Tried an expedition into the local mounts but got nowhere.
Eugenics? My middle name is Eugene.
My middle name is Eugene. I love it. I am in love with my middle name. Studying me would be studying Eugenics, right? Wrong. Eugenics is actually a movement that advocates improving the genetic composition of a population. You might have seen this idea somewhere else, maybe Nazi Germany? You could imagine my dismay as I went from hoping there was a whole science devoted to studying me to realizing that the practice really isn't all that great.
Not to fret though, eugenics isn't all bad. Essentially, we all-well, not the asexuals amongst us-subconsciously carry out our own Eugenic practices by being physically attracted to people. Not to mention the people who decide not to procreate because they fear passing on terrible hereditary diseases. In fact, I'll even tie in my favorite writer Kurt here and mention his book "Galapagos". In the novel, one of the main characters might have an awful untreatable mysterious genetic disorder and, even when the future of the entire human population is dependent, refuses to procreate on the grounds that he might pass on this disease. With great Vonnegutian humor, Kurt goes on to explain how the child who would be the founding member of the "new" human population--who was conceived before the human population was in peril from two humans with no hereditary diseases--was born with a fur coat much like a seal or sea lion. How's that for Eugenics?
Here, read the Wikipedia article on the word:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics#United_States
Not to fret though, eugenics isn't all bad. Essentially, we all-well, not the asexuals amongst us-subconsciously carry out our own Eugenic practices by being physically attracted to people. Not to mention the people who decide not to procreate because they fear passing on terrible hereditary diseases. In fact, I'll even tie in my favorite writer Kurt here and mention his book "Galapagos". In the novel, one of the main characters might have an awful untreatable mysterious genetic disorder and, even when the future of the entire human population is dependent, refuses to procreate on the grounds that he might pass on this disease. With great Vonnegutian humor, Kurt goes on to explain how the child who would be the founding member of the "new" human population--who was conceived before the human population was in peril from two humans with no hereditary diseases--was born with a fur coat much like a seal or sea lion. How's that for Eugenics?
Here, read the Wikipedia article on the word:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics#United_States
Buzz Aldrin Nikes
Yeah, I ordered my first pair of Nikes a few days ago and I believe they should be coming this afternoon. They're no ordinary Nikes though, they are Buzz Aldrin limited edition mid-tops with his signature and everything. These are going to be prized possessions of mine. They feature Buzz's autograph on the back as well as pictures of the moon landing all over the upper. These things were pretty hard to find, but it's been a long time since I've seen shoes this cool.
Used books are tops. So are new beds.
I just got a fresh bed and it feels great. It's the perfect compliment to the fact that I've been waking up at six thirty without an alarm for the past few weeks. I love waking up early; I usually turn on the old iTunes to some mellow music, brew some coffee, and do my daily reading and writing before the day really starts.
This morning, I purchased two used books. I'm extremely excited because one of these books is coming from Louisiana, a book about Paris leading up to the impressionist period, written by Ross King titled "The Judgment of Paris". King, who wrote the bathroom book I'm currently reading, "Michaelangelo and the Pope's ceiling", is one of my favorite historical writers, also having written "Brunelleschi's Dome" which I left at an ex-grilfriend's parent's house in Seattle (her dad was nice and into history, I hope he's put it to good use).
The second book I chose is "The Borgias and their enemies" by Christopher Hibbert, a look into the lives of the Borgia family during the beginning and height of the Italian Renaissance. The focus here is on three members of the Borgia family and their tremendous influence during their lives.
In total, I think I payed twelve dollars to buy both of these books and have them shipped to my front door. I know I could probably have picked these up for one dollar a piece if I could find them at my local used book store, but I probably would have spent two hours trying to find them.
North by Northwest
Watch this.
Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock team up to make one of the all-time best spy movies. There's no special effects, hardly any gun clapping, and no bikini shots (which is by far the most missed aspect of any decent spy movie).
Though he's already fifty five years old in this movie, Grant is still the leading man to trump all leading men. At this point in time Grant had cut his contract with Paramount and gone on to start his own studio "Grantley Productions". This was a huge move considering at the time that real movie stars were contracted to one studio, allowing him to do the movies that he wanted.
Alfred Hitchcock once said that Cary Grant was the only actor he ever loved as a director. Watch for the Hitchcock cameo early in the movie. Next up on the playlist is "To Catch a Thief" which is another great Hitchcock/Grant collaboration.
Cary Grant and Alfred Hitchcock team up to make one of the all-time best spy movies. There's no special effects, hardly any gun clapping, and no bikini shots (which is by far the most missed aspect of any decent spy movie).
Though he's already fifty five years old in this movie, Grant is still the leading man to trump all leading men. At this point in time Grant had cut his contract with Paramount and gone on to start his own studio "Grantley Productions". This was a huge move considering at the time that real movie stars were contracted to one studio, allowing him to do the movies that he wanted.
Alfred Hitchcock once said that Cary Grant was the only actor he ever loved as a director. Watch for the Hitchcock cameo early in the movie. Next up on the playlist is "To Catch a Thief" which is another great Hitchcock/Grant collaboration.
Like the girl coming in on the vocals.
There's not too many festivals I would want to go to, but the Plan-it-x Fest is the one festival I want to go to. It's a 3 day punk/punk-folk/folk fest with like one hundred different bands and they all converge on a small town in the south and there are only six hundred tickets available.
Plan-it-x is a record label started by a few punk-folk stalwarts in a very DIY manner. PIX sells cheap cd's and tapes for the masses to enjoy, though the masses often overlook this small label.
The festival is held in Bloomington, Indiana. My friend Kurt was born in Indiana, probably one of the most influential people to come from the state, and most definitely one of the proudest Hoosiers to come from the state.
Plan-it-x is a record label started by a few punk-folk stalwarts in a very DIY manner. PIX sells cheap cd's and tapes for the masses to enjoy, though the masses often overlook this small label.
The festival is held in Bloomington, Indiana. My friend Kurt was born in Indiana, probably one of the most influential people to come from the state, and most definitely one of the proudest Hoosiers to come from the state.
I love the rain. Extra glossy please.
Living in Orange County I don't get to see rain as much as I would like. Most of the time the weather here can be described as extremely mild, maybe overcast here or there but this area isn't really well known for it's weather. When rain does come, however, I'm out there, into the weather to experience the rain. When you have nowhere to go and no reason to fret being wet you can enjoy and embrace the rain.
Exercise #1: When it's really coming down outside I like to just sit in a car and look outside. With water everywhere, on the street, coming down from the sky, pouring off roofs, cascading down the windshield, I like to imagine I am in a submarine. In the car everything is dry but if you look outside everything is wet, and if it's really coming down, everything is drenched. Give this a try next time you're in a storm.
Exercise #2: City lights are always intriguing to me, I am drawn and attracted to them, standing back and admiring them as though they were an art installation. It is easy for me to appreciate the abstractness that can be found in city lights. When it rains it is even easier. The rain water creates a glossy surface on everything: the streets, building walls, tree leaves, car hoods, jacket sleeves. When it rains, try going for a walk in an especially well lit area at night. Pay special attention not to the city lights themselves, but to the reflections that are now so visible on the glossy reflective surfaces created by the rain. Streetlights, headlights, neon signs all blend eerily into almost an impressionist masterpiece of color.
Exercise #1: When it's really coming down outside I like to just sit in a car and look outside. With water everywhere, on the street, coming down from the sky, pouring off roofs, cascading down the windshield, I like to imagine I am in a submarine. In the car everything is dry but if you look outside everything is wet, and if it's really coming down, everything is drenched. Give this a try next time you're in a storm.
Exercise #2: City lights are always intriguing to me, I am drawn and attracted to them, standing back and admiring them as though they were an art installation. It is easy for me to appreciate the abstractness that can be found in city lights. When it rains it is even easier. The rain water creates a glossy surface on everything: the streets, building walls, tree leaves, car hoods, jacket sleeves. When it rains, try going for a walk in an especially well lit area at night. Pay special attention not to the city lights themselves, but to the reflections that are now so visible on the glossy reflective surfaces created by the rain. Streetlights, headlights, neon signs all blend eerily into almost an impressionist masterpiece of color.
Anthropomorphism x zoomorphism.
Anthropomorphism is the act of giving animal or inanimate objects human attributes. I have an awesome book of Aesop's fables that is pure anthropomorphism. Considering Aesop was a slave, I find it a little ironic his penchant for anthropomorphism.
What is the opposite of anthropomorphism? The closest word I can find is zoomorphism. Which apparently is not a word according to my computer's spell check; as I write this sentence you are reading now there is a green dotted line under it which is my computer telling me the word is wrong.
What is the opposite of anthropomorphism? The closest word I can find is zoomorphism. Which apparently is not a word according to my computer's spell check; as I write this sentence you are reading now there is a green dotted line under it which is my computer telling me the word is wrong.
Social Butterfly? Social Grizzly Bear.
I've coined a new term. Firstly, no male should ever take it as a compliment to be considered a social butterfly; not unless they're gay, and there is nothing wrong with that. Butterflies are colorful feminine creatures, fragile and going from flower to flower indiscriminately hunting nectar. I am not a social butterfly. I am a social grizzly bear. I socialize how I want with who I want, often times being loud and brash.
I've recently discontinued my Facebook account (on purpose). I also recently destroyed my cell phone (on accident). As a social brown bear I figure this is my sign to go into hibernation until the time of plenty returns--ie, I regain cell phone capabilities. Until then, a few notes on the hibernation of the social grizzly bear:
While normal grizzly bears do not eat or look for food during hibernation, social grizzly bears do. Lock up all food you do not want eaten, I am a bear, one you do not trust. Like normal grizzly bears I will be sleeping a lot, but not all the time, only my normal ten to eleven hours a day. Normal grizzly bears do not write during hibernation but I will keep updating this blog regularly.
I'll see you all on the other side. Please don't try and wake me.
I've recently discontinued my Facebook account (on purpose). I also recently destroyed my cell phone (on accident). As a social brown bear I figure this is my sign to go into hibernation until the time of plenty returns--ie, I regain cell phone capabilities. Until then, a few notes on the hibernation of the social grizzly bear:
While normal grizzly bears do not eat or look for food during hibernation, social grizzly bears do. Lock up all food you do not want eaten, I am a bear, one you do not trust. Like normal grizzly bears I will be sleeping a lot, but not all the time, only my normal ten to eleven hours a day. Normal grizzly bears do not write during hibernation but I will keep updating this blog regularly.
I'll see you all on the other side. Please don't try and wake me.
Get out of the way of the train!
It's unfathomable. You can not comprehend it. Try to though. You're a seventeenth century pilgrim who just made it to Rome. Maybe you've seen a few stain glass windows in church, a fresco here and there, but really, you haven't seen too much art. You step inside the Sistine Chapel and behold:
Now fast forward a few hundred years and imagine it's the end of the nineteenth century and you've paid good money to watch some new show. The lights go out and this is what you see:
People were terrified. Some ran out of the room for fear of being ran over by the train.
I'm colorblind and I'm the minority!
I am colorblind. It's not something terrible, just harmless defective wiring in my brain. I've learned to deal with it in my everyday life, I go a long time now between color mistakes. I can see the colors, or at least I think I can, but it is sometimes hard for me to identify them. An analogous explanation I give people is that they can see a car, they know there's a car there, they can like the way the car looks, and they might even have an idea of what car it is but when it comes time to identify it they can't determine exactly what car it is. That is my relationship with color.
Life is what we perceive it to be, even color vision is just our brains perception of different wave lengths of light. So I'm left here wondering sometimes what the world truly looks like. Color blindness most commonly affects green, red, and blue. So what does the sky really look like? I see it as blue, but being color blind for as long as I can remember, my faculties for describing or analyzing color has been severely compromised. I'll probably never have an answer for this, but at the same time, others will probably never see the world as I see it. My rods and cones are all messed up; mostly my cones.
Life is what we perceive it to be, even color vision is just our brains perception of different wave lengths of light. So I'm left here wondering sometimes what the world truly looks like. Color blindness most commonly affects green, red, and blue. So what does the sky really look like? I see it as blue, but being color blind for as long as I can remember, my faculties for describing or analyzing color has been severely compromised. I'll probably never have an answer for this, but at the same time, others will probably never see the world as I see it. My rods and cones are all messed up; mostly my cones.
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