I have a clock in my room.
Also in my phone. There's one on the pager I have from work. There's one on the dash in my car. I have a great looking watch that I get lots of compliments for whenever I wear it (which is often). There's a clock on the stove and on the microwave.
When I used to have a VCR, I always had to have it set to the correct time. If it was blinking 12:00, it would drive me up a wall. Now that all TV's have internal clocks, I always make sure that they are set, even though it's pretty much a useless application.
Hell, I'm looking at the one in the little right hand corner here on the computer while sit here and type this.
Whenever I go over to a person's place that I've never been before, do you know the first thing I look for? Wherever the first available clock is displayed.
The surprising thing is the thing I've noticed the most out there when it comes to other people and their environments is that they usually don't have a clock with the correct time readily set. It seems like when it comes to this obsession with always knowing what time it, I'm very much in minority. And the thought of that disturbs me to no end.
Why do people not care what time it is? Don't they have things they have to do at certain times? Don't they have schedules; appointments; people and places they need to be at very specific time periods? Well, don't they?
I have the alarm set for work everyday, but the truth is, even without it, I could usually depend on my body to get itself up (not very willingly, mind you) at the appropriate time. Nine time outta ten, if I know what time it is, and I don't look at it for a certain amount of time, I can correctly guess exactly on the dot how much time has passed without looking at a clock; of course, then I make sure to look just to make sure how right I am.
...and after all this, I choose to ask; not what's wrong with ME; but what's wrong with EVERYBODY ELSE?!?
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Monday, March 30, 2009
Sunday, March 29, 2009
P.O.V.
Let's talk about a scenario...
Let's take an atheist: someone who doesn't believe in a higher power, who believes that everything is completely random, someone who doesn't believe than anything that happens is a "sign" of something other than what we can see with our eyes and comprehend with our intellect. Let's say that person's best friend is suddenly killed in a horrible and cruel way, with absolutely no time for the person to cope with the idea of someone so close to him/her would no longer be in their lives. You could say that would be something that would interrupt the way the person was conducting their life; it would be reasonable to say that that person would have to think twice about the plans they may have been making and maybe their outlook on life in general; perhaps, maybe even the beliefs they had held on to up to that point.....Perhaps...
Now, let's take a Christian: someone who believes what they have read in the Bible as scripture; someone who believes that by following the path that God has chosen for them will lead them to Heaven; someone who believes that good things will happen to those who believe and bad things, like despair, will happen to those who choose not to believe. Let's say that person's best friend is suddenly killed in a horrible and cruel way; one that is absolutely out of left field. You could say that such an event might cause them to rethink things like what they deserve and what others deserve from God...and THAT line of thinking may lead them to rethink everything they may have believed up to that point...perhaps....
Would the exact same situation, presented to two different people, produce two different results? Could the atheist become a Christian? Could the Christian become an atheist? I'm speaking in general terms, of course, but fundermentally, isn't this the base of a lot of things that we seem to come to a wall against in society?
Isn't the belief; that if "you" would just have walked in "my" shoes; if "you" have lived the life "I" have lived; is what keeps us from reaching any type of common ground?
How wrong is it for people to justify their actions, not only to other people, but to themselves, that they are only doing and believing what anyone else would in their positions?
Let's take an atheist: someone who doesn't believe in a higher power, who believes that everything is completely random, someone who doesn't believe than anything that happens is a "sign" of something other than what we can see with our eyes and comprehend with our intellect. Let's say that person's best friend is suddenly killed in a horrible and cruel way, with absolutely no time for the person to cope with the idea of someone so close to him/her would no longer be in their lives. You could say that would be something that would interrupt the way the person was conducting their life; it would be reasonable to say that that person would have to think twice about the plans they may have been making and maybe their outlook on life in general; perhaps, maybe even the beliefs they had held on to up to that point.....Perhaps...
Now, let's take a Christian: someone who believes what they have read in the Bible as scripture; someone who believes that by following the path that God has chosen for them will lead them to Heaven; someone who believes that good things will happen to those who believe and bad things, like despair, will happen to those who choose not to believe. Let's say that person's best friend is suddenly killed in a horrible and cruel way; one that is absolutely out of left field. You could say that such an event might cause them to rethink things like what they deserve and what others deserve from God...and THAT line of thinking may lead them to rethink everything they may have believed up to that point...perhaps....
Would the exact same situation, presented to two different people, produce two different results? Could the atheist become a Christian? Could the Christian become an atheist? I'm speaking in general terms, of course, but fundermentally, isn't this the base of a lot of things that we seem to come to a wall against in society?
Isn't the belief; that if "you" would just have walked in "my" shoes; if "you" have lived the life "I" have lived; is what keeps us from reaching any type of common ground?
How wrong is it for people to justify their actions, not only to other people, but to themselves, that they are only doing and believing what anyone else would in their positions?
Saturday, March 28, 2009
No, There's Nothing Gay About It, Thank You Very Much...
....so I'm never going to sleep watching Countdown on my iPod again...
I'm not sure what exactly was going on in my dream; the only part I really remember is that the only two people who knew about what mysterious event that had happened were me and Kieth Olbermann and we were sworn to secrecy. But then, the next day, I awake to a world where the media has announced that Kieth had been shot in the ankle and that they thought it was me (for some unknown reason). I tried to go to work (where I was working for Coke again), but it seems that everybody was harassing me wanting to know why I would do such a thing. It really interfered with my job.
So then, at some point, I meet with Kieth, who suggests in order to "fulfill the lie", he needed someone to shoot him in the ankle (as I type this, I am seeing bits of Lost in this). I then suggested, since everybody thought it was me anyway, that I should do it, proceeded to pull out my gun, and shoot him in the ankle. He doesn't scream out in pain and gives me a big "Thanks, buddy".
The next day, the media is again blasting that they think I shot Kieth in the ankle and, like everybody else who is around, wonder why I have not been brought to justice by the proper authorities. To myself, I realize the the authorities have no evidence proving that I had shot Kieth at the time and place that the media claims I did, thus they have no case; but since I HAVE shot Kieth by this time, it is better if I keep my mouth shut about such detail. This becomes much harder as the news starts showing paparazzi pictures of my mom and sister at a baseball game, and then have pundits and commentators talk about "how disgraceful it is that they would be out, having a good time, when as my mom and my sister, they could been stopping me committing this horrible act". Then they move on to another photo, with my dad at work, and again proceed to talk about "how disgraceful blah blah blah". All the while, as me and my family watch these things together in front of the TV, they want to know exactly what happened and if I did indeed shot Kieth. All I can do is keeping badly deflecting that the media is lying; they don't have any proof; if I was guilty, I'd be in jail; no, I'll just let them say what they want and not sue because "it's not worth it".
Ugh.....probably more horrible dreams to follow.....
I'm not sure what exactly was going on in my dream; the only part I really remember is that the only two people who knew about what mysterious event that had happened were me and Kieth Olbermann and we were sworn to secrecy. But then, the next day, I awake to a world where the media has announced that Kieth had been shot in the ankle and that they thought it was me (for some unknown reason). I tried to go to work (where I was working for Coke again), but it seems that everybody was harassing me wanting to know why I would do such a thing. It really interfered with my job.
So then, at some point, I meet with Kieth, who suggests in order to "fulfill the lie", he needed someone to shoot him in the ankle (as I type this, I am seeing bits of Lost in this). I then suggested, since everybody thought it was me anyway, that I should do it, proceeded to pull out my gun, and shoot him in the ankle. He doesn't scream out in pain and gives me a big "Thanks, buddy".
The next day, the media is again blasting that they think I shot Kieth in the ankle and, like everybody else who is around, wonder why I have not been brought to justice by the proper authorities. To myself, I realize the the authorities have no evidence proving that I had shot Kieth at the time and place that the media claims I did, thus they have no case; but since I HAVE shot Kieth by this time, it is better if I keep my mouth shut about such detail. This becomes much harder as the news starts showing paparazzi pictures of my mom and sister at a baseball game, and then have pundits and commentators talk about "how disgraceful it is that they would be out, having a good time, when as my mom and my sister, they could been stopping me committing this horrible act". Then they move on to another photo, with my dad at work, and again proceed to talk about "how disgraceful blah blah blah". All the while, as me and my family watch these things together in front of the TV, they want to know exactly what happened and if I did indeed shot Kieth. All I can do is keeping badly deflecting that the media is lying; they don't have any proof; if I was guilty, I'd be in jail; no, I'll just let them say what they want and not sue because "it's not worth it".
Ugh.....probably more horrible dreams to follow.....
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What's So Wrong About Thinking You're Right?
...I was reading a article in USA Today the other day about the response The Reader is getting in Germany and, by extention, other countries around Europe, contrast to the "negative reviews" it's been getting here in America. The "negative reviews" is what got my attention.
I've been kinda in the dark about this, I guess, but apprentally American critics have a problem with the subject matter, which is (from what I understand, not having seen the actual movie) somewhat sympathetic to a former Nazi soldier in her portrayal. All I remember on is a quote from Kate Winslet somewhere saying how hard it was to play this woman because she "despises" her.
Listen....if this is a movie that advocates the extermination of entire cultures of human beings, then, yeah, this might not be good or responsibly-made movie.
But....
If what we're talking about here is a piece of entertainment that explores the inner and outer workings of a character, or, in this case, a human being, then there's nothing wrong with that.
How many of you out there believe in Good Guys and Bad Guys? Raise your hand, c'mon...Well, don't count me as one of them. Every single one of us are completely and able to commit horrible and dispicable acts against each other, society, and the entire planet. It's a fact that we should not ignore very often.
It always seems that there are very few people out there for commit wrongful acts that think of themselves as bad people (insert comment about current finacial crisis and the people who caused it). The truth is that one person's triump is another one's horror. History has given us quite a bit of perspective on the Nazis and what their ultimate goals and beliefs were, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't as quite unconflicting to at least a few people in the here and then.
....and that's ultimatly why we all have such a grand ole' time arguing about every little thing that comes up: most of us DON'T KNOW what's right and what's wrong. Throwing out ideas and certain feelings for public compsumtion usually doesn't have much effect on the people who dream them up, but it damn sure will let them know how other people will react to them, should they acted upon. That's why we don't have a God/King/Ruler because we all only care what the neighbors are going to think. And gosh darnnit, that's the why it should be.
There is just no need for anybody to get up some high horse about such things and lie to others around them that they are completely sure of everything. Lord knows that's the one thing I look for to show me somebody is LYING to me.....
I've been kinda in the dark about this, I guess, but apprentally American critics have a problem with the subject matter, which is (from what I understand, not having seen the actual movie) somewhat sympathetic to a former Nazi soldier in her portrayal. All I remember on is a quote from Kate Winslet somewhere saying how hard it was to play this woman because she "despises" her.
Listen....if this is a movie that advocates the extermination of entire cultures of human beings, then, yeah, this might not be good or responsibly-made movie.
But....
If what we're talking about here is a piece of entertainment that explores the inner and outer workings of a character, or, in this case, a human being, then there's nothing wrong with that.
How many of you out there believe in Good Guys and Bad Guys? Raise your hand, c'mon...Well, don't count me as one of them. Every single one of us are completely and able to commit horrible and dispicable acts against each other, society, and the entire planet. It's a fact that we should not ignore very often.
It always seems that there are very few people out there for commit wrongful acts that think of themselves as bad people (insert comment about current finacial crisis and the people who caused it). The truth is that one person's triump is another one's horror. History has given us quite a bit of perspective on the Nazis and what their ultimate goals and beliefs were, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't as quite unconflicting to at least a few people in the here and then.
....and that's ultimatly why we all have such a grand ole' time arguing about every little thing that comes up: most of us DON'T KNOW what's right and what's wrong. Throwing out ideas and certain feelings for public compsumtion usually doesn't have much effect on the people who dream them up, but it damn sure will let them know how other people will react to them, should they acted upon. That's why we don't have a God/King/Ruler because we all only care what the neighbors are going to think. And gosh darnnit, that's the why it should be.
There is just no need for anybody to get up some high horse about such things and lie to others around them that they are completely sure of everything. Lord knows that's the one thing I look for to show me somebody is LYING to me.....
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
My Response (For The Life Of Me, I Can't Figure Out How To Embed Videos...)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3036677/vp/28740622#28740622
I love ya, Keith.
I really do.
And I totally agree with everything you've said. Honestly....you've given me a lot to think about.
But it's NOT going to happen. With everything on the table, one of the most important ingredients we will need to accomplish these problems is going to be an unprecedented level of bi-partisanship from not only our politions, but from the people of this country.
Almost NOTHING ELSE could send such a huge divide in our collective conscious than an agenda-set case brought against an entire previous administration (because if one person was guilty of not doing the right thing, then ALL of them were guilty of not doing the right thing).
One thing you can thank our outgoing Leader with is creating, like abortion, an hot-button issue that was not previously there before that will now be debated and argued and taken apart from every single angle from every ideology around. And it's nothing but sad....because in all our history, in light of all the bad things we as a country were responsibly for causing, what IS and IS NOT torture was never up for debate. We knew it was wrong, even when we committed it. We could justify it forever and forever, but we would never question whether or not it was, in fact, cruel and unusual punishment.
For the record, I don't believe it "works" and I don't believe it could ever be justified. The 24 scenario is all great for movies and forms of entertainment ( the one where we have a terrorist who has information that can prevent a nuclear bomb from going off and the ONLY way we can interrogate it outta him is to do horrible, horrible things to this guy), but I can't for the life of me believe that ever happens as often as people seem to think it does.
I love this country; I love my family; I love our way of life. Call me narcissistic, but I truly believe that if I was in that position with our enemies, they wouldn't get shit from me, no matter what they did. Maybe unbelievable, but true. And along with that, I know I ain't no way as tough as the men and women who signed up to fight and defend our lives, so by extension, I don't believe any of them would give into torture in keeping any valuable Intel to the enemy. Word to John McCain.
So....switch that the very enemy we're presently talking about: they don't have an allegiance to a particular country. They don't even really have allegiance to a particular leader. They answer to God and we are the Devil. We can give them death or not, but their constitution is probably a bit stronger than whatever sick things the common person (never mind military officers) has in their hearts to do these fucking assholes, were we ever given the opportunity.
We are just committing cruel and unusual torture.
It's not an argument. It's not a debate.
It's just sad.
....but, Keith, it's not going to be prosecuted. Ever. It'll just be one more black mark in our history that we will unsuccessfully try to justify to future generations, saying they just can't understand....
P.S. I'm only blogging today because she blogged today. But I didn't respond.
Even though it's all I wanted to do.
P.P.S. Oh, and can I say: I breathe a sigh of relief and I can't not be prouder of the events of Barrack Obama's inauguration. I look forward to tomorrow and the days to come after that....
I love ya, Keith.
I really do.
And I totally agree with everything you've said. Honestly....you've given me a lot to think about.
But it's NOT going to happen. With everything on the table, one of the most important ingredients we will need to accomplish these problems is going to be an unprecedented level of bi-partisanship from not only our politions, but from the people of this country.
Almost NOTHING ELSE could send such a huge divide in our collective conscious than an agenda-set case brought against an entire previous administration (because if one person was guilty of not doing the right thing, then ALL of them were guilty of not doing the right thing).
One thing you can thank our outgoing Leader with is creating, like abortion, an hot-button issue that was not previously there before that will now be debated and argued and taken apart from every single angle from every ideology around. And it's nothing but sad....because in all our history, in light of all the bad things we as a country were responsibly for causing, what IS and IS NOT torture was never up for debate. We knew it was wrong, even when we committed it. We could justify it forever and forever, but we would never question whether or not it was, in fact, cruel and unusual punishment.
For the record, I don't believe it "works" and I don't believe it could ever be justified. The 24 scenario is all great for movies and forms of entertainment ( the one where we have a terrorist who has information that can prevent a nuclear bomb from going off and the ONLY way we can interrogate it outta him is to do horrible, horrible things to this guy), but I can't for the life of me believe that ever happens as often as people seem to think it does.
I love this country; I love my family; I love our way of life. Call me narcissistic, but I truly believe that if I was in that position with our enemies, they wouldn't get shit from me, no matter what they did. Maybe unbelievable, but true. And along with that, I know I ain't no way as tough as the men and women who signed up to fight and defend our lives, so by extension, I don't believe any of them would give into torture in keeping any valuable Intel to the enemy. Word to John McCain.
So....switch that the very enemy we're presently talking about: they don't have an allegiance to a particular country. They don't even really have allegiance to a particular leader. They answer to God and we are the Devil. We can give them death or not, but their constitution is probably a bit stronger than whatever sick things the common person (never mind military officers) has in their hearts to do these fucking assholes, were we ever given the opportunity.
We are just committing cruel and unusual torture.
It's not an argument. It's not a debate.
It's just sad.
....but, Keith, it's not going to be prosecuted. Ever. It'll just be one more black mark in our history that we will unsuccessfully try to justify to future generations, saying they just can't understand....
P.S. I'm only blogging today because she blogged today. But I didn't respond.
Even though it's all I wanted to do.
P.P.S. Oh, and can I say: I breathe a sigh of relief and I can't not be prouder of the events of Barrack Obama's inauguration. I look forward to tomorrow and the days to come after that....
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Ramble Ramble
To *Everybody's* surprise, I REALLY, REALLY liked "The Spirit" and am now mad everytime I read a bad review of the movie. I'm not taking back anything I've said about Frank Miller being a raving lunatic (he is) who should be taken out to the back of a shed and shot dead (he should), but DAMN if he didn't make a completely entertaining movie about a character I've never read a fucking book about. I did get the in-jokes ("It'll be better with the masks on..."; "Sounds like an Elektra complex") and I don't think any of the great actors or actress in the movie did anything that was over the top.
By the by: I've never really thought Eva Mendes was that hot (kinda the same way I feel about Angelina), BUT...and I'm sure the nude shot of her from the side was a stand-in.....but still....I'm all over her now....
My ban on news and not immediately downloading The Nightly News and Countdown once I step in the door has been surprisingly refreshing (I'm sure this has nothing to do with Obama being on vacation and the holidays slowing all major events down to dullness). If anything, it's allowed me to finish up the Artie Lange book I got for Christmas, a shitload of trade paperbacks I bought last week, and enjoy a little Mystery Science Theatre 3000 mini-marathon that made me realize who much I really miss those guys. Seriously, if anybody can tell me why the Rifftraxx don't automatically download into my iTunes....
I did that on New Year's Eve? No, sorry: Ben called me at the last minute (naturally) and invited me with him and a married couple to front-row seats at the Rockets game, which was early and very fun. I still made home in time to call it an early night....just so I could wake up to work hell and have people I respect very much accuse me of trying to get them a bad deal. Ugh; I didn't. Hopefully Ron will straight this ALL out tomorrow....(yeah, right)
On another note, I'm ashamed that I broke down and extended a branch to You-Know-Who. Which led her to hit me back. But that's it. I'm not going to respond. Really. I'm not.
Still loving The History of Howard Stern Act 2 every morning; it almost makes me not want Howard to come back from vacation, shit....
Alright, enough nonsense, as you were
By the by: I've never really thought Eva Mendes was that hot (kinda the same way I feel about Angelina), BUT...and I'm sure the nude shot of her from the side was a stand-in.....but still....I'm all over her now....
My ban on news and not immediately downloading The Nightly News and Countdown once I step in the door has been surprisingly refreshing (I'm sure this has nothing to do with Obama being on vacation and the holidays slowing all major events down to dullness). If anything, it's allowed me to finish up the Artie Lange book I got for Christmas, a shitload of trade paperbacks I bought last week, and enjoy a little Mystery Science Theatre 3000 mini-marathon that made me realize who much I really miss those guys. Seriously, if anybody can tell me why the Rifftraxx don't automatically download into my iTunes....
I did that on New Year's Eve? No, sorry: Ben called me at the last minute (naturally) and invited me with him and a married couple to front-row seats at the Rockets game, which was early and very fun. I still made home in time to call it an early night....just so I could wake up to work hell and have people I respect very much accuse me of trying to get them a bad deal. Ugh; I didn't. Hopefully Ron will straight this ALL out tomorrow....(yeah, right)
On another note, I'm ashamed that I broke down and extended a branch to You-Know-Who. Which led her to hit me back. But that's it. I'm not going to respond. Really. I'm not.
Still loving The History of Howard Stern Act 2 every morning; it almost makes me not want Howard to come back from vacation, shit....
Alright, enough nonsense, as you were
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