Two posts in one day. I'm spoiling you all seven of you.
More life lessons, some good, some bad, some in between. Not so many as last time, but I'll try to think of more for future posts.
*Your favorite meal after a bad day can make all your problems dissolve.
*Everything that people around you take for granted, you won't.
*People never have time for you. You will always have time for them.
*A good book on a rainy day is an afternoon not wasted.
AND
*You can be surrounded by people, and feel totally alone.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Monday, April 26, 2010
Keep it in your pants Padre
It has been a few days since the last post, so it's time to get back to it!
You got to give credit where credit is due. The Catholic church has a titanium set of balls. Embroiled in sex abuse scandals for decades, it is only now that they are saying, "Sorry! We fucked up!"
Pope Benedict, crying his eyes out to his followers, promising the masses that they will do more, that they will instruct their priests to report crimes to the authorities. They believe that this will be the beginning of the end.
Those f'ing morons.
I read an article a few days ago about a Brazilian priest who was caught getting a blow job from a young boy. The priest proclaimed himself "Not a pedophile."
Excuse me while I snicker.
You would think one of those internal memos would of went out. Like, hey guys, we are in alot of heat right now, how about keeping it in your pants? Just a few months? Ok?
No such luck.
I think the recent scandals and the admittance of looking the other way is just another reason to open a channel of discussion about a key fact about Catholic priests: that they are to remain celibate.
The higher ups can say about how this is crucial to being a servant of god and all, but there is no historical basis for this requirement. In the end, the Vatican should think about this as a needs thing. As in, priests have one of the most stressful jobs in the world. They are the servants of God. They have to give counsel and absolution to their followers. They are the receptors to the worst humanity has to offer. And yet they are human too. If anyone needs to get laid, they do. The Vatican need to realize this fact: If they can't get their needs fulfilled through normal channels, some will find others to satisfy their desires. And those "others" are something no one wants to read about anymore.
But what the fuck do I know. I'm not even Catholic.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
You got to give credit where credit is due. The Catholic church has a titanium set of balls. Embroiled in sex abuse scandals for decades, it is only now that they are saying, "Sorry! We fucked up!"
Pope Benedict, crying his eyes out to his followers, promising the masses that they will do more, that they will instruct their priests to report crimes to the authorities. They believe that this will be the beginning of the end.
Those f'ing morons.
I read an article a few days ago about a Brazilian priest who was caught getting a blow job from a young boy. The priest proclaimed himself "Not a pedophile."
Excuse me while I snicker.
You would think one of those internal memos would of went out. Like, hey guys, we are in alot of heat right now, how about keeping it in your pants? Just a few months? Ok?
No such luck.
I think the recent scandals and the admittance of looking the other way is just another reason to open a channel of discussion about a key fact about Catholic priests: that they are to remain celibate.
The higher ups can say about how this is crucial to being a servant of god and all, but there is no historical basis for this requirement. In the end, the Vatican should think about this as a needs thing. As in, priests have one of the most stressful jobs in the world. They are the servants of God. They have to give counsel and absolution to their followers. They are the receptors to the worst humanity has to offer. And yet they are human too. If anyone needs to get laid, they do. The Vatican need to realize this fact: If they can't get their needs fulfilled through normal channels, some will find others to satisfy their desires. And those "others" are something no one wants to read about anymore.
But what the fuck do I know. I'm not even Catholic.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
A Broken Doll
On this entry I will be discussing a series that I initially loved and defended, only to have my view skewed a bit when the final episode aired.
Yes, boys and girls today we will be talking about Dollhouse.
For the record, this is the first time I have watched something by Joss Whedon. Ok, so I watched the Serenity movie, but half of it confused me as it seemed to meld an origin story with the already standing mythology of the cancelled show. So I came into the story starry eyed hoping for the best, and wound sorely disappointed. No, it wasn't that the show was overly terrible far from it. But it did have its share of problems, coupled with an insulting, shitty ending that made reevaluate what I thought of the series.
So I decided that I will use this post to list 10 reasons why Dollhouse failed as a series in no particular order. For those who care these will have HEAVY SPOILERS. For those who have watched the show, or who don't care, read on to analyze the recent sci-fi misfire.
1. Joss Whedon did not tell the FOX network to go fuck themselves.
Ok, I imagine working in Hollywood, one must be a little diplomatic in order to get anything done. However, Joss should of known better and played hardball with the Fox network. He should said, "Look, you screwed with my last show, and it got cancelled. Yet, I have a cult following. My fans bought the DVD's. I made Serenity. This is not my first barbecue guys. I know how to do a show. Let me do my job. Or I will find someone who will."
But Whedon let FOX put their hand in the cookie jar, and let them screw with the format from the beginning making it start as a case of the week sci fi show when it needed to be about the mythology first. Dollhouse found its footing in episode six but for many it was too late.
2. Not explaining shit.
Whedon can use, "We were being cancelled and I had to rush things" excuse all he wants but I call bullshit. Explaining shit is his job. Explain things that you allude to but not answer. Is Whiskey dead? How and why did Alpha turn good? Is Dominic out of the Attic? Why did Boyd really do what he did? A simple line of dialogue might come off as lazy, but it is better than nothing for sure.
3. Wasting good guest talent.
Alan Tudyk is a creepy fucker. Plain and simple. Though primarily a comedic actor, anyone who watched him here as Alpha or his too brief role on V as a sleeper agent know he is a menacing guy. So it is a shame he didn't do jack all in his final appearance. The last time before the finale, we saw Alpha still psychotic, killing Echo's "lovers" and causing the Dollhouse to become a zombie kill fest. That is the Alpha we love. Then in Epitaph One we heard he is good. Then in Epitaph Two we see him good. But don't know why. And he is a zen garden pussy. And he leaves, given fuck all to do.
Then there is the case of Whiskey/Dr. Claire Saunders, who was a regular in season one and recurring guest in season two. A doctor who becomes self aware of her doll status, she is one of the sympathetic, tragic characters of the series, who becomes focal to a shocking twist. Her last appearance? She isn't even herself, she has been imprinted with a Rossum CEO. Then she's gone. And later dead. Maybe. It's not explained.
Then the great Keith Carradine. He's a Rossum executive who shows up. And acts suave and heartless. And that's it.
Dollhouse had a bevy of talent, regular cast and guests alike. But most of the time did nothing with it.
4. A lacking protagonist.
Echo wasn't interesting. Period. The people she played? Varied. But her growth to self aware state took too long, and the final product was nothing short of a zombie. We couldn't care about her plight. Her arc in the beginning was about getting her true self back. Then she abandoned that. Because of course she in her "normal" state is so interesting.
5. Killing all the interesting characters.
Many thought Paul Ballard as obsessive. I disagreed. I saw him as a crusading bad ass who was the only moral compass the show seem to have. I thought though he got in a little too deep, his heart was in the right place and he tried to do the right thing. He had great romantic chemistry with his neighbor Mellie/November, and his fight against an substantial enemy reminded me of David versus Goliath. That is why his afterthought death in Epitaph Two was a serious kick in the nuts. He didn't even go out a hero's death, sacrificing himself for the group. He just died. He deserved better.
Boyd Langton was the other moral compass of the show. He worked for the dollhouse but objected to what they did, and went beyond the call of duty to protect his charges. His reveal to be one of the founders of Rossum was good, but their was not enough explanation to why he did what he did. His death was awesome, but like Paul and our final victim, a hole was left in the show that was noticeable.
Ahh yes, Mellie/November/Madaline. Another tragic figure. A young woman in grief over the death of her daughter. Became involved with Paul as Mellie. Released to the real world as Madaline because Paul traded his freedom for hers. Re enslaved. Back to Mellie. Then kills herself to save Paul. Mellie's death was another slap to the face as the great irony was though she was fake, she was more "real" than most of the characters. Like many others, she deserved to walk into the sunset. With Paul at her side.
Which brings me to my next point.
6. Replacing a relationship with chemistry with one that has ZERO.
Mellie/Paul worked. Period. They had zippy banter, looked good together, and genuinely cared for each other. Then Whedon pulled a double dick move extraordinaire by making Echo fall for Paul. Then bringing Mellie back and making it look like Paul and her would be together. Then kill her off to usher in the flat line known as Paul/Echo.
Echo had one great scene after Paul's death, but it lacked weight since one could not care about their relationship. Whedon had great potential with Mellie/Paul and their scenes where my favorites of the show. But he torpedoed it for one of action/sci-fi's greatest cliche's; hooking up the lead protagonists. For a guy who claims to buck the trends, he sure fucked up here.
7. Making the remaining characters in the last episodes shells of their former selves.
Adelle Dewitt, the stone cold/yet tragically sad leader of the LA dollhouse has moved from snarky comments to be earth mother to a group of actuals.
Victor/Anthony is now a tech head reject of Mad Max land.
Sierra is now a single mom with a grudge.
Echo is still not sympathetic etc.
Some may disagree with me. But most of the changes they made in the last 60 minutes of the show ruined the entire series for me.
8. An Insulting ending.
Ok, so all the characters I care about are dead. Ok. Then the rest suck. Ok, still there. Then Alpha is a emasculated hippie. Resolve straining. The world is reset with Topher sacrificing himself. Cool explosion. Then Echo implants Paul's mind into her own so they can be together forever.
I think I am going to be sick.
This is what we end on? The epitome of an unhealthy relationship that borders on psychosis on Echo's part. I cannot believe I spent 26 episodes following this zombie chick if this was going to be the end result. Fuck that.
9. Not giving characters sympathetic characteristics quickly enough.
I am going to use the character of Topher as the focal point of this. Most reviewers and fans found him annoying. But most missed the point that his ego and his quirks were a front for a young, conflicted, lonely guy. We finally saw that in "Haunted", when he uses Sierra on his birthday to have a friend, or in one of the best episodes of the series "Belonging" when he realizes he was used as a pawn to enslave Sierra to the Dollhouse. But this kind of sympathy should of been planted in the beginning, bit by bit in order to make him likable. But instead he came off to many as a dick. At least he went out a hero. Props my man, props.
10. Squandering a good idea with studio interference and myopia.
The idea of Dollhouse is intriguing and had many avenues it could of went down. But it never seemed to do that. FOX is partly to blame for this, but a majority boiled the series down to stories of horny rich guys wanting to fuck programmed hotties. Their was little about more deviant dealings of the show, about the idea of slavery and loss of identity. It was always their but not their in the way it should be. Then their was the Rossum corporation, whose bright idea for fucking with the world order is to wiping the identities of the world's population clean at its whim. For what reason you ask? From what I could gather immortality. And being a bunch of douche bags. That part was done well and the most frightening aspect of the show. As a professor puts it in "Man on the street"
"Forget morality, imagine it's true alright? Imagine this technology being used. Now imagine it being used on you. Everything you believe, gone. Everything you love, strangers, maybe enemies. Every part of you that makes you more than a walking cluster of neurons dissolved- as someone else's whim. If that technology exists, it will be used, it'll be abused, it'll be global. And we will be over. As a species, we will cease to matter. I don't know, maybe we should."
Dollhouse was a show I did like and was one of the few to defend it. But after some deep thought I have to agree with what most was said and realize that the show was ok, but only in bits and pieces, rather than a whole series.
I could go on what I did like but my hands hurt from all the type. And besides this is a what went wrong post anyway. While an interesting experiment, Dollhouse failed primarily due to the push pull between studio interference and Whedon mythology bullshit.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Yes, boys and girls today we will be talking about Dollhouse.
For the record, this is the first time I have watched something by Joss Whedon. Ok, so I watched the Serenity movie, but half of it confused me as it seemed to meld an origin story with the already standing mythology of the cancelled show. So I came into the story starry eyed hoping for the best, and wound sorely disappointed. No, it wasn't that the show was overly terrible far from it. But it did have its share of problems, coupled with an insulting, shitty ending that made reevaluate what I thought of the series.
So I decided that I will use this post to list 10 reasons why Dollhouse failed as a series in no particular order. For those who care these will have HEAVY SPOILERS. For those who have watched the show, or who don't care, read on to analyze the recent sci-fi misfire.
1. Joss Whedon did not tell the FOX network to go fuck themselves.
Ok, I imagine working in Hollywood, one must be a little diplomatic in order to get anything done. However, Joss should of known better and played hardball with the Fox network. He should said, "Look, you screwed with my last show, and it got cancelled. Yet, I have a cult following. My fans bought the DVD's. I made Serenity. This is not my first barbecue guys. I know how to do a show. Let me do my job. Or I will find someone who will."
But Whedon let FOX put their hand in the cookie jar, and let them screw with the format from the beginning making it start as a case of the week sci fi show when it needed to be about the mythology first. Dollhouse found its footing in episode six but for many it was too late.
2. Not explaining shit.
Whedon can use, "We were being cancelled and I had to rush things" excuse all he wants but I call bullshit. Explaining shit is his job. Explain things that you allude to but not answer. Is Whiskey dead? How and why did Alpha turn good? Is Dominic out of the Attic? Why did Boyd really do what he did? A simple line of dialogue might come off as lazy, but it is better than nothing for sure.
3. Wasting good guest talent.
Alan Tudyk is a creepy fucker. Plain and simple. Though primarily a comedic actor, anyone who watched him here as Alpha or his too brief role on V as a sleeper agent know he is a menacing guy. So it is a shame he didn't do jack all in his final appearance. The last time before the finale, we saw Alpha still psychotic, killing Echo's "lovers" and causing the Dollhouse to become a zombie kill fest. That is the Alpha we love. Then in Epitaph One we heard he is good. Then in Epitaph Two we see him good. But don't know why. And he is a zen garden pussy. And he leaves, given fuck all to do.
Then there is the case of Whiskey/Dr. Claire Saunders, who was a regular in season one and recurring guest in season two. A doctor who becomes self aware of her doll status, she is one of the sympathetic, tragic characters of the series, who becomes focal to a shocking twist. Her last appearance? She isn't even herself, she has been imprinted with a Rossum CEO. Then she's gone. And later dead. Maybe. It's not explained.
Then the great Keith Carradine. He's a Rossum executive who shows up. And acts suave and heartless. And that's it.
Dollhouse had a bevy of talent, regular cast and guests alike. But most of the time did nothing with it.
4. A lacking protagonist.
Echo wasn't interesting. Period. The people she played? Varied. But her growth to self aware state took too long, and the final product was nothing short of a zombie. We couldn't care about her plight. Her arc in the beginning was about getting her true self back. Then she abandoned that. Because of course she in her "normal" state is so interesting.
5. Killing all the interesting characters.
Many thought Paul Ballard as obsessive. I disagreed. I saw him as a crusading bad ass who was the only moral compass the show seem to have. I thought though he got in a little too deep, his heart was in the right place and he tried to do the right thing. He had great romantic chemistry with his neighbor Mellie/November, and his fight against an substantial enemy reminded me of David versus Goliath. That is why his afterthought death in Epitaph Two was a serious kick in the nuts. He didn't even go out a hero's death, sacrificing himself for the group. He just died. He deserved better.
Boyd Langton was the other moral compass of the show. He worked for the dollhouse but objected to what they did, and went beyond the call of duty to protect his charges. His reveal to be one of the founders of Rossum was good, but their was not enough explanation to why he did what he did. His death was awesome, but like Paul and our final victim, a hole was left in the show that was noticeable.
Ahh yes, Mellie/November/Madaline. Another tragic figure. A young woman in grief over the death of her daughter. Became involved with Paul as Mellie. Released to the real world as Madaline because Paul traded his freedom for hers. Re enslaved. Back to Mellie. Then kills herself to save Paul. Mellie's death was another slap to the face as the great irony was though she was fake, she was more "real" than most of the characters. Like many others, she deserved to walk into the sunset. With Paul at her side.
Which brings me to my next point.
6. Replacing a relationship with chemistry with one that has ZERO.
Mellie/Paul worked. Period. They had zippy banter, looked good together, and genuinely cared for each other. Then Whedon pulled a double dick move extraordinaire by making Echo fall for Paul. Then bringing Mellie back and making it look like Paul and her would be together. Then kill her off to usher in the flat line known as Paul/Echo.
Echo had one great scene after Paul's death, but it lacked weight since one could not care about their relationship. Whedon had great potential with Mellie/Paul and their scenes where my favorites of the show. But he torpedoed it for one of action/sci-fi's greatest cliche's; hooking up the lead protagonists. For a guy who claims to buck the trends, he sure fucked up here.
7. Making the remaining characters in the last episodes shells of their former selves.
Adelle Dewitt, the stone cold/yet tragically sad leader of the LA dollhouse has moved from snarky comments to be earth mother to a group of actuals.
Victor/Anthony is now a tech head reject of Mad Max land.
Sierra is now a single mom with a grudge.
Echo is still not sympathetic etc.
Some may disagree with me. But most of the changes they made in the last 60 minutes of the show ruined the entire series for me.
8. An Insulting ending.
Ok, so all the characters I care about are dead. Ok. Then the rest suck. Ok, still there. Then Alpha is a emasculated hippie. Resolve straining. The world is reset with Topher sacrificing himself. Cool explosion. Then Echo implants Paul's mind into her own so they can be together forever.
I think I am going to be sick.
This is what we end on? The epitome of an unhealthy relationship that borders on psychosis on Echo's part. I cannot believe I spent 26 episodes following this zombie chick if this was going to be the end result. Fuck that.
9. Not giving characters sympathetic characteristics quickly enough.
I am going to use the character of Topher as the focal point of this. Most reviewers and fans found him annoying. But most missed the point that his ego and his quirks were a front for a young, conflicted, lonely guy. We finally saw that in "Haunted", when he uses Sierra on his birthday to have a friend, or in one of the best episodes of the series "Belonging" when he realizes he was used as a pawn to enslave Sierra to the Dollhouse. But this kind of sympathy should of been planted in the beginning, bit by bit in order to make him likable. But instead he came off to many as a dick. At least he went out a hero. Props my man, props.
10. Squandering a good idea with studio interference and myopia.
The idea of Dollhouse is intriguing and had many avenues it could of went down. But it never seemed to do that. FOX is partly to blame for this, but a majority boiled the series down to stories of horny rich guys wanting to fuck programmed hotties. Their was little about more deviant dealings of the show, about the idea of slavery and loss of identity. It was always their but not their in the way it should be. Then their was the Rossum corporation, whose bright idea for fucking with the world order is to wiping the identities of the world's population clean at its whim. For what reason you ask? From what I could gather immortality. And being a bunch of douche bags. That part was done well and the most frightening aspect of the show. As a professor puts it in "Man on the street"
"Forget morality, imagine it's true alright? Imagine this technology being used. Now imagine it being used on you. Everything you believe, gone. Everything you love, strangers, maybe enemies. Every part of you that makes you more than a walking cluster of neurons dissolved- as someone else's whim. If that technology exists, it will be used, it'll be abused, it'll be global. And we will be over. As a species, we will cease to matter. I don't know, maybe we should."
Dollhouse was a show I did like and was one of the few to defend it. But after some deep thought I have to agree with what most was said and realize that the show was ok, but only in bits and pieces, rather than a whole series.
I could go on what I did like but my hands hurt from all the type. And besides this is a what went wrong post anyway. While an interesting experiment, Dollhouse failed primarily due to the push pull between studio interference and Whedon mythology bullshit.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Hard Knock Life Lessons
I decided for this post I'd share a few lessons I learned (sometimes the hard way) myself and through others that have shaped my mindset.
*You only get one good boss in your life. That one person you will never think ill of, always treated you with respect, and did good by you. The rest will all give you a reason one way or another to want to stab them in the eyes with scissors.
*A good woman like a good friend is hard to come by. Never give them up without a fight.
This next one was supplied to me by Kenobi. It shattered my mindset somewhat, but I had to hear it.
*People don't care about you as much you care about them.
The next one is one of the (very few) good things my dad taught me.
*It costs nothing to be kind.
However, as I have witnessed firsthand (and this is another Kenobi contribution)
*It is more economical just to be a terrible person instead.
*When you are 18-25 you are more often than not the most selfish, self-absorbed, immature person you will ever be. You may be a legal adult by then but your mindset is still in high school.
*Even good people do terrible things to the people they care for.
*Perception is a bitch. They think, therefore you are.
*Happiness is wasted on the ungrateful and stupid.
OR alternately
*Happiness is a warm gun.
*People who give reassurance statements ("Don't worry", "You're a great guy", "Things are going to get better for you") 9 times out of 10 never had to deal with your kind of problems in their life, therefore have no fucking clue what they are talking about.
AND FINALLY
*Above all, despite all the crap you may take, deserved or not, don't let anything get the better of you. Don't let them see you cry. Don't let them see you bleed. And by all means don't eat the barrel. It will be a hard road but to give the world the finger by surviving is the greatest fuck you. Live well, it is the greatest revenge.
That's all I got for now.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
*You only get one good boss in your life. That one person you will never think ill of, always treated you with respect, and did good by you. The rest will all give you a reason one way or another to want to stab them in the eyes with scissors.
*A good woman like a good friend is hard to come by. Never give them up without a fight.
This next one was supplied to me by Kenobi. It shattered my mindset somewhat, but I had to hear it.
*People don't care about you as much you care about them.
The next one is one of the (very few) good things my dad taught me.
*It costs nothing to be kind.
However, as I have witnessed firsthand (and this is another Kenobi contribution)
*It is more economical just to be a terrible person instead.
*When you are 18-25 you are more often than not the most selfish, self-absorbed, immature person you will ever be. You may be a legal adult by then but your mindset is still in high school.
*Even good people do terrible things to the people they care for.
*Perception is a bitch. They think, therefore you are.
*Happiness is wasted on the ungrateful and stupid.
OR alternately
*Happiness is a warm gun.
*People who give reassurance statements ("Don't worry", "You're a great guy", "Things are going to get better for you") 9 times out of 10 never had to deal with your kind of problems in their life, therefore have no fucking clue what they are talking about.
AND FINALLY
*Above all, despite all the crap you may take, deserved or not, don't let anything get the better of you. Don't let them see you cry. Don't let them see you bleed. And by all means don't eat the barrel. It will be a hard road but to give the world the finger by surviving is the greatest fuck you. Live well, it is the greatest revenge.
That's all I got for now.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Kick Ass does exactly that
My first review!
Dave is your typical high school student who wonders a simple question: why hasn't anyone tried to be a superhero? Beyond the fictional nature of superpowers why hasn't risen up and defended the helpless against the forces of evil? Having enough of his humdrum existence, Dave buys a costume and takes to the streets as Kick-Ass to a less than successful beginning. But when his exploits attract news attention, Dave finds himself over his head; trapped between the mob and a father/daughter vigilante team bent on destroying the mafia for wrecking their lives.
Wow. This movie was great. You know those movies that are good, but have a subplot that you couldn't care about? This movie doesn't have any of that.
Gleefully satiric and violent at the same time, Kick-Ass deconstructs the superhero movie while humanizing its characters and explaining without resorting to soapbox to why they do what they do.
In regards to acting Aaron Johnson is workable as Dave, a young man who finds a purpose and the love of his crush Katie through his secret identity. Christopher Mintz-Plasse brings a conflicted vulnerability to Chris; a young man who craves his father's respect but may find himself unable to pay the price for it.
However, the movie is stolen by Nicolas Cage and Chole Mortez as Big Daddy and Hit Girl. They're characters are given true characterization and humanity; a minute long comic book sequence which Big Daddy's motivation is explained speaks volumes more than 15 minutes of exposition would. His Adam West impersonation is spot on, and his zany switch between loving father and homicidal vigilante is gleefully awesome; Nicolas Cage is officially a badass now. But the showstopper is 11 year Mortez who lights up the screen with blood splatters and four letter words. Mortez doesn't go completely over the top and makes sure to illustrate that despite joining her father in his vengeance hasn't made her a sociopath; a key scene with her father near the end of the film shows this. Their loving yet dysfunctional relationship makes the film. All in all the film did not have a weak spot in the acting department.
Kick Ass was utterly Un-PC and I loved every second of it. Definitely one of the best movies I have seen in awhile and a contender for top ten of 2010 already, Kick Ass shows you don't need a power to be a hero; just plenty of bullets.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Nice swing there Mike
Ok, so this is not a normal post per se but me commenting on a recent news story that ticked me off quite a bit.
Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who has been jailed for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley via beating her to death with a golf club, could potentially be paroled in 2013. That's right. Three years.
What. The. Fuck.
This is a guy that has only been in prison for less than ten. This guy evaded capture from this crime for over two decades. And he could be out, because he's supposedly a model prisoner?
Fuck That.
I got three words for you. Mark David Chapman. Sure, he's been in prison for a long time. Been treated, shown remorse etc. Is his crazy ass out of jail? No, of course not because everyone from Yoko Ono down have protested his release.
How about the guy who shot Reagan. Or Charles Manson. They could be choir boys in jail for all I care. They don't deserve any shot at parole. Neither does Skakel.
Mike, you beat a 15 year old girl to death. Then you went about your day like it didn't happen. You don't get any sympathy from me. A sentence of 20 to life means just that. Quit your bitching, you got 20 more years of freedom than you deserved.
In the end, the point is moot anyway. Everyone knows the world ends in 2012.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, who has been jailed for the 1975 murder of Martha Moxley via beating her to death with a golf club, could potentially be paroled in 2013. That's right. Three years.
What. The. Fuck.
This is a guy that has only been in prison for less than ten. This guy evaded capture from this crime for over two decades. And he could be out, because he's supposedly a model prisoner?
Fuck That.
I got three words for you. Mark David Chapman. Sure, he's been in prison for a long time. Been treated, shown remorse etc. Is his crazy ass out of jail? No, of course not because everyone from Yoko Ono down have protested his release.
How about the guy who shot Reagan. Or Charles Manson. They could be choir boys in jail for all I care. They don't deserve any shot at parole. Neither does Skakel.
Mike, you beat a 15 year old girl to death. Then you went about your day like it didn't happen. You don't get any sympathy from me. A sentence of 20 to life means just that. Quit your bitching, you got 20 more years of freedom than you deserved.
In the end, the point is moot anyway. Everyone knows the world ends in 2012.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Colorful cast of characters
My first true post. Yahtzee.
As previously noted, part of this blog's intention is to air out my personal issues, and like it or not, they involve the people in my life. So, not to get anyone confused, I think you should know the people* that impact and impacted upon my life. They are:
My Father: I have a love-hate relationship with my father. Do not get me wrong. I do love him and I know he loves me. However, in the past couple years it has become more and more obvious to me that I may never make him happy. I know it is not my job to do so, but it always seems like he is judging me. We have always clashed on what is perceived to be important in regards to my life. He has always regretted by not teaching me enough stuff around the house and leaving me to my own devices. Yet, I have always been bitter towards him for not teaching me any life lessons; anything about women, personal character etc. I had to pick up with little I know on my own. By not teaching me to be a man, he and my mother had basically thrown me out of a speeding car. What angers me the most is that I have been his son for almost 23 years and his still doesn't understand that my emotional needs/happiness outweigh anything else.
My Mother: I have a better relationship with my mother, though we still have some problems. Like most mothers, she still sees me as eight, and doesn't think me as responsible enough to get up in the morning (even though I keep two alarms just in case). I have always tried to encourage her and be kind and loving but she makes it difficult sometimes. She had to make a lot of tough decisions before I was even born and it breaks my heart. The sad truth is that I cannot talk to her or my father about anything in my personal life. Sure, they know about my friends and some base stuff, but the deeper things, that they probably should be talking about, doesn't happen. That's the problem really. We don't talk.
My Sister: The relationship with my sister has improved a little bit as we gotten older. She currently is out of state working on her doctorate. She is a smart, responsible girl. I always felt I had to measure up to her but could never do so. However, her successes in her studies have a silver lining; in her quest for near perfection she has completely stressed herself out. She has plenty of problems that even I don't know about probably. She has her stuff together which is more than I can say about myself. I am proud of her and despite our problems from time to time I care about her as well.
Sarge: My oldest friend of almost 11 years. He is a decent fellow despite being more a screw up in his younger years. He is prone to annoying me sometimes with his unreliability but he is gotten better in the passing years. He is rather loyal to me and likewise I am to him. Despite his hangups he is fun to hang out with, though I wish we would do some different things. Currently has turned his life around and enlisted in the Air Force. Never had been more proud.
Donut: Sarge's best buddy. A big jolly fellow also plagued with unreliability. A random guy who tastes border on insanity, Donut is known for doing outlandish dares with his other friends. Currently in film school in DC, which I would have more faith in if it weren't for the fact he had dropped out of community college twice already in the time it took me to get my degree.
Griff: An ex-marine who is now home, planning his next move, Griff and me never got along for a long time. I think he used to hate me. Ironically, after attending a bad bachelor party (in which the groom wanted to see GI JOE) and a mutual hatred for a acquaintance of Sarge's brought us to what can be considered as friends. Like me, he doesn't have many people to hang out with and we go to the movies a lot. Prone to tall tales and pathological lying, Griff is nevertheless and interesting and humorous guy, if you like your humor black.
Yankee: Another friend in town. He is the more straight laced of my friends. Originally in psychology, has now switched to nursing for the jobs it has. Though he is a decent dude, I don't hang out with him too much for whatever reason.
Kenobi: Probably my best friend (who co-chairs with Sarge due to seniority) I met him during my sophomore year of college through Hendrix. We became fast friends due to our similar interests and mindsets. Though we seem like normal dudes, get a couple drinks in us and who knows what we'll do. Part of the reason our friendship is so strong is because I have been able to tell him things I never told anyone else and he has done the same for me. I am probably most loyal to him out of my friends. I would never cross him.
Hendrix- Met him during my sophomore year of college as well. A very intelligent man, he is a triple threat with his smarts, his drawing, and guitar playing which he coached himself raw over several years. Despite having plenty of things going for him, he is plagued by a somewhat hellish childhood and self doubt. Like me, his attempts with women are prone to sabotage by outside forces. I worry that his problems will consume him. I hope he will rise above them. And proceed to curb stomp them.
DarkSailorMoon- Kenobi's girlfriend of several years. A strange specimen indeed. A math whiz who is very quiet but is intriguing in her own way. Her nickname comes from a Halloween costume she wore where she was supposed to be "Night." She also supplied one of our favorite party weekend quotes of all time. Her and Kenobi work well for each other but only time will tell.
Sandra- I met her in high school when I was 16. She is was practically the first girl who really got to know me without it being required of her. I credit her for helping me come out of my shell and grow as a young man. Sandra is the first girl I'd ever loved and the first girl to (albeit unintentionally) break my heart. I haven't seen her since graduation, though last I heard she is living in town somewhere, I have no other information. Assuming she is alive and attends, I'll see her at the reunion and look forward to it.
Delilah- I met her in college. She is the physical and emotional epitome of everything I want in a woman. She was the second girl I've loved and had my heart broken by. When I first met her it looked like we would date but it didn't work out (her end, not mine). We became friends though part of me didn't want to be obviously but I wanted her in my life even if it was that; she is amazing and I have never thought anything less. Her vibrancy for life is unparalleled and she's a smart cookie to boot. Part of me still cares for her than more than a friend even now. I know she knows that, but I doubt she understands how much I care for her. All I know is this; I miss her every day.
These are the core people of my life. They shape my world for the better and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
*NOTE* I decided to use pseudonyms for everyone for several reasons. First, so those who reads this blog wouldn't immediately know who they are. I chose these names since most of them only have relevance to me or them. Secondly, some of the things I will be talking about is personal and I thought it would be best to keep it semi-private for their sakes.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
As previously noted, part of this blog's intention is to air out my personal issues, and like it or not, they involve the people in my life. So, not to get anyone confused, I think you should know the people* that impact and impacted upon my life. They are:
My Father: I have a love-hate relationship with my father. Do not get me wrong. I do love him and I know he loves me. However, in the past couple years it has become more and more obvious to me that I may never make him happy. I know it is not my job to do so, but it always seems like he is judging me. We have always clashed on what is perceived to be important in regards to my life. He has always regretted by not teaching me enough stuff around the house and leaving me to my own devices. Yet, I have always been bitter towards him for not teaching me any life lessons; anything about women, personal character etc. I had to pick up with little I know on my own. By not teaching me to be a man, he and my mother had basically thrown me out of a speeding car. What angers me the most is that I have been his son for almost 23 years and his still doesn't understand that my emotional needs/happiness outweigh anything else.
My Mother: I have a better relationship with my mother, though we still have some problems. Like most mothers, she still sees me as eight, and doesn't think me as responsible enough to get up in the morning (even though I keep two alarms just in case). I have always tried to encourage her and be kind and loving but she makes it difficult sometimes. She had to make a lot of tough decisions before I was even born and it breaks my heart. The sad truth is that I cannot talk to her or my father about anything in my personal life. Sure, they know about my friends and some base stuff, but the deeper things, that they probably should be talking about, doesn't happen. That's the problem really. We don't talk.
My Sister: The relationship with my sister has improved a little bit as we gotten older. She currently is out of state working on her doctorate. She is a smart, responsible girl. I always felt I had to measure up to her but could never do so. However, her successes in her studies have a silver lining; in her quest for near perfection she has completely stressed herself out. She has plenty of problems that even I don't know about probably. She has her stuff together which is more than I can say about myself. I am proud of her and despite our problems from time to time I care about her as well.
Sarge: My oldest friend of almost 11 years. He is a decent fellow despite being more a screw up in his younger years. He is prone to annoying me sometimes with his unreliability but he is gotten better in the passing years. He is rather loyal to me and likewise I am to him. Despite his hangups he is fun to hang out with, though I wish we would do some different things. Currently has turned his life around and enlisted in the Air Force. Never had been more proud.
Donut: Sarge's best buddy. A big jolly fellow also plagued with unreliability. A random guy who tastes border on insanity, Donut is known for doing outlandish dares with his other friends. Currently in film school in DC, which I would have more faith in if it weren't for the fact he had dropped out of community college twice already in the time it took me to get my degree.
Griff: An ex-marine who is now home, planning his next move, Griff and me never got along for a long time. I think he used to hate me. Ironically, after attending a bad bachelor party (in which the groom wanted to see GI JOE) and a mutual hatred for a acquaintance of Sarge's brought us to what can be considered as friends. Like me, he doesn't have many people to hang out with and we go to the movies a lot. Prone to tall tales and pathological lying, Griff is nevertheless and interesting and humorous guy, if you like your humor black.
Yankee: Another friend in town. He is the more straight laced of my friends. Originally in psychology, has now switched to nursing for the jobs it has. Though he is a decent dude, I don't hang out with him too much for whatever reason.
Kenobi: Probably my best friend (who co-chairs with Sarge due to seniority) I met him during my sophomore year of college through Hendrix. We became fast friends due to our similar interests and mindsets. Though we seem like normal dudes, get a couple drinks in us and who knows what we'll do. Part of the reason our friendship is so strong is because I have been able to tell him things I never told anyone else and he has done the same for me. I am probably most loyal to him out of my friends. I would never cross him.
Hendrix- Met him during my sophomore year of college as well. A very intelligent man, he is a triple threat with his smarts, his drawing, and guitar playing which he coached himself raw over several years. Despite having plenty of things going for him, he is plagued by a somewhat hellish childhood and self doubt. Like me, his attempts with women are prone to sabotage by outside forces. I worry that his problems will consume him. I hope he will rise above them. And proceed to curb stomp them.
DarkSailorMoon- Kenobi's girlfriend of several years. A strange specimen indeed. A math whiz who is very quiet but is intriguing in her own way. Her nickname comes from a Halloween costume she wore where she was supposed to be "Night." She also supplied one of our favorite party weekend quotes of all time. Her and Kenobi work well for each other but only time will tell.
Sandra- I met her in high school when I was 16. She is was practically the first girl who really got to know me without it being required of her. I credit her for helping me come out of my shell and grow as a young man. Sandra is the first girl I'd ever loved and the first girl to (albeit unintentionally) break my heart. I haven't seen her since graduation, though last I heard she is living in town somewhere, I have no other information. Assuming she is alive and attends, I'll see her at the reunion and look forward to it.
Delilah- I met her in college. She is the physical and emotional epitome of everything I want in a woman. She was the second girl I've loved and had my heart broken by. When I first met her it looked like we would date but it didn't work out (her end, not mine). We became friends though part of me didn't want to be obviously but I wanted her in my life even if it was that; she is amazing and I have never thought anything less. Her vibrancy for life is unparalleled and she's a smart cookie to boot. Part of me still cares for her than more than a friend even now. I know she knows that, but I doubt she understands how much I care for her. All I know is this; I miss her every day.
These are the core people of my life. They shape my world for the better and I wouldn't trade them for anything.
*NOTE* I decided to use pseudonyms for everyone for several reasons. First, so those who reads this blog wouldn't immediately know who they are. I chose these names since most of them only have relevance to me or them. Secondly, some of the things I will be talking about is personal and I thought it would be best to keep it semi-private for their sakes.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Welcome to The Raven's Nest
4-14-2010
Welcome (all seven of you) to The Raven's Nest, my blog. I thought I'd use my first post to write out my intentions in writing this and what I plan to do with my entries.
I never thought I'd be a person who wrote a blog but now when I think about it, It's a good thing for me to express myself. For a good portion of my life, I unintentionally have allowed various emotions to get bottled up without having a channel to release them. Thus, even if no one reads this page, I will have a way to release all this pent up emotional energy.
As for my posting I think I will be doing a medley of different things, at least one a week. I will write daily life stuff, little nuggets of wisdom I've learned through my life, things in my personal life I still need to deal with, and possibly mini reviews of pop culture such as video games, movies, and books. Haven't decided entirely about that, but this is the gist of what I planned to do. I hope that in the end, that doing this will help me and a little secret identiy on the net is pretty cool.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
Welcome (all seven of you) to The Raven's Nest, my blog. I thought I'd use my first post to write out my intentions in writing this and what I plan to do with my entries.
I never thought I'd be a person who wrote a blog but now when I think about it, It's a good thing for me to express myself. For a good portion of my life, I unintentionally have allowed various emotions to get bottled up without having a channel to release them. Thus, even if no one reads this page, I will have a way to release all this pent up emotional energy.
As for my posting I think I will be doing a medley of different things, at least one a week. I will write daily life stuff, little nuggets of wisdom I've learned through my life, things in my personal life I still need to deal with, and possibly mini reviews of pop culture such as video games, movies, and books. Haven't decided entirely about that, but this is the gist of what I planned to do. I hope that in the end, that doing this will help me and a little secret identiy on the net is pretty cool.
Until next time, fly high and fly well.
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