can make it big, an average citizen, no matter how poor he or she may be, will never want the earning potential to be limited or taxes increased on the wealthy. They think that they will make it into this tiny elite class... when in reality, they will never get close.
Click on the graph to see more statistics on the sad breakdown of inequality of wealth in America.
Dream Setlist - Bloc Party
I love Bloc Party. I found out about them by being a stalker: I had a crush on a classmate in law school. I looked her up on Facebook and under her favorite music, she only had A Weekend in the City. I looked it up and saw that the artist was Bloc Party. I listened to it and did not really like it at first, but little by little, I enjoyed it more and more. Now, they are the artist I've listened to the most - beating the second most listened to band by more than 2x.
I only saw them live once and they were great. I wish, though, that I could have them play all of my favorite songs. And so with that in mind, I have created my dream setlist for Bloc Party:
1. Compliments
2. Sunday
3. SRXT
4. The Prayer
5. Signs
6. Flux
7. One More Chance
8. Ares (Villains Remix)
9. Talons (Phones R.I.P. Remix)
10. Signs (AVH Remix)
11. One Month Off
12. Better Than Heaven
13. Helicopter
14. Positive Tension
15. Pioneers
16. Price of Gas
17. Hunting for Witches
18. Uniform
19. On
20. Ion Square
21. Selfish Son
22. Banquet
23. Skeleton
24. Plans
I began to put them in order to create, if not a story, at least a progression, but it was taking way too long. I would have them open with Compliments since the protagonist does nothing... I end it with Plans, which acknowledges everyone's fear of the future and urges us to seize our fate while living in the moment. My favorite songs are toward the end... including the ever elusive Skeleton.
I only saw them live once and they were great. I wish, though, that I could have them play all of my favorite songs. And so with that in mind, I have created my dream setlist for Bloc Party:
1. Compliments
2. Sunday
3. SRXT
4. The Prayer
5. Signs
6. Flux
7. One More Chance
8. Ares (Villains Remix)
9. Talons (Phones R.I.P. Remix)
10. Signs (AVH Remix)
11. One Month Off
12. Better Than Heaven
13. Helicopter
14. Positive Tension
15. Pioneers
16. Price of Gas
17. Hunting for Witches
18. Uniform
19. On
20. Ion Square
21. Selfish Son
22. Banquet
23. Skeleton
24. Plans
I began to put them in order to create, if not a story, at least a progression, but it was taking way too long. I would have them open with Compliments since the protagonist does nothing... I end it with Plans, which acknowledges everyone's fear of the future and urges us to seize our fate while living in the moment. My favorite songs are toward the end... including the ever elusive Skeleton.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Young the Giant - My Body
I saw this video on Fuse the other day - fun song.
They will be playing Music Hall of Williamsburg on April 14. Maybe I'll check them out.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Yann Tiersen at Highline Ballroom
Last Friday, I saw Yann Tiersen at Highline Ballroom.
I saw the listing a while before but saw that he had two shows and did not worry about being able to get tickets. The shows sold out a few days before the actual concerts. I walked down to the Highline Ballroom just in case they released more tickets, and they did.
The venue was packed with Europeans, hippies, and hipsters. The acoustics and the sound system were not great, plus some annoying loud people.
It was enjoyable even though a concert like that is enjoyed most sitting down. The night I saw him, he and his band played with an orchestra. It suited the music, but seeing this Take Away show, maybe it would have been funkier seeing the regular band.
I saw the listing a while before but saw that he had two shows and did not worry about being able to get tickets. The shows sold out a few days before the actual concerts. I walked down to the Highline Ballroom just in case they released more tickets, and they did.
The venue was packed with Europeans, hippies, and hipsters. The acoustics and the sound system were not great, plus some annoying loud people.
It was enjoyable even though a concert like that is enjoyed most sitting down. The night I saw him, he and his band played with an orchestra. It suited the music, but seeing this Take Away show, maybe it would have been funkier seeing the regular band.
Yann Tiersen | A Take Away Show #2 | Palestine | Amy from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.
Dog Day Afternoon
My boss recently adopted Chibi, a rat terrier, and brought him to the office several times.
A coworker has two dogs, Rigby and Yoda, and has brought them to the office several times.
On the fifth floor, there is a Yorkshire terrier named Gizmo and an adopted stray named Jojo.
On Wednesday, I figured I would take Romeo to the office. I love this pooch, but what a nightmare. He peed in the office and in the hallway. He pooped in the hall. He must have peed about twenty times outside. He followed me around the office and he did not get a wink of sleep, and I, in turn, did not get too much work done.
I put him on my desk to see if he could help, but no dice.
Romeo is so freaking cute, but he smells like a swamp and has stinky breath...
The National - Bloodbuzz Ohio + Fake Empire (Live)
That guy with hands and fingers flailing - that would have been me if I had been there.
When I first heard The National, I thought they were a bit boring, but I did love Fake Empire. I think it's still their best song. Bloodbuzz Ohio is the best song from their latest album.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
On Glasses
Last night, I had a dream that I had just had Lasik. As I was walking, I blinked and the cornea flap popped open and my vision got all blurry. I was not fazed; I just blinked and it popped back in place.
I started wearing glasses in second grade - I would stand and squint to see the chalkboard. Every year, I would have to get new, stronger glasses... my vision deteriorated every year, but every year I got the same style of glasses: huge tortoise shell glasses. Sure, now they are super cool, but damn, it was not cool being a dorky, rotund, and veritably squat kid with a lopsided haircut and huge Sally Jesse Raphael glasses with thick lenses. To make it worse, some years I even had transitions. No matter what the commercials say about transitions being the future of glasses and show really attractive people wearing them, they are really for dorks...
Guess which one is me. I'm that dork with the cool adidas shirt and the bomb transition glasses. Oh you mad cuz I'm stylin' on you? This is a picture from eighth grade trip to D.C.
Wearing glasses sucks. Now my prescription is so bad that the lenses are way thick and distort my face. Sigh.
I don't know if I'll end up getting Lasik or tough it out with contacts, but I'm so glad I have options.
I started wearing glasses in second grade - I would stand and squint to see the chalkboard. Every year, I would have to get new, stronger glasses... my vision deteriorated every year, but every year I got the same style of glasses: huge tortoise shell glasses. Sure, now they are super cool, but damn, it was not cool being a dorky, rotund, and veritably squat kid with a lopsided haircut and huge Sally Jesse Raphael glasses with thick lenses. To make it worse, some years I even had transitions. No matter what the commercials say about transitions being the future of glasses and show really attractive people wearing them, they are really for dorks...
Guess which one is me. I'm that dork with the cool adidas shirt and the bomb transition glasses. Oh you mad cuz I'm stylin' on you? This is a picture from eighth grade trip to D.C.
Wearing glasses sucks. Now my prescription is so bad that the lenses are way thick and distort my face. Sigh.
I don't know if I'll end up getting Lasik or tough it out with contacts, but I'm so glad I have options.
Monday, February 14, 2011
MSNBC - Hardwired
MSNBC's Lean Forward campaign is great. Their commercials are a positive dot on the sea of negativity of skewed journalism.
This piece is a short argument that human kind is overall good and that the path of history is a slow march of progress.
I really do think that throughout history, we are progressing to be a better world. Little by little, we improve - but just like waves, we ebb and flow, progress and digress, but the end is certain.
I still think that the end of evolution is some sort of utopia - a post-materialistic and post-government world.
How Did the Moon Get There?
I was sad to see Keith Olbermann leave MSNBC. I think he's funny, intelligent, and definitely ballsy.
Lawrence O'Donnell has taken over his time slot. He's kind of funny too.
Tonight, he called out Bill O'Reilly for playing a character - 'I see dozens of guys I grew up with whoa re just like him - overbearing, argumentative Irish guy who think they now everything and can back up nothing... he is just a joke to me... most of the time... Billy boy, I know real Irish tough guys they don't look and sound like you and none of them come from Long Island like you, and none of them go to work in make up like you.' LOL
The Best Dream Ever
Last week, I had a dream that I was at a secret show for Tegan and Sara. I'm not a huge fan or anything, so I don't know why they were in it. I looked at the set list and saw that they were going to play 'Arrow.' Again, not a huge fan and that song is okay, but in the dream, I was stoked.
The best part was when some promo team came on stage and started throwing out tons of free snack cakes! I was like a woman at a wedding trying to catch the bouquet - pushing kids outta my way, elbowing mofos left and right. I NEED THAT CUPCAKE!
I obviously have a problem.
The best part was when some promo team came on stage and started throwing out tons of free snack cakes! I was like a woman at a wedding trying to catch the bouquet - pushing kids outta my way, elbowing mofos left and right. I NEED THAT CUPCAKE!
I obviously have a problem.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
James Blake - The Wilhelm Scream
This is excellent. I like his style. The multiple layers of sound have almost a scary sound and remind me of Commitment #4 by Robi Draco Rosa.
He will be performing at Music Hall of Williamsburg on March 14!
The video is perfect for the song... it's a haziness and confusion created by the sounds. It reminds me of the drawing classes and drawings I used to do at Harvard.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mexico
Mexico is in a terrible state at the moment. Aside from its normal problems of high unemployment and a stagnant economy, the last few years have seen a powerful rise of violence due to drug cartels.
It is incredible how much Mexico resembles a war zone... the thing is that this is a war with an unknown number of fronts and infinite supplies of soldiers, at least for the cartels and will continue to exist until the demand for drugs is present. How can a war like this continue, when it is a war of terror wreaked upon the nation and all of its citizens?
The state has to fight against the fire power, man power, and intelligence that all of this drug money can buy. The cartels will continue with this violence.
What is to be done? What is a realistic solution? Legalizing drugs in Mexico is a possibility. If this happens, the state can regulate production and sales in Mexico. This might give an incentive for these narcos to go legitimate... but then of course, the largest problem is that drugs would continue to be illegal in the US and so illegal outfits would still exist to smuggle the drugs into this country.
The most satisfying solution would be to wage a total war. The government would need to invest more money and recruit more soldiers and show zero mercy. Shoot to kill, arrest to kill, question to kill. The problem with this is that, without due process of law, innocent people would be killed by the states' arm.
Equally satisfying would be branding the narcos and all their henchmen so that they can feel the scorn and abuse from the populace that they have been tormenting for years. These people are sick - just sick. They recruit children. They kill innocent people, including children. Sick.
Really, what is the best solution? I really don't know. Decrease demand and prices to remove the incentive. Make the business to dangerous to be worth the risk. I don't know what else can be done.
El Blog del Narco documents this violence and shows the horrible nature of murders. You can see it here (warning: very graphic images).
It is incredible how much Mexico resembles a war zone... the thing is that this is a war with an unknown number of fronts and infinite supplies of soldiers, at least for the cartels and will continue to exist until the demand for drugs is present. How can a war like this continue, when it is a war of terror wreaked upon the nation and all of its citizens?
The state has to fight against the fire power, man power, and intelligence that all of this drug money can buy. The cartels will continue with this violence.
What is to be done? What is a realistic solution? Legalizing drugs in Mexico is a possibility. If this happens, the state can regulate production and sales in Mexico. This might give an incentive for these narcos to go legitimate... but then of course, the largest problem is that drugs would continue to be illegal in the US and so illegal outfits would still exist to smuggle the drugs into this country.
The most satisfying solution would be to wage a total war. The government would need to invest more money and recruit more soldiers and show zero mercy. Shoot to kill, arrest to kill, question to kill. The problem with this is that, without due process of law, innocent people would be killed by the states' arm.
Equally satisfying would be branding the narcos and all their henchmen so that they can feel the scorn and abuse from the populace that they have been tormenting for years. These people are sick - just sick. They recruit children. They kill innocent people, including children. Sick.
Really, what is the best solution? I really don't know. Decrease demand and prices to remove the incentive. Make the business to dangerous to be worth the risk. I don't know what else can be done.
El Blog del Narco documents this violence and shows the horrible nature of murders. You can see it here (warning: very graphic images).
Distant Relatives - Patience
A hot video for the best song on the Distant Relatives album. It's sad to see that Damian's verses are hotter than Nas'. It's actually a huge disappointment since Nas was the best rapper at one point.
Yeasayer - O.N.E.
I didn't even know they had a video until this morning when I saw this playing on MTV. The crazy colors and eighties dance moves are great.
They definitely have the best album of 2010. They recently released a live recording that can be downloaded on a pay-what-you-wish basis: Download
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Dreams
This morning I had two weird dreams:
In the first, I was somewhere in New Jersey visiting Brittany's family. I was walking down a quiet street when I saw a tall Nordic-looking blond woman. I got incredibly scared and started running. I ran down an alley and kept on running, past houses, past pools. I stopped to catch my breath, looked down the alley and saw another blonde. Shit, I thought. Then I saw another one. I ran a bit more and ran into a bakery. I locked the door and told everyone the news: we were being invaded by aliens. At that point, four Asian teenagers knocked on the door. They were the Asian mafia and they came to collect... but for some reason they tried to force us to give them money by brandishing q-tips at us.
In the second dream, somebody came up with the great idea of sending several adults undercover to eight grade classrooms at my middle school. I was one of those adults and was really looking forward to this opportunity. I couldn't find my locker and I had no idea who my teacher would be. I walked into a random classroom and saw a bunch of kids switching classrooms.
I have no idea how I would ever even pass for an eight grader nor why I the aliens were tall blondes, but they were fun dreams.
In the first, I was somewhere in New Jersey visiting Brittany's family. I was walking down a quiet street when I saw a tall Nordic-looking blond woman. I got incredibly scared and started running. I ran down an alley and kept on running, past houses, past pools. I stopped to catch my breath, looked down the alley and saw another blonde. Shit, I thought. Then I saw another one. I ran a bit more and ran into a bakery. I locked the door and told everyone the news: we were being invaded by aliens. At that point, four Asian teenagers knocked on the door. They were the Asian mafia and they came to collect... but for some reason they tried to force us to give them money by brandishing q-tips at us.
In the second dream, somebody came up with the great idea of sending several adults undercover to eight grade classrooms at my middle school. I was one of those adults and was really looking forward to this opportunity. I couldn't find my locker and I had no idea who my teacher would be. I walked into a random classroom and saw a bunch of kids switching classrooms.
I have no idea how I would ever even pass for an eight grader nor why I the aliens were tall blondes, but they were fun dreams.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
On a Mysterious Friend
I was talking to my friend Marisa the other day about our now-gone friend Shea. One of the topics of our discussion was how mysterious his life was. We had only really heard of his grandparents, not his parents, and knew very little else about his life growing up. An idea occurred to me that this would be a great research topic. I could collect fragments of information and present it as a final ouvre. It actually reminds me a lot of history seminar assignments. Perhaps this is my yet-to-be-published book.
On Helping an Injured Pigeon
Last Thursday night, I was walking home from the subway. As I was passing Gristedes, I saw a pigeon standing motionless, huddling in a corner. I stopped and searched for some veterinarian offices and animal hospitals in the area. I must have spent about thirty minutes standing outside calling different places. I figures that I could find a place that would accept pigeons and I could take it straight away before going home.
I called about ten places and none of them were willing to take the pigeon. One place was willing to take the pigeon and euthanize it. I figured I could take it there, have them look at it, and see whether it would be worth saving the pigeon. I went in search of a small box to transport the bird. I found one in a Duane Reade across the street.
I grabbed the pigeon and took him home since by then, that one hospital was closed. At home, I searched for a while to see where I could take it. I found the Wild Bird Fund, operating out of Animal General on 87th and Columbus. The next morning, I still called a handful of other places since I didn't want to have to go all the way to the UWS.
No luck, but I was able to get an appointment for Saturday afternoon. At the hospital, we were told that the pigeon was in bad shape. Part of its tail was gone and it was also very skinny. They said it was likely sick and so was too weak to escape the human/dog/car/injuring object. They also said that he was very cold and that sick birds do not keep their body temperature up. They took him in and were going to put him in an incubator to warm him up, give him some fluids to get him going, and feed him. If he was able to get better, they were going to see what the underlying problem is.
I haven't gotten any updates, but I will contact them soon to see how he fared.
I'm glad I found the Wild Bird Fund so that I know where to take an injured bird.
I'm planning on making a donation soon... it will count as part of my New Year's resolutions!
Here is the little dinosaur.
I called about ten places and none of them were willing to take the pigeon. One place was willing to take the pigeon and euthanize it. I figured I could take it there, have them look at it, and see whether it would be worth saving the pigeon. I went in search of a small box to transport the bird. I found one in a Duane Reade across the street.
I grabbed the pigeon and took him home since by then, that one hospital was closed. At home, I searched for a while to see where I could take it. I found the Wild Bird Fund, operating out of Animal General on 87th and Columbus. The next morning, I still called a handful of other places since I didn't want to have to go all the way to the UWS.
No luck, but I was able to get an appointment for Saturday afternoon. At the hospital, we were told that the pigeon was in bad shape. Part of its tail was gone and it was also very skinny. They said it was likely sick and so was too weak to escape the human/dog/car/injuring object. They also said that he was very cold and that sick birds do not keep their body temperature up. They took him in and were going to put him in an incubator to warm him up, give him some fluids to get him going, and feed him. If he was able to get better, they were going to see what the underlying problem is.
I haven't gotten any updates, but I will contact them soon to see how he fared.
I'm glad I found the Wild Bird Fund so that I know where to take an injured bird.
I'm planning on making a donation soon... it will count as part of my New Year's resolutions!
Here is the little dinosaur.
Sunday, January 9, 2011
On Finding a Missing Friend
I have a good friend from college who dropped off the face of the earth after graduation. For five years, we knew nothing about what he had been doing. To our group of friends, this was nothing uncommon. We were used to him coming to a party and leaving without saying goodbye. We knew him to go out and wander the streets of Cambridge and Boston by himself, and junior year, he went off to China on an exchange program and sometimes we would hear stories of his exploits there. He was very animated and everything came back to the great evil that was China - the soon to be sole world power. Since we had not received any type of communication from him, we assumed that he was somewhere in China fighting to bring the nation down or rotting away in a prison for trying to do so.
A handful of months ago, I was able to work my Googling/stalking magic and found an address in Spokane, WA that seemed like a plausible contact. I sent a Christmas card and asked him to call or e-mail me. A couple of weeks later, on January 2, I missed a call and received an e-mail from his mother in which she told me that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
The next evening, I spoke to his mom. It is a very sad story, unfortunately. They arrived in Washington after our graduation on a Wednesday. He was very happy and excited to soon be starting a job at the Berlitz language school in Tokyo. His brother and couple of other friends wanted to take him camping before he left. So that Friday they went camping. He was waiting for the two friends to pick him up. Something happened that the car with his two friends fell off a 900 foot cliff and died. He didn't even know that this happened because he called his mom wondering where his friends were, thinking that they were playing some prank on him. His mom told me that the parents of his friends that died even went to their house, blamed him for the death of their children and said they wished it had been him instead of their children.
He became depressed but still went away to Japan. She got that call from his building owner in Japan asking her to get him. She said that when she found him and it seemed like a scene out of Howard Hughes' life and he had even dunked his computer and phone in water because he was afraid he was being tracked. She was able to bring him back but refused help.
At some point, she found out that there was some history of mental illness on his father's side. Because of the current laws, he could not be helped against his will. He left one day while she was at work and received a call from him 15 months later. He had been found in a park after having tried to overdose. He has been in and out of hospitals, but unfortunately because of the laws, he'll only be required to be on his medications for 90 days at a time and then he'll stop taking them once no longer required to.
He does not really know that something is wrong with him. He doesn't know he is ill, so knowing that he has some level of happiness is what helps her keep it together. She said that when he first started living in the assisted living homes, she was visiting him twice a week, plus Friday to pick him up for the weekend and Sunday to take him back. She still takes him home every weekend. Unfortunately, any communication from us is not welcomed. She mentioned to him that he got a Christmas card from me and greetings from friends, and he said something to the effect of 'I knew it, I knew they were tracking me and now they found me.' Even another card saying 'have a merry and jolly time' sparked a paranoid episode. She says that he is often in his own world and thinks that everything is signaling him and that the FBI, CIA, and what have you are tracking him. She said that they even took him to a local FBI office to show him that he was not in their computer system. After they left, he said that the reason he was not in the system is because it was a secret investigation. She says that Shea is in danger since he'll often walk into the street without being aware of what he is doing.
Our friend is now destined to a life of assisted living homes, mental hospitals, drug cocktails, random paranoia, and he will not get better.
I was really affected by the news. It was so sad to hear that our friend has essentially disappeared and has become a person ruled by the plots conceived by his malfunctioning brain. Nevertheless, he will always be one of our good friends.
A handful of months ago, I was able to work my Googling/stalking magic and found an address in Spokane, WA that seemed like a plausible contact. I sent a Christmas card and asked him to call or e-mail me. A couple of weeks later, on January 2, I missed a call and received an e-mail from his mother in which she told me that he had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
The next evening, I spoke to his mom. It is a very sad story, unfortunately. They arrived in Washington after our graduation on a Wednesday. He was very happy and excited to soon be starting a job at the Berlitz language school in Tokyo. His brother and couple of other friends wanted to take him camping before he left. So that Friday they went camping. He was waiting for the two friends to pick him up. Something happened that the car with his two friends fell off a 900 foot cliff and died. He didn't even know that this happened because he called his mom wondering where his friends were, thinking that they were playing some prank on him. His mom told me that the parents of his friends that died even went to their house, blamed him for the death of their children and said they wished it had been him instead of their children.
He became depressed but still went away to Japan. She got that call from his building owner in Japan asking her to get him. She said that when she found him and it seemed like a scene out of Howard Hughes' life and he had even dunked his computer and phone in water because he was afraid he was being tracked. She was able to bring him back but refused help.
At some point, she found out that there was some history of mental illness on his father's side. Because of the current laws, he could not be helped against his will. He left one day while she was at work and received a call from him 15 months later. He had been found in a park after having tried to overdose. He has been in and out of hospitals, but unfortunately because of the laws, he'll only be required to be on his medications for 90 days at a time and then he'll stop taking them once no longer required to.
He does not really know that something is wrong with him. He doesn't know he is ill, so knowing that he has some level of happiness is what helps her keep it together. She said that when he first started living in the assisted living homes, she was visiting him twice a week, plus Friday to pick him up for the weekend and Sunday to take him back. She still takes him home every weekend. Unfortunately, any communication from us is not welcomed. She mentioned to him that he got a Christmas card from me and greetings from friends, and he said something to the effect of 'I knew it, I knew they were tracking me and now they found me.' Even another card saying 'have a merry and jolly time' sparked a paranoid episode. She says that he is often in his own world and thinks that everything is signaling him and that the FBI, CIA, and what have you are tracking him. She said that they even took him to a local FBI office to show him that he was not in their computer system. After they left, he said that the reason he was not in the system is because it was a secret investigation. She says that Shea is in danger since he'll often walk into the street without being aware of what he is doing.
Our friend is now destined to a life of assisted living homes, mental hospitals, drug cocktails, random paranoia, and he will not get better.
I was really affected by the news. It was so sad to hear that our friend has essentially disappeared and has become a person ruled by the plots conceived by his malfunctioning brain. Nevertheless, he will always be one of our good friends.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Ricky Gervais - Why I'm an Atheist
Ricky Gervais recently published an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal in which he defends atheism. Recently, my girlfriend's mom was asking me why I don't believe in god and kept on pestering me until it became annoying. I've included a link to the piece here and the text below:
Why don’t you believe in God? I get that question all the time. I always try to give a sensitive, reasoned answer. This is usually awkward, time consuming and pointless. People who believe in God don’t need proof of his existence, and they certainly don’t want evidence to the contrary. They are happy with their belief. They even say things like “it’s true to me” and “it’s faith.” I still give my logical answer because I feel that not being honest would be patronizing and impolite. It is ironic therefore that “I don’t believe in God because there is absolutely no scientific evidence for his existence and from what I’ve heard the very definition is a logical impossibility in this known universe,” comes across as both patronizing and impolite.
Arrogance is another accusation. Which seems particularly unfair. Science seeks the truth. And it does not discriminate. For better or worse it finds things out. Science is humble. It knows what it knows and it knows what it doesn’t know. It bases its conclusions and beliefs on hard evidence -- evidence that is constantly updated and upgraded. It doesn’t get offended when new facts come along. It embraces the body of knowledge. It doesn’t hold on to medieval practices because they are tradition. If it did, you wouldn’t get a shot of penicillin, you’d pop a leach down your trousers and pray. Whatever you “believe,” this is not as effective as medicine. Again you can say, “It works for me,” but so do placebos. My point being, I’m saying God doesn’t exist. I’m not saying faith doesn’t exist. I know faith exists. I see it all the time. But believing in something doesn’t make it true. Hoping that something is true doesn’t make it true. The existence of God is not subjective. He either exists or he doesn’t. It’s not a matter of opinion. You can have your own opinions. But you can’t have your own facts.
Why don’t I believe in God? No, no no, why do YOU believe in God? Surely the burden of proof is on the believer. You started all this. If I came up to you and said, “Why don’t you believe I can fly?” You’d say, “Why would I?” I’d reply, “Because it’s a matter of faith.” If I then said, “Prove I can’t fly. Prove I can’t fly see, see, you can’t prove it can you?” You’d probably either walk away, call security or throw me out of the window and shout, ‘’F—ing fly then you lunatic.”
This, is of course a spirituality issue, religion is a different matter. As an atheist, I see nothing “wrong” in believing in a god. I don’t think there is a god, but belief in him does no harm. If it helps you in any way, then that’s fine with me. It’s when belief starts infringing on other people’s rights when it worries me. I would never deny your right to believe in a god. I would just rather you didn’t kill people who believe in a different god, say. Or stone someone to death because your rulebook says their sexuality is immoral. It’s strange that anyone who believes that an all-powerful all-knowing, omniscient power responsible for everything that happens, would also want to judge and punish people for what they are. From what I can gather, pretty much the worst type of person you can be is an atheist. The first four commandments hammer this point home. There is a god, I’m him, no one else is, you’re not as good and don’t forget it. (Don’t murder anyone, doesn’t get a mention till number 6.)
When confronted with anyone who holds my lack of religious faith in such contempt, I say, “It’s the way God made me.”
But what are atheists really being accused of?
The dictionary definition of God is “a supernatural creator and overseer of the universe.” Included in this definition are all deities, goddesses and supernatural beings. Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6,000 years ago, historians have cataloged over 3700 supernatural beings, of which 2870 can be considered deities.
So next time someone tells me they believe in God, I’ll say “Oh which one? Zeus? Hades? Jupiter? Mars? Odin? Thor? Krishna? Vishnu? Ra?…” If they say “Just God. I only believe in the one God,” I’ll point out that they are nearly as atheistic as me. I don’t believe in 2,870 gods, and they don’t believe in 2,869.
I used to believe in God. The Christian one that is.
I loved Jesus. He was my hero. More than pop stars. More than footballers. More than God. God was by definition omnipotent and perfect. Jesus was a man. He had to work at it. He had temptation but defeated sin. He had integrity and courage. But He was my hero because He was kind. And He was kind to everyone. He didn’t bow to peer pressure or tyranny or cruelty. He didn’t care who you were. He loved you. What a guy. I wanted to be just like Him.
One day when I was about 8 years old, I was drawing the crucifixion as part of my Bible studies homework. I loved art too. And nature. I loved how God made all the animals. They were also perfect. Unconditionally beautiful. It was an amazing world.
I lived in a very poor, working-class estate in an urban sprawl called Reading, about 40 miles west of London. My father was a laborer and my mother was a housewife. I was never ashamed of poverty. It was almost noble. Also, everyone I knew was in the same situation, and I had everything I needed. School was free. My clothes were cheap and always clean and ironed. And mum was always cooking. She was cooking the day I was drawing on the cross.
I was sitting at the kitchen table when my brother came home. He was 11 years older than me, so he would have been 19. He was as smart as anyone I knew, but he was too cheeky. He would answer back and get into trouble. I was a good boy. I went to church and believed in God -– what a relief for a working-class mother. You see, growing up where I did, mums didn’t hope as high as their kids growing up to be doctors; they just hoped their kids didn’t go to jail. So bring them up believing in God and they’ll be good and law abiding. It’s a perfect system. Well, nearly. 75 percent of Americans are God-‐fearing Christians; 75 percent of prisoners are God-‐fearing Christians. 10 percent of Americans are atheists; 0.2 percent of prisoners are atheists.
But anyway, there I was happily drawing my hero when my big brother Bob asked, “Why do you believe in God?” Just a simple question. But my mum panicked. “Bob,” she said in a tone that I knew meant, “Shut up.” Why was that a bad thing to ask? If there was a God and my faith was strong it didn’t matter what people said.
Oh…hang on. There is no God. He knows it, and she knows it deep down. It was as simple as that. I started thinking about it and asking more questions, and within an hour, I was an atheist.
Wow. No God. If mum had lied to me about God, had she also lied to me about Santa? Yes, of course, but who cares? The gifts kept coming. And so did the gifts of my new found atheism. The gifts of truth, science, nature. The real beauty of this world. I learned of evolution -– a theory so simple that only England’s greatest genius could have come up with it. Evolution of plants, animals and us –- with imagination, free will, love, humor. I no longer needed a reason for my existence, just a reason to live. And imagination, free will, love, humor, fun, music, sports, beer and pizza are all good enough reasons for living.
But living an honest life -– for that you need the truth. That’s the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, in the end leads to liberation and dignity.
So what does the question “Why don’t you believe in God?” really mean. I think when someone asks that they are really questioning their own belief. In a way they are asking “what makes you so special? “How come you weren’t brainwashed with the rest of us?” “How dare you say I’m a fool and I’m not going to heaven, f— you!” Let’s be honest, if one person believed in God he would be considered pretty strange. But because it’s a very popular view it’s accepted. And why is it such a popular view? That’s obvious. It’s an attractive proposition. Believe in me and live forever. Again if it was just a case of spirituality this would be fine.
“Do unto others…” is a good rule of thumb. I live by that. Forgiveness is probably the greatest virtue there is. But that’s exactly what it is -‐ a virtue. Not just a Christian virtue. No one owns being good. I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is here and now. It’s knowing that I try to do the right thing. That I lived a good life. And that’s where spirituality really lost its way. When it became a stick to beat people with. “Do this or you’ll burn in hell.”
You won’t burn in hell. But be nice anyway.
Why don’t you believe in God? I get that question all the time. I always try to give a sensitive, reasoned answer. This is usually awkward, time consuming and pointless. People who believe in God don’t need proof of his existence, and they certainly don’t want evidence to the contrary. They are happy with their belief. They even say things like “it’s true to me” and “it’s faith.” I still give my logical answer because I feel that not being honest would be patronizing and impolite. It is ironic therefore that “I don’t believe in God because there is absolutely no scientific evidence for his existence and from what I’ve heard the very definition is a logical impossibility in this known universe,” comes across as both patronizing and impolite.
Arrogance is another accusation. Which seems particularly unfair. Science seeks the truth. And it does not discriminate. For better or worse it finds things out. Science is humble. It knows what it knows and it knows what it doesn’t know. It bases its conclusions and beliefs on hard evidence -- evidence that is constantly updated and upgraded. It doesn’t get offended when new facts come along. It embraces the body of knowledge. It doesn’t hold on to medieval practices because they are tradition. If it did, you wouldn’t get a shot of penicillin, you’d pop a leach down your trousers and pray. Whatever you “believe,” this is not as effective as medicine. Again you can say, “It works for me,” but so do placebos. My point being, I’m saying God doesn’t exist. I’m not saying faith doesn’t exist. I know faith exists. I see it all the time. But believing in something doesn’t make it true. Hoping that something is true doesn’t make it true. The existence of God is not subjective. He either exists or he doesn’t. It’s not a matter of opinion. You can have your own opinions. But you can’t have your own facts.
Why don’t I believe in God? No, no no, why do YOU believe in God? Surely the burden of proof is on the believer. You started all this. If I came up to you and said, “Why don’t you believe I can fly?” You’d say, “Why would I?” I’d reply, “Because it’s a matter of faith.” If I then said, “Prove I can’t fly. Prove I can’t fly see, see, you can’t prove it can you?” You’d probably either walk away, call security or throw me out of the window and shout, ‘’F—ing fly then you lunatic.”
This, is of course a spirituality issue, religion is a different matter. As an atheist, I see nothing “wrong” in believing in a god. I don’t think there is a god, but belief in him does no harm. If it helps you in any way, then that’s fine with me. It’s when belief starts infringing on other people’s rights when it worries me. I would never deny your right to believe in a god. I would just rather you didn’t kill people who believe in a different god, say. Or stone someone to death because your rulebook says their sexuality is immoral. It’s strange that anyone who believes that an all-powerful all-knowing, omniscient power responsible for everything that happens, would also want to judge and punish people for what they are. From what I can gather, pretty much the worst type of person you can be is an atheist. The first four commandments hammer this point home. There is a god, I’m him, no one else is, you’re not as good and don’t forget it. (Don’t murder anyone, doesn’t get a mention till number 6.)
When confronted with anyone who holds my lack of religious faith in such contempt, I say, “It’s the way God made me.”
But what are atheists really being accused of?
The dictionary definition of God is “a supernatural creator and overseer of the universe.” Included in this definition are all deities, goddesses and supernatural beings. Since the beginning of recorded history, which is defined by the invention of writing by the Sumerians around 6,000 years ago, historians have cataloged over 3700 supernatural beings, of which 2870 can be considered deities.
So next time someone tells me they believe in God, I’ll say “Oh which one? Zeus? Hades? Jupiter? Mars? Odin? Thor? Krishna? Vishnu? Ra?…” If they say “Just God. I only believe in the one God,” I’ll point out that they are nearly as atheistic as me. I don’t believe in 2,870 gods, and they don’t believe in 2,869.
I used to believe in God. The Christian one that is.
I loved Jesus. He was my hero. More than pop stars. More than footballers. More than God. God was by definition omnipotent and perfect. Jesus was a man. He had to work at it. He had temptation but defeated sin. He had integrity and courage. But He was my hero because He was kind. And He was kind to everyone. He didn’t bow to peer pressure or tyranny or cruelty. He didn’t care who you were. He loved you. What a guy. I wanted to be just like Him.
One day when I was about 8 years old, I was drawing the crucifixion as part of my Bible studies homework. I loved art too. And nature. I loved how God made all the animals. They were also perfect. Unconditionally beautiful. It was an amazing world.
I lived in a very poor, working-class estate in an urban sprawl called Reading, about 40 miles west of London. My father was a laborer and my mother was a housewife. I was never ashamed of poverty. It was almost noble. Also, everyone I knew was in the same situation, and I had everything I needed. School was free. My clothes were cheap and always clean and ironed. And mum was always cooking. She was cooking the day I was drawing on the cross.
I was sitting at the kitchen table when my brother came home. He was 11 years older than me, so he would have been 19. He was as smart as anyone I knew, but he was too cheeky. He would answer back and get into trouble. I was a good boy. I went to church and believed in God -– what a relief for a working-class mother. You see, growing up where I did, mums didn’t hope as high as their kids growing up to be doctors; they just hoped their kids didn’t go to jail. So bring them up believing in God and they’ll be good and law abiding. It’s a perfect system. Well, nearly. 75 percent of Americans are God-‐fearing Christians; 75 percent of prisoners are God-‐fearing Christians. 10 percent of Americans are atheists; 0.2 percent of prisoners are atheists.
But anyway, there I was happily drawing my hero when my big brother Bob asked, “Why do you believe in God?” Just a simple question. But my mum panicked. “Bob,” she said in a tone that I knew meant, “Shut up.” Why was that a bad thing to ask? If there was a God and my faith was strong it didn’t matter what people said.
Oh…hang on. There is no God. He knows it, and she knows it deep down. It was as simple as that. I started thinking about it and asking more questions, and within an hour, I was an atheist.
Wow. No God. If mum had lied to me about God, had she also lied to me about Santa? Yes, of course, but who cares? The gifts kept coming. And so did the gifts of my new found atheism. The gifts of truth, science, nature. The real beauty of this world. I learned of evolution -– a theory so simple that only England’s greatest genius could have come up with it. Evolution of plants, animals and us –- with imagination, free will, love, humor. I no longer needed a reason for my existence, just a reason to live. And imagination, free will, love, humor, fun, music, sports, beer and pizza are all good enough reasons for living.
But living an honest life -– for that you need the truth. That’s the other thing I learned that day, that the truth, however shocking or uncomfortable, in the end leads to liberation and dignity.
So what does the question “Why don’t you believe in God?” really mean. I think when someone asks that they are really questioning their own belief. In a way they are asking “what makes you so special? “How come you weren’t brainwashed with the rest of us?” “How dare you say I’m a fool and I’m not going to heaven, f— you!” Let’s be honest, if one person believed in God he would be considered pretty strange. But because it’s a very popular view it’s accepted. And why is it such a popular view? That’s obvious. It’s an attractive proposition. Believe in me and live forever. Again if it was just a case of spirituality this would be fine.
“Do unto others…” is a good rule of thumb. I live by that. Forgiveness is probably the greatest virtue there is. But that’s exactly what it is -‐ a virtue. Not just a Christian virtue. No one owns being good. I’m good. I just don’t believe I’ll be rewarded for it in heaven. My reward is here and now. It’s knowing that I try to do the right thing. That I lived a good life. And that’s where spirituality really lost its way. When it became a stick to beat people with. “Do this or you’ll burn in hell.”
You won’t burn in hell. But be nice anyway.
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