Every negative thought I have, every negative action, is not only hurting me as an individual, but also the world around me by wasting moments that I could be doing something positive and productive. I think about peace and love a lot, but I sure don't put those thoughts into action enough.
THIS IS ME HUGGING YOU!
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
John Mellencamp
I hate John "Cougar' Mellencamp as much as the next guy... OR SO I THOUGHT!
Wow, was I wrong about about him. This blog will just go to show how much stereotyping and assuming negatively effects us when we're least expecting it.
What do you think of when you hear John Mellencamp? Good ol boy, church attendin, wanna be cowboys? The same things that come to mind when you think of Chevy trucks and hometown football heros ("Jack and Diane" reference)?
Well, thats what I thought of at least! BUT I WAS WRONG!
What I learned today on yet another beautiful block of NPR listening breaks every stereotype I had for both Mellencamp and his followers. I want to keep emphasizing how wrong I was about this so that maybe I won't be so quick to judge in the future, even on things that "just HAVE to be true".
Mellencamp is an anti-prejudice, anti-organized religion, very liberal, humble, and open minded gentlemen. He is the first to admit that he altered and sugar coated his music in the 80's, like his most popular song "Jack and Diane" from being about being accepting of interracial relationships(In the first version of the song, Jack was black), to just being about "American nostalgia".
He began his music career in cover bands playing everything from Dylan to Iggy Pop (He even lived in London from 77-78 and was at least aware of the punk scene at the time) Through the interview he made it absolutely clear that his main pulse has always been for Folk music. He went on to show how all of his songs are truly Folk when played correctly, but in order to make a career as a musician he had to cater to the mainstream's musical tastes.
I'm going to get kind of off topic here by leaving John Mellencamp behind (wikipedia him if you want to learn more), and go back to my overall thought with this entry... No matter what you THINK you know about someone, you could ALWAYS be wrong, and at the end of the day when you pass unsupported judgements on them you have a 50% of being right, but also a 50% chance of being a total pawn to image and another sheep in the media's herd.
Wow, was I wrong about about him. This blog will just go to show how much stereotyping and assuming negatively effects us when we're least expecting it.
What do you think of when you hear John Mellencamp? Good ol boy, church attendin, wanna be cowboys? The same things that come to mind when you think of Chevy trucks and hometown football heros ("Jack and Diane" reference)?
Well, thats what I thought of at least! BUT I WAS WRONG!
What I learned today on yet another beautiful block of NPR listening breaks every stereotype I had for both Mellencamp and his followers. I want to keep emphasizing how wrong I was about this so that maybe I won't be so quick to judge in the future, even on things that "just HAVE to be true".
Mellencamp is an anti-prejudice, anti-organized religion, very liberal, humble, and open minded gentlemen. He is the first to admit that he altered and sugar coated his music in the 80's, like his most popular song "Jack and Diane" from being about being accepting of interracial relationships(In the first version of the song, Jack was black), to just being about "American nostalgia".
He began his music career in cover bands playing everything from Dylan to Iggy Pop (He even lived in London from 77-78 and was at least aware of the punk scene at the time) Through the interview he made it absolutely clear that his main pulse has always been for Folk music. He went on to show how all of his songs are truly Folk when played correctly, but in order to make a career as a musician he had to cater to the mainstream's musical tastes.
I'm going to get kind of off topic here by leaving John Mellencamp behind (wikipedia him if you want to learn more), and go back to my overall thought with this entry... No matter what you THINK you know about someone, you could ALWAYS be wrong, and at the end of the day when you pass unsupported judgements on them you have a 50% of being right, but also a 50% chance of being a total pawn to image and another sheep in the media's herd.
Change Is a Sound
So on the drive home from work yesterday I was listening to Strike Anywhere. It has been quite a while since the last time I kick started my mind with the social and political ideology that this band's lyrics recommend, so OF COURSE i find myself needing to blog about it now.
Strike Anywhere was the first band to change my life. I started listening to them in 2000 when I was a 13 year old 8th grader in a family being ripped apart by divorce. Lets just say I had a lot of unanswered questions and pent up emotions on my mind. I couldn't tell you the day or place that my sister introduced me to the Chorus Of One EP, but I can tell you that I was NOT instantly hooked. My first reaction was somewhere between A) Holy shit, this cd is fucking crazy. and B) well, if Virginia likes it then it's cool, so i do too.
It didn't take much longer after that initial shock for me to warm up to the speed and energy of the songs. I had a general idea of what the lyrics were about, though I didn't really understand them or many of the references they were making. I did know one thing though... none of the kids at my middle school were aware of this band, so they were mine, mine, and mine. Finally, an identity! Sure I had convenient "school-only friends" who were into weird ska and mainstream punk bands and wore some goofy shit, but my parents didnt let me go to school with t-shirts or jeans, so at that time I, too, was wearing "goofy shit".
I could write a short novel about the first time I saw them play or all the times I have seen them both in Richmond and out of state, but I think you have the general concept. Let's skip back into the present though and see where the past 9 years have led me.
Made obvious by my lifestyle today, I don't agree with 100% of the message that S.A.'s lyrics bring. I do agree with a bunch of them though, and I definitely enjoy the food for thought that the other parts give me. I was thinking back over the past 9 years and wondering how I got to where I was in life right now. I don't mean this in a bad way at all, I mean shit my life fucking rules these days. I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished (for the most part) and I'm happy over all so in my book that is success. I just wish I was a little bit more involved with some things. I could never wait to be older because then people would take me seriously and I could do things that changed the world, or other people's lives. I wanted to make a stamp on the environment around me that would push something or someone in a better direction. I'm not saying that I didn't do any of these things or that I've gone in the other direction or anything, but I definitely haven't lived up to my own expectations.
Over the next couple days, weeks, months, whatever... I'm going to try to evaluate what I'm about now, and what I wanted myself to be about when I was younger. Then I'm going to consider what I will have wanted myself to be about once I'm too old to do it again, and hopefully I'll find a middle ground somewhere to get myself back on the "righteous" path that I thought I had laid out for my life.
Maybe you'll notice this change, maybe you won't. I guess we'll see...
Strike Anywhere was the first band to change my life. I started listening to them in 2000 when I was a 13 year old 8th grader in a family being ripped apart by divorce. Lets just say I had a lot of unanswered questions and pent up emotions on my mind. I couldn't tell you the day or place that my sister introduced me to the Chorus Of One EP, but I can tell you that I was NOT instantly hooked. My first reaction was somewhere between A) Holy shit, this cd is fucking crazy. and B) well, if Virginia likes it then it's cool, so i do too.
It didn't take much longer after that initial shock for me to warm up to the speed and energy of the songs. I had a general idea of what the lyrics were about, though I didn't really understand them or many of the references they were making. I did know one thing though... none of the kids at my middle school were aware of this band, so they were mine, mine, and mine. Finally, an identity! Sure I had convenient "school-only friends" who were into weird ska and mainstream punk bands and wore some goofy shit, but my parents didnt let me go to school with t-shirts or jeans, so at that time I, too, was wearing "goofy shit".
I could write a short novel about the first time I saw them play or all the times I have seen them both in Richmond and out of state, but I think you have the general concept. Let's skip back into the present though and see where the past 9 years have led me.
Made obvious by my lifestyle today, I don't agree with 100% of the message that S.A.'s lyrics bring. I do agree with a bunch of them though, and I definitely enjoy the food for thought that the other parts give me. I was thinking back over the past 9 years and wondering how I got to where I was in life right now. I don't mean this in a bad way at all, I mean shit my life fucking rules these days. I'm proud of who I am and what I've accomplished (for the most part) and I'm happy over all so in my book that is success. I just wish I was a little bit more involved with some things. I could never wait to be older because then people would take me seriously and I could do things that changed the world, or other people's lives. I wanted to make a stamp on the environment around me that would push something or someone in a better direction. I'm not saying that I didn't do any of these things or that I've gone in the other direction or anything, but I definitely haven't lived up to my own expectations.
Over the next couple days, weeks, months, whatever... I'm going to try to evaluate what I'm about now, and what I wanted myself to be about when I was younger. Then I'm going to consider what I will have wanted myself to be about once I'm too old to do it again, and hopefully I'll find a middle ground somewhere to get myself back on the "righteous" path that I thought I had laid out for my life.
Maybe you'll notice this change, maybe you won't. I guess we'll see...
Monday, March 23, 2009
I got crop dusted on the highway today
I don't even know if that is possible, but it definitely happened.
I'm starting a new band called The Bento Boxes and we're looking for members
I'm starting two beach cruiser gangs, the male side is called the Beach Bruisers.
The female side is called the Bitch Cruisers. email me for more information on joining.
After these past few months of not touching that dial, i don't think i'll ever stop listening to NPR in the car. It's completely reinvented my concept of what Radio should be. I should've been listening throughout the cross country move. oh well. now i know.
i seriously got crop dusted on the highway. it was terrible.
does anyone want to start a mildly half asses comedy/acting troupe? I kinda do.
I can't believe the weather in california.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MUSTARD PLANTS GROW ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY MEDIANS. i want to stop everytime i see a patch and high five somebody. mustard is for winners.
I'm starting a new band called The Bento Boxes and we're looking for members
I'm starting two beach cruiser gangs, the male side is called the Beach Bruisers.
The female side is called the Bitch Cruisers. email me for more information on joining.
After these past few months of not touching that dial, i don't think i'll ever stop listening to NPR in the car. It's completely reinvented my concept of what Radio should be. I should've been listening throughout the cross country move. oh well. now i know.
i seriously got crop dusted on the highway. it was terrible.
does anyone want to start a mildly half asses comedy/acting troupe? I kinda do.
I can't believe the weather in california.
I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT MUSTARD PLANTS GROW ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY MEDIANS. i want to stop everytime i see a patch and high five somebody. mustard is for winners.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
ok so
here we are again, sunday morning. time for brunch. this week we'll be going with Andy and his girlfriend whos visiting from....duh! richmond. She just graduated from VCU in December so perhaps she will be the next addition to our troop of former richmonders now residing in san diego? i'm merely speculating here.
Anyways, this weekend was really nice. we just chilled a lot and rested and were kinda lazy. we rebuilt the window box EVEN better than it was before. unfortunately our last one got (i hesitate to use the word stolen, but...) taken by the grounds keeper in an effort to clean up our back alley-ish space. it's weird. i dont know. but anyways, the new, bigger, better loft is in place so as soon as we start our seeds and get them rockin, they will be gracing our cooking with much flavor.
riding bikes riding bikes riding bikes.
brunch brunch brunch
Anyways, this weekend was really nice. we just chilled a lot and rested and were kinda lazy. we rebuilt the window box EVEN better than it was before. unfortunately our last one got (i hesitate to use the word stolen, but...) taken by the grounds keeper in an effort to clean up our back alley-ish space. it's weird. i dont know. but anyways, the new, bigger, better loft is in place so as soon as we start our seeds and get them rockin, they will be gracing our cooking with much flavor.
riding bikes riding bikes riding bikes.
brunch brunch brunch
Friday, March 20, 2009
Hm
I'm so glad that things are finally starting to slow down. and by things I mean
THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO
deal with car insurance, health insurance, business trips(STILL WEIRD!), army crap, ETC ETC ETC
but finally I have the end in my sights....well, the end of my current list of stressful things I have to do. I can't wait for my interview with the electricians in April or my placement test with the Sheet Metal/welders. It's really great thinking about things going well. Growing up never fails to annoy me, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
this weekend will be totally chill. replanting our herb window box and adding another plant (i think rosemary?). hope the basil leaves are bigger this time....
THINGS I DON'T WANT TO DO
deal with car insurance, health insurance, business trips(STILL WEIRD!), army crap, ETC ETC ETC
but finally I have the end in my sights....well, the end of my current list of stressful things I have to do. I can't wait for my interview with the electricians in April or my placement test with the Sheet Metal/welders. It's really great thinking about things going well. Growing up never fails to annoy me, but I guess you gotta do what you gotta do.
this weekend will be totally chill. replanting our herb window box and adding another plant (i think rosemary?). hope the basil leaves are bigger this time....
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
dinner last night
so we went to Benihana for dinner last night (It's like a more casual Kabuto's). The meal was incredible, the chef was extraordinary, and our company at the table was just top notch.
One of these statements is a lie.
I got the Hibachi Scallops with the usual grilled vegetables and fried rice. I don't remember the last time I had fried rice at all, let alone any that tasted THAT good. Of course the scallops were just totally succulent morsels of deliciousness.
The funny thing about San Diego is that you can go to a Japanese Steakhouse and still have Latino chefs. DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD THOUGH!!! For last night I witnessed a better show than any true Japanese chef has ever shown me. Maybe it has just been so long that I forgot all the tricks and gags, but this guy had a seemingly endless amount of antics that had me dying with laughter.
Ok, now for the lie. The family sitting across from us was.... incredible. I don't want to get too mean with my descriptions, so I'll keep the possibly funniest parts to myself, but one of the guys was possibly Dick Van Dyke or AT LEAST his twin brother. The resemblance was uncanny and he ate a "well done" steak and had VANILLA icecream(out of a choice of red bean, green tea, or vanillla) COME ON BUDDY. WHAT THE FUCK.
I might be able to find a picture online.
One of these statements is a lie.
I got the Hibachi Scallops with the usual grilled vegetables and fried rice. I don't remember the last time I had fried rice at all, let alone any that tasted THAT good. Of course the scallops were just totally succulent morsels of deliciousness.
The funny thing about San Diego is that you can go to a Japanese Steakhouse and still have Latino chefs. DON'T LAUGH TOO HARD THOUGH!!! For last night I witnessed a better show than any true Japanese chef has ever shown me. Maybe it has just been so long that I forgot all the tricks and gags, but this guy had a seemingly endless amount of antics that had me dying with laughter.
Ok, now for the lie. The family sitting across from us was.... incredible. I don't want to get too mean with my descriptions, so I'll keep the possibly funniest parts to myself, but one of the guys was possibly Dick Van Dyke or AT LEAST his twin brother. The resemblance was uncanny and he ate a "well done" steak and had VANILLA icecream(out of a choice of red bean, green tea, or vanillla) COME ON BUDDY. WHAT THE FUCK.
I might be able to find a picture online.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
yay
yay today is beth and i's one year anniversary. pretty stoked on some Japanese Steak House action tonight.
more later
more later
Monday, March 16, 2009
alright already!
Ok, FINALLY.
If anyone even reads this thing anymore....
The past few weeks have been nonstop 100 mph. People coming and going, introducing old friends to new friends, showing off the West Coast to the East Coasters. It's been a blast and I'm more than stoked for everybody who came out here and I hope we did a good job hosting said friends' vacations. Now, the time has come to rest!
This week will be pretty chill. Beth and I's 1 year is tomorrow!!!
Last night was pretty cool, Swamp Thing and Naysayer were on tour out in CA all week and their last show was here last night so I got to catch up with even MORE old friends, including singing Jodie by Blink 182 as an intro to ST's set (everyone went nuts, it ruled).
Seriously, I'm not even going to try to explain everything that's been going on since the last real update I put. Read our house guest book if you want some more info!
I'm so stoked on Spring and I'm so stoked on Summer and I can't wait for August. I've been working a ton and it kind of sucks but at least it's income. Hopefully my employment will be changing in a few weeks though(fingers crossed).
Yeah, once again though, I'm really tired. I can't believe we've lived here for almost 6 months now. The time has FLOWN. seriously.
I really hope my sister gets in the Brand Center at VCU this Fall for grad school, but if she doesn't I'm under the impression that she is moving out here so OF COURSE that idea makes me uber pumped too.
Drew and Lauren's wedding is going to be so much fun. I seriously can't wait for that week.
Ok now that I'm KIND OF caught up on this long overdue post I'm going to leave saying SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!
If anyone even reads this thing anymore....
The past few weeks have been nonstop 100 mph. People coming and going, introducing old friends to new friends, showing off the West Coast to the East Coasters. It's been a blast and I'm more than stoked for everybody who came out here and I hope we did a good job hosting said friends' vacations. Now, the time has come to rest!
This week will be pretty chill. Beth and I's 1 year is tomorrow!!!
Last night was pretty cool, Swamp Thing and Naysayer were on tour out in CA all week and their last show was here last night so I got to catch up with even MORE old friends, including singing Jodie by Blink 182 as an intro to ST's set (everyone went nuts, it ruled).
Seriously, I'm not even going to try to explain everything that's been going on since the last real update I put. Read our house guest book if you want some more info!
I'm so stoked on Spring and I'm so stoked on Summer and I can't wait for August. I've been working a ton and it kind of sucks but at least it's income. Hopefully my employment will be changing in a few weeks though(fingers crossed).
Yeah, once again though, I'm really tired. I can't believe we've lived here for almost 6 months now. The time has FLOWN. seriously.
I really hope my sister gets in the Brand Center at VCU this Fall for grad school, but if she doesn't I'm under the impression that she is moving out here so OF COURSE that idea makes me uber pumped too.
Drew and Lauren's wedding is going to be so much fun. I seriously can't wait for that week.
Ok now that I'm KIND OF caught up on this long overdue post I'm going to leave saying SAN DIMAS HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL RULES!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
I'm sorry
heres another "sorry i haven't updated in a while, but it isn't quite time yet". I'm SO tired. ahhhhhh
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