Ruminations and Clarifications of the US's Bad Conscience

I woke up today to a few news articles declaiming Mr. President Obama as a good or even effective leader and also the predictions of OWS's imminent end or the insight into the demographic that is there holding the protests in person. I was confused about the nature of protest because creating awareness for the other 99% just seems so far into left field and really just sounds like a bunch of people complaining. The issue of economic parity of money and influence between individual groups of people is a complicated one that I will try to lay the groundwork for. Given my point of view of the articles have just read, these people are urban, unemployed, and of the generation after the baby boomers. With that they ask for many times quoted, " a country should serve her people and not the other way around". Although there is justification in the reason why these people are out demonstrating or "occupying" the downtown of many major cities, I see a basic flaw in what they are asking. They are essentially saying that the those in political power have (the 1% # of people) given no opportunity nor resource for them (the 99% # people) to change and beautify the world for future generations and the world itself. The flaw is that, just as spoiled, rotten children do, there is absolutely no hard work nor concrete plans or demands to right the economic situation at hand in our country and in almost the whole rest of the world. The only solution to fix something so big and complex as the US economy is to get up everyday and think passionately and creatively about how to help out the world economy with either a good or labor. Its that simple. If they want a communist state they would be expected to work everyday for uniform meal ticket and they would live in tenements that had a thousand other people who did state-sponsored work and receive the exat same paycheck, clothing, and dwelling. If that's what they want by all means one way plane-tickets are not that expensive. My thoughts summed up are basically that of man who, having very little myself, sees no help in a bunch of people camping out in the street and asking the rich men of the world to fork over money and control of their companies.

Sincerely,

ActualSeis

I thought I would share my thoughts on my relationship with the internet AND my real-life relationships with people. I have suddenly realized that my everyday life has somehow made itself into a complete manifestation of the way I interact with people on the internet and with the internet sites themselves. My typical day revolves around school and my classmates. We seldom have real conversations that are in depth and one on one. Class discussions mimic facebook comment frenzies of funny quips and one line insights. It seems like the only control-option I have is whether to actively participate in the discussion or not. The rest of the day is spent in transit. That means that I am either saying hello - goodbye or... nothing at all to a few choice people. This is not a rant or even a sarcastic tongue-in-cheek commentary. In fact, this blog post is a undeniable "Eureka!" to the question of how to change my life for the better. The long and short of it is, change my internet habits, change my life along the same vein. My colleague and cohort that blogs on this same site, but will remain nameless until i have their permission to use their name, would agree with me that the move to get more productive and more efficient is a wise and admirable one. This means more time spent putting thoughts to paper (err, keyboard) and keeping the social networking to a minimum. (That's what cell-phones are for, right?). Haha, I dare say that he has already permanently been there and done that. So, with that, I have deactivated my Facebook and Twitter and will stand by my decision for a commitment of one month. Until then, I will be a contributor of my own (and only my own) thoughts and ideas on this blog site. My aim is to see if I can gain a layer of introspection and wisdom that so far has been unattainable through the use of short one-sentence conversations with 300 Facebook friends. I look forward to this and can't wait to move forward.

Sincerely,

ActualScythes

A Jam To Spoon To

Last track of this. *Continue*

Sometimes, I Impress Myself

..when I pop something profound out of my mouth in a blink.

A friend of mine texted me that s/he was being wary of his/her relationship with a person because his/her aim was to "not get hurt". Understandably the perspective of one who has experienced hurt, possibly, one too many times for him/her to bear to experience again. Of course, who enjoys that suffering? That sinking feeling that seems to turn your rib cage into some dark, molten lava that tears slowly, and heavily at the heart of your soul which one might swear existed somewhere between your lungs, heart and diaphragm. While not everybody may be able to say they recognize the feeling of pure love, I am saddened to think that most people can say they recognize the feeling of genuine heartbreak, or despair.

I wonder. If you were to ask people throughout the week, which group would win? Those who could say they recognize the feeling of love? Or, those who recognize the pain of a broken heart?

Anyhow...immediately, I was inspired to respond:

You don't have a relationship to avoid hurt. You're in it to love irregardless of what's returned. You deal with the hurt when/if it comes. You're a loving person, [Generic Name]. Just remember to love the space that makes the closeness more valuable.

I think it was fair advice. I hope it was appropriate. My friend responded that it was profound, and that s/he would take it. I'd definitely drink to that.

Oh, and hide your kids, your wife, and your husband....



I know. Hella had to kill the tender vibe. It's just so ridiculous that this guy is probably going to become a millionaire off of his interview with the news reporter. Like Chocolate Rain, or something. Original interview here.

Don't Just Be Here. Be here.

So, I started reading Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged and have found myself engaged, so far. I've definitely got quite a bit to go as there are 1168 pages of literary goodness, and I've yet to reach 50 pages. But, already I found a thing of beauty:

"He felt that he could forgive anything to anyone, because happiness was the greatest agent of purification. He felt certain that every living being wished him well tonight. He wanted to meet someone, to face the first stranger, to stand disarmed and open, and to say, "Look at me." People, he thought, were as hungry for a sight of joy as he had always been--for a moment's relief from that gray load of suffering which seemed so inexplicable and unnecessary. He had never been able to understand why men should be unhappy." - Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand

I like this passage for a couple reasons. For one, Rand got a little crazy (in a great way) in capturing some subtle emotions that a person may feel when they have achieved that moment of happiness after a great deal of endeavoring to get it. I think of the day I decided to take the jump, and decided that I'd pursue passion over pure practicality. It was as if everything that had life had a pouch pocket filled with "Good-Goodness", and they all sprinkled a little bit on me that day, and I felt the good vibes. I wanted to jump in front of someone ... anyone ... and, let out an "Ayyyy!!" while smiling, and dougie-ing, simultaneously. I could relate to that feeling of genuine release.

But, I also like this passage because Rand goes beyond that capture of the happy person. Rand points out a simple, but magnificent truth: that, generally, people are hungry for the sight of joy, and defined joy as: "a moment's relief from that gray load of suffering which seemed so inexplicable and unnecessary." Think about it. Everybody's prone to getting all caught up in that "zone" throughout their day. Walking around on some lesser autopilot in between points A and B. Genuinely interacting at the points, but then returning to that quasi-social autopilot when going from point B to C. Etc, etc. I think everybody finds it truly refreshing when people are able to be fluidly "present" even when they're in the process of traveling in between the points they need to get to. How great of a gift is that moment when somebody is genuinely happy ... and, you notice it.

That's that shit, man. That's some good shit.

On that note. A bit of a throwback:

16 Days Ago. Tired. 3 in the AM.

I'm hungry, man. Got an appetite. Nigeria.
Haiti, Santiago, grumbling post-disaster areas.
Fatal furious.
Cable curious.
Google education gets me straight-stare serious.
Wide awake. I'm delirious.
Been out for hours. I'm livin' life--it ain't vicarious.
It's the shit that keeps me going: these experiences..various.
You just might try to shoot us, dig some holes out. Bury us.
But, trust. We'll find a way to spread about--become indigenous.

Tightrope (Wondamix) - Lyrics and Interpretation of Lupe's Verse

First of all, this song is the dopest I've heard (pretty cool visual, too) in quite a bit. I have an appetite for lyrics that are intellectually stimulating, and I think that the trio's words are laying on the perfect beat--especially Lupe's verse which could be heavier over anything less energetic, and punchy. As Lupe's intellect has been expanding, I've been noticing his word selection becoming more particular, and I think his latest verse is quite the piece. I mean, you gotta think about what he's saying. It's of long-term value, to be sure.

Verse as a whole first:

"Greetings. Welcome to the meeting of the minds that be thinking all the time 'bout defeating all the blind following, swallowing, drinking of the thyme, honor traditions of keeping in a line. I prefer to figure 8 in Mandelbrot. Rock all night 'til the candles on my mantle stop, and it's paid programming on every single channel. Watch televised revolutionaries on the chapel tops shouting down at Babylonian accounting. Medieval mathematics keep us average in amounting. But, I surpass that. I dropped out of they math class. I am 'cause I thought. Now, my tightrope's like a sidewalk. Blaow!"

Lyrics bolded. Interpretations italicized.

"Greetings. Welcome to the meeting of the minds that be thinking all the time 'bout defeating all the blind following, swallowing, drinking of the thyme, honor traditions of keeping in a line."

Interpretation: For simplicity's sake, Lupe establishes the existence of two groups of people: One group, who he implicitly identifies with, is meeting (which he welcomes you to) as they obsess over how they could give vision (or, light, which can translate to knowledge) to the those who are blind (or, in the dark, or unenlightened) to paths that are not already well-established, hence honoring the traditions of keeping in a line. In addition, these blind followers drink on thyme, an herb which has received a lot of attention for its healing effects for numerous ailments--implying that these blind followers who honor established traditions are attempting to heal themselves of something.

"I prefer to figure 8 in Mandelbrot. Rock all night 'til the candles on my mantle stop, and it's paid programming on every single channel.

Interpretation: As opposed to following the established linear paths that keep people from stepping beyond the single-file boundaries, Lupe prefers to "figure 8 in Mandelbrot". Mandelbrot is a mathematical program which I don't understand all the details about. However, the important point of the Mandelbrot reference, I think, is this: "When computed and graphed on the complex plane the Mandelbrot set is seen to have an elaborate boundary which does not simplify at any given magnification" (Wiki). So, no matter how much you magnify, there is no distinct boundary. Ultimately, Lupe contrasts the traditions of keeping in a line with his preference of thinking of ways to, not only do away with lines altogether doing figure-8s, but blur the lines as well. For added effect of his obsession, Lupe communicates that his philosophical endeavors go late into the early morning: this is typically when nothing is on TV but paid infomercials.

"Watch televised revolutionaries on the chapel tops shouting down at Babylonian accounting. Medieval mathematics keep us average in amounting. But, I surpass that. I dropped out of they math class. I am 'cause I thought. Now, my tightrope's like a sidewalk."

Interpretation: Now, I just don't know if this part is filled with specific references, or generalized references. I've tried to do some research on the Babylonians and their dealings of their finances, and I've become sort of reacquainted with some really, really old history classes (Code of Hammurabi - eye for an eye, establishment of written records, such as contracts, certifications, and other legal documents), but I really couldn't narrow down what Lupe was really referencing. I mean, televised revolutionaries on a chapel could be taken as some specific religious, or spiritual personalities who are in a position above those who do the accounting (or, financial record keeping). Or, maybe he's generally saying that those at the top of the church are commanding accounting from above--I just don't know. As for the "Babylonian accounting", Lupe could just be referencing the fact that record keeping in the form of legal documents became a part of societies during the period that Babylon was one of the cities of significance. As for medieval mathematics, I think Lupe references the relationship between peasants (common people who were free to leave the land their manor) and serfs (common people who were bound to the manor they lived on), and their responsibility to the manor (property owned by the local lord). During medieval times, the commoners had basically two options:

Option 1: Do the work that they were assigned to do on the manor whether they liked it or not, and receive the local lord's word that he would protect him from the dangers that lurked beyond his land.

Option 2: Risk his life and livelihood to try and find another life beyond the boundaries of the manor which could result in a better life, death, or a life identical to the one he just tried to flee.

This medieval predicament parallels the predicament that many of us still face today, which translates simply to: Either stick to the pursuit that's tried and true, or take the risk to pursue your passion. These "medieval mathematics" create a divide of values that keep the masses from amounting. Many find themselves falling in line for what's tried and true. Some take the risk and pursue their passions despite the thin probability of success. Either way, you're on some "tightrope" to success.

Lupe ends his verse announcing that he is beyond that predicament, and that he decided not to be educated in such mathematics: He is because he thought. And, because he thought, his tightrope is a more walkable, like a sidewalk.

"Blaow!"

Interpretation: Onomatopoeia for the explosion of your mind.

Yeah, I'm going to go pick up pieces of my brain now.