I recently attended the 200 band music festival in Manchester Tennessee known as Bonnaroo for my high school graduation gift. Upon leaving rain began to fall and it gradually became harder and harder to see. Eventually it got to the point that I could no longer see anything through my windshield, and I had to slow down (I was doing the speed limit on the parkway which is 70). However while slowing down I felt like my car was bouncing, like literally bouncing on the front wheels, it instantly became clear to me that we were hydro plaining. I knew from my parents that if you are hydro plaining it is better to not hit the brake then to hit it, you should just take your foot off the gas and slow down as such, this however proved to be much harder than it sounded because I had forgotten that I had the cruise control on, I was just driving with my foot on the gas just to the point where it would not hinder the cruise control. So since I did not slow down we hydro plained and my car actually lifted off the ground and did a complete 180 in the air and we LITERALLY FLEW into a ditch. However when we entered the ditch I believe that the cruise control pulling us at a constant 70 mph prevented us from flying down into the ditch and ramping into the other side of the parkway. Now if this was not bad enough once we got everything sorted out the tow truck driver took an extra hour and a half to get to us (we were 14 miles out of Owensboro) and it was pouring rain. Next we decided to still go and we took my friends car. So up to this point I have had a car crash that resulted in a fender bender and a popped tire, and no one injured (lucky right?). Then when we started into nashville we stopped to fix the luggage in the trunk because it was bouncing around, we had food in there so we didnt want it to be destroyed when we got to Bonnaroo, however our hamburgers were already bad so we threw them out, and I sat my phone and root beer on top of the car whilst we were working in the trunk. Then we proceeded to leave and my phone and rootbeer flew off the top of the car, we thought it was gravel hitting the car so we didnt stop for it, it wasnt until 45 minutes later that we realized what it was that flew off the car. Also somewhere in all this mess 300 dollars cash came out of my pocket and is lost forever (most likely in the crash). So up to this point I have a wrecked car, no money, and no phone, yet we press on.
Once we reach Bonnaroo we unpack and realize we have no pillows, or blankets (which isnt that bad because it was over 100 degrees all 4 days). When we finally get all unpacked and everything we called my parents and they graciously wired me 300 dollars for my trip. I ended up running through all that money within almost 2 days because we were so ridiculously unprepared that we had to buy food almost everyday, water everyday, and I had to pay for multiple showers to that I did not overheat (long brown curly hair attracts not only gorgeous women, but copious amount of heat... ya win some ya lose some I guess). So now with little money and all of our food spoiled we believe nothing else could go wrong, which is reasonable, right? Then I discover that I am missing a pair of shorts so I only have on pair of shorts to wear for 4 days (nasty right, you should have seen the other people there who didnt shower all four days). If that wasn't enough on the third day of the four day trip my friend lost the only key we had to his car. Which was 200 dollars to replace at Bonnaroo. So instead his dad drove 3 hours to drop off his key.
All in all it was prolly the best and worst experience of my life, because I got to see my musical idol Jack White perform live, which was SPECTACULAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Friday, May 14, 2010
Rock n' Roll
Owens, Damon. Rikas, Jennifer. “Why do you think some people believe that rock music is from hell?” 20th January, 2010.
Why do some people believe that rock ‘n roll is from hell? Some would say that during the time period when rock ‘n roll first came out it was so ground breaking and different that people did not know how to react. “When rock came onto the music scene it shocked the senses of music listeners everywhere.” Rock ‘n roll music was a completely different turn from music at the time, “the ‘live fast die hard’ mentality of a rocker was baffling to the public and they didn’t understand it.” So thus since rock was viewed as the cause of this rise in an ok mind set for drugs and sex, people labeled it as satanic music. This however only increased the marketability of rock ‘n roll to the rebellious youth. Jennifer declared that “when I was young rock ‘n roll wasn’t allowed in the house, so naturally I loved it!” The youth were the main following of rock on its up rise, but even though it was frowned upon by the older more mature citizens it did not stop the enormous amount of sales that rock did and still continues to bring in. “Owning a Kiss album then was like having a car now, without one it was hard to be cool.” So overall was it the shock that it had to the music scene that made people jump the gun on rock? Or was a true honest belief that people thought it was form hell?
Questions:
Why do we always have to say music is from a certain location not a person?
Is rock considered still to be from hell in today’s society?
How much has rock affected the music scene?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Believing for so long that sex and drugs are the work of the devil, and then being shocked into hearing it on the radio would definitely make some people believe it is the work of the devil.
Language – the connotation of sex and drugs with the devil is undoubtedly what caused the belief that rock is satanic music.
Sense perception – hearing music like rock ‘n roll, when and jazz bands and swing were the norm, would be an awakening to any music lover.
Emotion – rock most likely made many people angry that music like this was being exposed to the general public, because it was viewed as satanic. People did not want their children exposed to it.
Areas of Knowledge:
Art – this is most definitely an art form, because music is a method of personal expression in a form that not everyone else can present.
Human sciences – it is normal for humans to be offended or afraid by something that they have never seen or heard before, and thus they make it out to be something terrible.
Natural sciences – in nature when something is foreign animals tend to stay away from it, or attack it to prove dominance, but it is usually the young that give it a chance. This in a way is like how we treated rock. We shunned it from society and only the young and curious took a liking to it.
History – History shows that when presented with something we have never seen before we claim it to be satanic. Native Americans for example were portrayed as wild savages who worship the devil. This was not entirely true, the worshipped the earth that gave them their food and water. Some were savages, but most likely only because they were exposed to something they had never seen before (the white man)
Ethics – is it right to call something we just heard satanic? How much satanic music did we have at the time to compare rock too?
Why do some people believe that rock ‘n roll is from hell? Some would say that during the time period when rock ‘n roll first came out it was so ground breaking and different that people did not know how to react. “When rock came onto the music scene it shocked the senses of music listeners everywhere.” Rock ‘n roll music was a completely different turn from music at the time, “the ‘live fast die hard’ mentality of a rocker was baffling to the public and they didn’t understand it.” So thus since rock was viewed as the cause of this rise in an ok mind set for drugs and sex, people labeled it as satanic music. This however only increased the marketability of rock ‘n roll to the rebellious youth. Jennifer declared that “when I was young rock ‘n roll wasn’t allowed in the house, so naturally I loved it!” The youth were the main following of rock on its up rise, but even though it was frowned upon by the older more mature citizens it did not stop the enormous amount of sales that rock did and still continues to bring in. “Owning a Kiss album then was like having a car now, without one it was hard to be cool.” So overall was it the shock that it had to the music scene that made people jump the gun on rock? Or was a true honest belief that people thought it was form hell?
Questions:
Why do we always have to say music is from a certain location not a person?
Is rock considered still to be from hell in today’s society?
How much has rock affected the music scene?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Believing for so long that sex and drugs are the work of the devil, and then being shocked into hearing it on the radio would definitely make some people believe it is the work of the devil.
Language – the connotation of sex and drugs with the devil is undoubtedly what caused the belief that rock is satanic music.
Sense perception – hearing music like rock ‘n roll, when and jazz bands and swing were the norm, would be an awakening to any music lover.
Emotion – rock most likely made many people angry that music like this was being exposed to the general public, because it was viewed as satanic. People did not want their children exposed to it.
Areas of Knowledge:
Art – this is most definitely an art form, because music is a method of personal expression in a form that not everyone else can present.
Human sciences – it is normal for humans to be offended or afraid by something that they have never seen or heard before, and thus they make it out to be something terrible.
Natural sciences – in nature when something is foreign animals tend to stay away from it, or attack it to prove dominance, but it is usually the young that give it a chance. This in a way is like how we treated rock. We shunned it from society and only the young and curious took a liking to it.
History – History shows that when presented with something we have never seen before we claim it to be satanic. Native Americans for example were portrayed as wild savages who worship the devil. This was not entirely true, the worshipped the earth that gave them their food and water. Some were savages, but most likely only because they were exposed to something they had never seen before (the white man)
Ethics – is it right to call something we just heard satanic? How much satanic music did we have at the time to compare rock too?
Rock n' Roll
Owens, Damon. Rikas, Jennifer. “Why do you think some people believe that rock music is from hell?” 20th January, 2010.
Why do some people believe that rock ‘n roll is from hell? Some would say that during the time period when rock ‘n roll first came out it was so ground breaking and different that people did not know how to react. “When rock came onto the music scene it shocked the senses of music listeners everywhere.” Rock ‘n roll music was a completely different turn from music at the time, “the ‘live fast die hard’ mentality of a rocker was baffling to the public and they didn’t understand it.” So thus since rock was viewed as the cause of this rise in an ok mind set for drugs and sex, people labeled it as satanic music. This however only increased the marketability of rock ‘n roll to the rebellious youth. Jennifer declared that “when I was young rock ‘n roll wasn’t allowed in the house, so naturally I loved it!” The youth were the main following of rock on its up rise, but even though it was frowned upon by the older more mature citizens it did not stop the enormous amount of sales that rock did and still continues to bring in. “Owning a Kiss album then was like having a car now, without one it was hard to be cool.” So overall was it the shock that it had to the music scene that made people jump the gun on rock? Or was a true honest belief that people thought it was form hell?
Questions:
Why do we always have to say music is from a certain location not a person?
Is rock considered still to be from hell in today’s society?
How much has rock affected the music scene?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Believing for so long that sex and drugs are the work of the devil, and then being shocked into hearing it on the radio would definitely make some people believe it is the work of the devil.
Language – the connotation of sex and drugs with the devil is undoubtedly what caused the belief that rock is satanic music.
Sense perception – hearing music like rock ‘n roll, when and jazz bands and swing were the norm, would be an awakening to any music lover.
Emotion – rock most likely made many people angry that music like this was being exposed to the general public, because it was viewed as satanic. People did not want their children exposed to it.
Areas of Knowledge:
Art – this is most definitely an art form, because music is a method of personal expression in a form that not everyone else can present.
Human sciences – it is normal for humans to be offended or afraid by something that they have never seen or heard before, and thus they make it out to be something terrible.
Natural sciences – in nature when something is foreign animals tend to stay away from it, or attack it to prove dominance, but it is usually the young that give it a chance. This in a way is like how we treated rock. We shunned it from society and only the young and curious took a liking to it.
History – History shows that when presented with something we have never seen before we claim it to be satanic. Native Americans for example were portrayed as wild savages who worship the devil. This was not entirely true, the worshipped the earth that gave them their food and water. Some were savages, but most likely only because they were exposed to something they had never seen before (the white man)
Ethics – is it right to call something we just heard satanic? How much satanic music did we have at the time to compare rock too?
Why do some people believe that rock ‘n roll is from hell? Some would say that during the time period when rock ‘n roll first came out it was so ground breaking and different that people did not know how to react. “When rock came onto the music scene it shocked the senses of music listeners everywhere.” Rock ‘n roll music was a completely different turn from music at the time, “the ‘live fast die hard’ mentality of a rocker was baffling to the public and they didn’t understand it.” So thus since rock was viewed as the cause of this rise in an ok mind set for drugs and sex, people labeled it as satanic music. This however only increased the marketability of rock ‘n roll to the rebellious youth. Jennifer declared that “when I was young rock ‘n roll wasn’t allowed in the house, so naturally I loved it!” The youth were the main following of rock on its up rise, but even though it was frowned upon by the older more mature citizens it did not stop the enormous amount of sales that rock did and still continues to bring in. “Owning a Kiss album then was like having a car now, without one it was hard to be cool.” So overall was it the shock that it had to the music scene that made people jump the gun on rock? Or was a true honest belief that people thought it was form hell?
Questions:
Why do we always have to say music is from a certain location not a person?
Is rock considered still to be from hell in today’s society?
How much has rock affected the music scene?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Believing for so long that sex and drugs are the work of the devil, and then being shocked into hearing it on the radio would definitely make some people believe it is the work of the devil.
Language – the connotation of sex and drugs with the devil is undoubtedly what caused the belief that rock is satanic music.
Sense perception – hearing music like rock ‘n roll, when and jazz bands and swing were the norm, would be an awakening to any music lover.
Emotion – rock most likely made many people angry that music like this was being exposed to the general public, because it was viewed as satanic. People did not want their children exposed to it.
Areas of Knowledge:
Art – this is most definitely an art form, because music is a method of personal expression in a form that not everyone else can present.
Human sciences – it is normal for humans to be offended or afraid by something that they have never seen or heard before, and thus they make it out to be something terrible.
Natural sciences – in nature when something is foreign animals tend to stay away from it, or attack it to prove dominance, but it is usually the young that give it a chance. This in a way is like how we treated rock. We shunned it from society and only the young and curious took a liking to it.
History – History shows that when presented with something we have never seen before we claim it to be satanic. Native Americans for example were portrayed as wild savages who worship the devil. This was not entirely true, the worshipped the earth that gave them their food and water. Some were savages, but most likely only because they were exposed to something they had never seen before (the white man)
Ethics – is it right to call something we just heard satanic? How much satanic music did we have at the time to compare rock too?
ADHD
Carson, Cat. History & Discovery of ADHD. 16 November 2009. http://www.ehow.com/about_5071166_history-discovery-adhd.html
In 1980, in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) first included diagnostic criteria for ADD/ADHD. However, the administration of amphetamines to control ADD/ADHD behaviors started in the 1968 when “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood,” (later to be called ADD/ADHD) was first listed in the DSM.
Though mind and mood altering drugs have been a part of the human experience since the beginning of recorded time, the proliferation of such drugs undoubtedly started in the 1960’s. The United States was in a conflict with which the American people did not agree. The American youth snubbed its nose at society norms and so began our in-depth journey through the purple haze of drugs.
It is not so much the history of ADD/ADHD or the history of drugs that is so interesting, but that the increase in drug use and the increase in ADD/ADHD diagnosis seemed to follow just a few years later. The National Association for Children of Alcoholics advises that children of addicts have elevated rates of ADD/ADHD.
Has our desire to find the perfect high so changed our genetic makeup that our offspring now pay the price for our carousing?
History of ADHD by Cat Carson
http://www.ehow.com/about_5071166_history-discovery-adhd.html
http://www.drug-rehabs.org/drughistory.php
http://www.hopenetworks.org/addiction/Children%20of%20Addicts.html
Questions:
If parents knew the effects it would have on their children would it have stopped them from doing the drugs / alcohol?
Knowing the risks, why do parents still do drugs?
Should the children, having no control over there disorder, receive some kind of special treatment?
Ways Of Knowing:
Reason – The search for the ultimate rush, or the ultimate high, is possibly THE quest for humans to accomplish. While self-actualization is what we desire, a drug high will tide us over.
Sense perception – Today drugs are turned to as more of a coping mechanism, as opposed to pure recreation. Many people today brag about their drug use, or aren’t afraid to flaunt it. They have no regard for what may come of their children, due to their choices.
Emotion – Children have the right to be angry with their parents for leaving them at a disadvantage. But is getting mad at ones parents going to solve anything or just breed jealousy?
Language – Would ADHD be so bad if we did not call it a disorder? Many children with ADHD have an above average IQ, and are very social. What if not having ADHD is the disorder?
Areas of Knowledge:
Ethics – Why should the children be the ones to suffer when the parents committed the act?
Natural Science – Man will always search for a quick and easy way to feel good. The end, in this case, justifies the means.
Human Sciences – ADHD is a “disorder” that reduces blood flow to the part of the brain that deals with concentration and the ability to be calm. This disorder is believed to be, in part, due to the drug and alcohol intake of the parent.
History – ADHD has not been around long, or at least its title has not. But who is to say that disorders due to the drug or alcohol intake of the parent have not been an anomaly of the past.
In 1980, in the American Psychiatric Association's (APA) Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) first included diagnostic criteria for ADD/ADHD. However, the administration of amphetamines to control ADD/ADHD behaviors started in the 1968 when “hyperkinetic reaction of childhood,” (later to be called ADD/ADHD) was first listed in the DSM.
Though mind and mood altering drugs have been a part of the human experience since the beginning of recorded time, the proliferation of such drugs undoubtedly started in the 1960’s. The United States was in a conflict with which the American people did not agree. The American youth snubbed its nose at society norms and so began our in-depth journey through the purple haze of drugs.
It is not so much the history of ADD/ADHD or the history of drugs that is so interesting, but that the increase in drug use and the increase in ADD/ADHD diagnosis seemed to follow just a few years later. The National Association for Children of Alcoholics advises that children of addicts have elevated rates of ADD/ADHD.
Has our desire to find the perfect high so changed our genetic makeup that our offspring now pay the price for our carousing?
History of ADHD by Cat Carson
http://www.ehow.com/about_5071166_history-discovery-adhd.html
http://www.drug-rehabs.org/drughistory.php
http://www.hopenetworks.org/addiction/Children%20of%20Addicts.html
Questions:
If parents knew the effects it would have on their children would it have stopped them from doing the drugs / alcohol?
Knowing the risks, why do parents still do drugs?
Should the children, having no control over there disorder, receive some kind of special treatment?
Ways Of Knowing:
Reason – The search for the ultimate rush, or the ultimate high, is possibly THE quest for humans to accomplish. While self-actualization is what we desire, a drug high will tide us over.
Sense perception – Today drugs are turned to as more of a coping mechanism, as opposed to pure recreation. Many people today brag about their drug use, or aren’t afraid to flaunt it. They have no regard for what may come of their children, due to their choices.
Emotion – Children have the right to be angry with their parents for leaving them at a disadvantage. But is getting mad at ones parents going to solve anything or just breed jealousy?
Language – Would ADHD be so bad if we did not call it a disorder? Many children with ADHD have an above average IQ, and are very social. What if not having ADHD is the disorder?
Areas of Knowledge:
Ethics – Why should the children be the ones to suffer when the parents committed the act?
Natural Science – Man will always search for a quick and easy way to feel good. The end, in this case, justifies the means.
Human Sciences – ADHD is a “disorder” that reduces blood flow to the part of the brain that deals with concentration and the ability to be calm. This disorder is believed to be, in part, due to the drug and alcohol intake of the parent.
History – ADHD has not been around long, or at least its title has not. But who is to say that disorders due to the drug or alcohol intake of the parent have not been an anomaly of the past.
Fortune
"Humor usually works in the moment of akwardness" I feel that this fortune fits me perfectly. The moment of akwardness is when everyone is most uncomfortable, and laughter is always welcome by everyone. So naturally when everyone feels uncomfortable laughter would be something they could all appreciate, and would be gratefully accepted as a way out of the akwardness.
Friday, April 30, 2010
quotes
"Contempt is the emotion we feel for an opponent whose arguments are to formidable to refute."
- from "1984"
- from "1984"
My car
My car was torched by my mother recently. She hooked up jumper cables to the wrong parts of the battery (positive to negative, and negative to positive) and fried several parts to my car including the starter and alternator. So after much reluctance and testing by my step-dad, he finally gave in and had it taken to a shop, they found many problems with the car and hopefully they will all be fixed and I can finally have a car.
Frankenstein
Ever since I began to like Frankenstein, I have been seeing things that remind me of it. A few nights ago I was driving during a full moon, after noticing how bright the moon was, the very second I noticed, my first thought was "the bright sphere from heaven" which is from the Frankenstein book. Later that night I was playing a video game and I was at the end of a long mission/ quest/ objective (whatever you want to call it) and I had to build a monster from different parts of a body and infuse it with life (dark I know but the game is not centered around this, I just killed the first one and the person who created the first one demanded that I help her make another). So later that night I gave in to the fact that Frankenstein references were everywhere, and wrote the song to be used in mine and my partner's Frankenstein extra credit video.
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Red Hot Chili Peppers
This band is by far my favorite, still touring, band. I love how the blues combines with the funk and rock. Its a music that helps my creativity and inspires all kinds of emotions. Specifically the song "Snow (Hey Oh)" I am currently listening too whilst I write this blog. John Frusciante though suffered from nearly lethal drug addicition, was able to pull through, rehabilitate, and become the closest guitarist to Hendrix since.... Hendrix. Frusciante is one of my biggest influences as we all hendrix, jimi page, Slash, and Jack White. These men helped me to discover the sound that I love to play and love to hear. His guitar riffs are actually some of the most inspiring I have ever learned and help me to practice so many guitar playing techniques.
john butler trio "used to get high"
Butler, John. “Used to Get High.” (performed by) John Butler, Bryon Luiters, Nicky Bomba. CD format (Album name Grand National). Split production between John Butler himself and Mario Caldato Jr. (Beastie Boys Tone Loc), released on 24 March, 2007 in Australia, and 27 March, 2007 Worldwide.
My reaction to this piece of music, “Used to Get High” By John Butler Trio, at first was one of ignorance because I thought it was just another song about getting high. However after listening to the song many times I began to realize that the drugs were a metaphor for the government’s propaganda. The song seems to be about drug abuse and coming clean. However, I believe that it is about becoming numb or oblivious to what the government is doing to the people under its jurisdiction. “I used to get high for a living, believing everything I saw one my TV” shows how he used to be numb to the government’s propaganda, and was unaware of “the monster that (hes) feeding.” After he “comes clean” so to speak he realizes what is really going on in the world. For instance he realized “Big business do what they like and you do what they say,” that applies to what AIG was accused of doing after their stimulus package, they spent the stimulus package on bonuses for the CEOs. “Got links of the Cheney getting crazy, getting lazy with their foreign relations. Starting wars, closing doors…” shows that due to the lack of foreign relations wars are being started and doors for alliances are being closed to America. In a blog post concerning this song and its meaning one person named “Kizza” has derived the same rationale as I have (http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858668760/). He speaks of how the lyrics speak to how the government is trying to cover up all the negative effects they are having on America threw positive propaganda and not airing all parts of a new story etc.
This music would be considered to be in more of the modern movement, with a seventies appeal. The laid back style and feel of the music gives it a seventies sound, but the lyrics are on modern topics, for example talking about the ineffectiveness of the government, and its inability to provide wise and successful rule of its people. In the past the FBI has declassified information proving that the government has completely lied to the U.S. people. For example a 250 page document was declassified concerning a plane crash in 1948 that was ACCTUALLY caused by poor maintenance of the aircraft and poor training of the pilot. This was covered up for “National Security” as the government said. Would it make you angry to know that your government is hiding things from you? Or perhaps afraid of what could be so bad that they believe we shouldn’t know. Propaganda and campaign ads that don’t tell the whole truth along with bias news stations and radio hosts are all fuel for warping how people view the world, and what is going on in it. These all assure that people only see what can help the government succeed, be portrayed in the best light, or even forgotten in times of crisis when they fail to solve the problem and make it worse.
By: Damon Owens
My reaction to this piece of music, “Used to Get High” By John Butler Trio, at first was one of ignorance because I thought it was just another song about getting high. However after listening to the song many times I began to realize that the drugs were a metaphor for the government’s propaganda. The song seems to be about drug abuse and coming clean. However, I believe that it is about becoming numb or oblivious to what the government is doing to the people under its jurisdiction. “I used to get high for a living, believing everything I saw one my TV” shows how he used to be numb to the government’s propaganda, and was unaware of “the monster that (hes) feeding.” After he “comes clean” so to speak he realizes what is really going on in the world. For instance he realized “Big business do what they like and you do what they say,” that applies to what AIG was accused of doing after their stimulus package, they spent the stimulus package on bonuses for the CEOs. “Got links of the Cheney getting crazy, getting lazy with their foreign relations. Starting wars, closing doors…” shows that due to the lack of foreign relations wars are being started and doors for alliances are being closed to America. In a blog post concerning this song and its meaning one person named “Kizza” has derived the same rationale as I have (http://www.songmeanings.net/songs/view/3530822107858668760/). He speaks of how the lyrics speak to how the government is trying to cover up all the negative effects they are having on America threw positive propaganda and not airing all parts of a new story etc.
This music would be considered to be in more of the modern movement, with a seventies appeal. The laid back style and feel of the music gives it a seventies sound, but the lyrics are on modern topics, for example talking about the ineffectiveness of the government, and its inability to provide wise and successful rule of its people. In the past the FBI has declassified information proving that the government has completely lied to the U.S. people. For example a 250 page document was declassified concerning a plane crash in 1948 that was ACCTUALLY caused by poor maintenance of the aircraft and poor training of the pilot. This was covered up for “National Security” as the government said. Would it make you angry to know that your government is hiding things from you? Or perhaps afraid of what could be so bad that they believe we shouldn’t know. Propaganda and campaign ads that don’t tell the whole truth along with bias news stations and radio hosts are all fuel for warping how people view the world, and what is going on in it. These all assure that people only see what can help the government succeed, be portrayed in the best light, or even forgotten in times of crisis when they fail to solve the problem and make it worse.
By: Damon Owens
Friday, April 23, 2010
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
pretending
Vasquez, Alexandria. “People’s consistent need to fit in seems counterproductive.” 30/4/2010. http://www.uncmirror.com/opinions/people-s-consistent-need-to-fit-in-seems-counterproductive-1.1111568
Is the need to fit in preventing concentration on tasks that people are assigned? Many people, especially students, obviously place higher value on their social status than their studies or the job at hand. However what is even more troubling is that they feel that it is the right thing to do. Many consider faking to like someone will end up helping them in the end, because of the other friendships that are earned through that fake friendship. Like pretending to like someone, pretending to be something one is not is also a problem. Pretending to hate a certain person or a certain band just to gain friends is lying to one’s self and would seem to prevent happiness. In the article “People’s consistent need to fit in seems counterproductive” it is explained that “people feel the need to fit into the mold because of the fear of rejection.” This makes much sense seeing as how humans are social animals; we need social interaction and acceptance or we can go into a very dangerous depression. Lastly I agree with the last statement from this article which is “… if your pretending to be someone your aren’t just to say in the good graces of your so-called friends, maybe you should re-evaluate who you are hanging out with.”
Questions:
Is it fair for the people that are pretended to be liked?
Is it in anyway rewarding to the soul to pretend to be something you’re not?
Is it truly more beneficial in the long to be something you’re not, or yourself?
Do people know that they are receiving fake acceptance or love?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Many people see it to be beneficial later in life if they make many friends. In an economic since they weighed their costs and benefits and chose that they would be better off faking who they are to make friendships. Some would say that the costs of losing touch with ones true self is too great, and prefer to just be themselves.
Language – How we talk to others is an example of how we change ourselves to fit in. Using our language to mimic that of others makes them more comfortable and easy to get along with. If our languages were different then making friends would be much harder and fitting in would be next to impossible.
Perception – Peoples actions reflect how they act and talk to those around them. Mimicking people’s actions would allow you to be more like them and make them more comfortable with being your friend. However this sometimes requires on to pretend to act as the other person.
Emotion – Faking love is also seen in people wanting to fit in. Fitting in with certain people means breaking many hearts, or having sex with many people. People do this so that they can have friends to talk to. However because they do these things doesn’t mean that they want to do it, they just aren’t sure of another way to make friends.
Areas of Knowledge:
Natural Sciences – Many animals give displays of their power to be able to join a group of other animals. This makes sure that the animal trying to join will not hold the rest of them back.
Human Sciences – Humans are social animals. We need social interaction and love to be able to function properly. Some need less than others but all need it. Acceptance is what we strive for; fake or not we still receive it.
Ethics – can we justify giving those something they need (acceptance) and it be fake?
History – fake love has been around since the beginning. Arranged marriages were the first form. Parents would arrange for their children to marry just so that profitable ties would be formed, and help secure the future of both of the families.
Is the need to fit in preventing concentration on tasks that people are assigned? Many people, especially students, obviously place higher value on their social status than their studies or the job at hand. However what is even more troubling is that they feel that it is the right thing to do. Many consider faking to like someone will end up helping them in the end, because of the other friendships that are earned through that fake friendship. Like pretending to like someone, pretending to be something one is not is also a problem. Pretending to hate a certain person or a certain band just to gain friends is lying to one’s self and would seem to prevent happiness. In the article “People’s consistent need to fit in seems counterproductive” it is explained that “people feel the need to fit into the mold because of the fear of rejection.” This makes much sense seeing as how humans are social animals; we need social interaction and acceptance or we can go into a very dangerous depression. Lastly I agree with the last statement from this article which is “… if your pretending to be someone your aren’t just to say in the good graces of your so-called friends, maybe you should re-evaluate who you are hanging out with.”
Questions:
Is it fair for the people that are pretended to be liked?
Is it in anyway rewarding to the soul to pretend to be something you’re not?
Is it truly more beneficial in the long to be something you’re not, or yourself?
Do people know that they are receiving fake acceptance or love?
Ways of Knowing:
Reason – Many people see it to be beneficial later in life if they make many friends. In an economic since they weighed their costs and benefits and chose that they would be better off faking who they are to make friendships. Some would say that the costs of losing touch with ones true self is too great, and prefer to just be themselves.
Language – How we talk to others is an example of how we change ourselves to fit in. Using our language to mimic that of others makes them more comfortable and easy to get along with. If our languages were different then making friends would be much harder and fitting in would be next to impossible.
Perception – Peoples actions reflect how they act and talk to those around them. Mimicking people’s actions would allow you to be more like them and make them more comfortable with being your friend. However this sometimes requires on to pretend to act as the other person.
Emotion – Faking love is also seen in people wanting to fit in. Fitting in with certain people means breaking many hearts, or having sex with many people. People do this so that they can have friends to talk to. However because they do these things doesn’t mean that they want to do it, they just aren’t sure of another way to make friends.
Areas of Knowledge:
Natural Sciences – Many animals give displays of their power to be able to join a group of other animals. This makes sure that the animal trying to join will not hold the rest of them back.
Human Sciences – Humans are social animals. We need social interaction and love to be able to function properly. Some need less than others but all need it. Acceptance is what we strive for; fake or not we still receive it.
Ethics – can we justify giving those something they need (acceptance) and it be fake?
History – fake love has been around since the beginning. Arranged marriages were the first form. Parents would arrange for their children to marry just so that profitable ties would be formed, and help secure the future of both of the families.
Monday, March 29, 2010
My car, a cool innovation
My grandad has a friend who is looking to sell a 95 jetta with a grease kit on it. He told me this and I had no idea what it was. So we went out to look at it and it looked like a box on wheels, I mean i really did not like it, but since they were friends I had to pretend like it was in the runned to be my car. So we took it out for a drive and he explained to me what the grease kit is and does. Apparently this grease kit can use fry oil from like little "mom and pop" shops and get up to 50 miles to the gallon by using it, as long as the engine is hot enought to burn the fuel. Also it ran on diesel fuel and got 50 miles to the gallon on that as well. So in the summer I could go to China in this car without having to fill up, but it was one of the most unasthetically pleasing cars I have ever seen, so in the end I am going to wait til thursday and look at other cars. So yet again I have to wait to get a car.
Reflection of MSND scrapbook
The scrapbook was probably my favorite project because of the "above and beyond" I got to perform. I performed the final speech Robin gave in the play in a fairy costume. I had so much fun making the video. The group gave me some crap for not helping overly on the scrapbook, but I was the one that gave us the ability to get more than a C on the scrapbook, so I think I did my part.
I wish we had been required to perform something in front of the class because its easier to get a good grade on a project when something embarassing has to be done that your not embarassed to do. I would have loved to have acted out our portion of the play in front of the class, but my group did not want to be subject to that kind of ridicule I suppose.
I wish we had been required to perform something in front of the class because its easier to get a good grade on a project when something embarassing has to be done that your not embarassed to do. I would have loved to have acted out our portion of the play in front of the class, but my group did not want to be subject to that kind of ridicule I suppose.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
My car, the verdict
I recieved the mans message and he told me that, just as I expected, nothing is wrong with the car and he believes that they forgot to reset the light after an oil change or something. So that pretty much seals the deal for me.... Im not going to buy that car. I looked into previous problems with 95 infiniti's and one of them was a problem that led to a fire starting in the passanger side of the vehicle, and whilst me and my mom were driving we smelled something burning but cast it aside as a smell from outside the car. So, all in all I would rather not spend 3400 dollars on a car that will catch my passengers on fire.
Also my mother said that a friend f my grandmother's is going to look up especially for me cars in my set range and quality cars, right now its up to 41 cars. This will be done by thursday, and we were originally going to have me checked out and go get them, but since we must have a doctors not I must wait even longer to get a car, and burden my friends with rides all the time.
Also my mother said that a friend f my grandmother's is going to look up especially for me cars in my set range and quality cars, right now its up to 41 cars. This will be done by thursday, and we were originally going to have me checked out and go get them, but since we must have a doctors not I must wait even longer to get a car, and burden my friends with rides all the time.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
My car, the problem
My grandmother found out through some of her friends who have purchased cars from that specific dealer that he is a bad dealer. He sold them cars with similar issues, such as the check engine light being on. Later on after driving the car for awhile, and his promise that he had the car checked out, their cars broke down and they had to spend hundreds to get the car fixed. So needless to say the man is not a reputable dealer and my grandmother does not want me to buy the car from him.
The car however has everything I want:its roomy, has all leather interior, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, CD player, and interior wood finish. It is exactly what I want down to a T, so I may still buy the car. However I would believe him more if he told me that there was a minor problem but they had it fixed no problem.
The car however has everything I want:its roomy, has all leather interior, power windows, power locks, power mirrors, CD player, and interior wood finish. It is exactly what I want down to a T, so I may still buy the car. However I would believe him more if he told me that there was a minor problem but they had it fixed no problem.
My car, round 3
Today me and mom went out to look at some local dealerships for a car and we came upon one dealership that had a beautiful infiniti for 3900. We went inside to talk to the man about it and he said since we were going to pay cash out right that he could lower the price to 3400 so we were really excited about that. However my mom was unsure of the quality of the car so we called my grandad and he told us that infiniti was made by nissan so the engines were good, which was great news to me. After finding out this information me and mom took it for a test drive to my uncle's house. It handled like a dream and had a V6 engine so needless to say it got it done on the straight aways. So we arrived at my uncles house and he, being a police officer, took the car for a real test drive. He took turns really hard, and floored it in all straight aways checking to see if any problems occured. The car passed completely however we did notice a check engine light was on in the car so we went to check it out at auto-zone but they did not have the equpment to check the car. So reluctantly we drove the car back and told the man about the problem and he said he would have his shop take a look at it and tell us before noon tomorrow.
Friday, March 26, 2010
My car, round 2
We were recently told that there was a toyota celica that was being sold for 1500. I was extremely excited because this is an older sports car, and it was a really cool looking car. So we go out to whitesville to look at the car and there was already a couple there, it was an old man and old woman whom I thought were actualy selling the car. However it turned out that were looking to buy the car aswell. It was really rather upsetting because there was a used car dealership just down the road that the guy could have gone to to get a car, but he would rather have this car for his 41 YEAR OLD WIFE!!! The man selling the car even said, and I quote, "This is a perfect teenager car, it really is" you would think that would be a hint to the old man that the guy selling the car wanted me to have it. However in the end after a small bidding war the man won the car because I refused to go over 2600 (which is 600 more than the car is blue booked for). Although it was a small victory because going by what the man said when we were at an 1800 dollar price tag "my wife has to have a car" I recalled that and just raised the price to 2500 so he would have to spend more to get it, I never actually intended to pay that much for the car but I just wanted it to not be a steal for him. I mean the car had 244000 miles on it and he was buying it as a reliable car for his wife so that she could go back and forth to work. He'll just be spending more for another car very soon.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
My car
I have been trying to get a car for quite awhile. I have been able, over time, I have been able to raise 1200 dollars to get myself a car and my family found that to be a noble effort, but they knew for that money I would not be able to get a car that would last through college. So my grandmother gave me 5000 dollars to put towards my car, insurance, new tires, etc. so that I would be able to get a reliable car for myself. However, before she gave me this car she made me sign a contract saying that: I will not talk on my phone or text while I drive; I will not drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs; I will not drive with more than 3 people in the car; I will not speed; I will always drive with my seatbelt on; lastly I will not drive without insurance and a license because it is the law. All these things I find to be easy to follow and easily followed, however she felt much better after I signed this contract.
So now me and my mother have been out looking for cars, and at first I had already been looking and found a 97 Honda Accord that I really liked. The miles, however, had been rolled back so no one knows how many miles are on the car (later found out was 177000) AND they had raised the advertised price by 1000 dollars. So needless to say my mom did not let me buy that car, and we are still looking.
So now me and my mother have been out looking for cars, and at first I had already been looking and found a 97 Honda Accord that I really liked. The miles, however, had been rolled back so no one knows how many miles are on the car (later found out was 177000) AND they had raised the advertised price by 1000 dollars. So needless to say my mom did not let me buy that car, and we are still looking.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Reflection of MSND
Mid Summer Nights Dream is a play that invoked so many emotions. Anger, depression, sadness, and happiness. Anger or all the work that had to be done upon reading this play. Depression for all the time i did not get to spend doing things that I wanted to do, beacuse off all the work that had to be done on this play, as far as papers and reflections such as this one. Sadness because I was not able to participate with some of my friends senior activities because I had to work on my english homework. Happiness because this play gave me a look into truly amazing work of art. It allowed me to bare witness to a truly legendary playwright, and with McDs guidance I was able to understand this play which made it that much more interesting.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Drive
"When someone tells me there is only one way to do things, that lights a fire under my butt. My Instant reaction is, I'm gonna prove you wrong." -Picabo Street
I was amazed when I found a quote that describes how I go about attaining my drive down to a T. When someone says there is no other way, I work and work until I find another way to accomplish the task
I was amazed when I found a quote that describes how I go about attaining my drive down to a T. When someone says there is no other way, I work and work until I find another way to accomplish the task
Theory of Knowledge
"I am the wisest man alive, for I know one thing, and that is that I know nothing." - Socrates
This quote is a direct summary of the class Theory of Knowledge. Justifying ones knowledge is unimaginably hard, almost impossible, except justifying that you do not know anything.
This quote is a direct summary of the class Theory of Knowledge. Justifying ones knowledge is unimaginably hard, almost impossible, except justifying that you do not know anything.
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Nerds
I once read a quote that really changed the way I think about people in school: "Be nice to nerds, chances are you will be working for one" this is quoted from Bill Gates. Before I read this I only made friends with people who were like me, however this quote aroused my desire to be successful, which in turn made me come out of my shell and become much more outgoing to all kinds of people, not just 'nerds'.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Insightful Quotes
"You can never solve a problem with the same thinking that created the problem in the first place." - Albert Einstein
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Success
"The only place success comes before work is the dictionary." - Donald Kendall
I love quotes that have a deeper message by calling on a detail most people do not notice.
I love quotes that have a deeper message by calling on a detail most people do not notice.
Education
"Why get an education? How do you convince anyone you are worth anything if you don't invest in yourself?" - Dr. Danielle Babb
This quote made me reflect on my desire to recieve an education in other terms than just to have an education. I would not buy a product that someone else put no thought into, so why would I expect an employer to hire me if I took no time to make myself a good hire.
This quote made me reflect on my desire to recieve an education in other terms than just to have an education. I would not buy a product that someone else put no thought into, so why would I expect an employer to hire me if I took no time to make myself a good hire.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Application of abilities
"The winners in life constantly think in terms of I can, I will, and I am. Losers, on the other hand, concentrate their waking thoughts on what they should have or would have done, or what they can't do." - Denis Waitley
This quote greatly reminds me of my step father. He always says what he should have done, that he has the ability to do anything but he cannot now.
This quote greatly reminds me of my step father. He always says what he should have done, that he has the ability to do anything but he cannot now.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Rock 'n Roll... Hell's music?
I recently interview a cousin of mine who is in on the music scene about why rock 'n roll was seen as Satan's music.
Why do some people believe that rock ‘n roll is from hell? Some would say that during the time period when rock ‘n roll first came out it was so ground breaking and different that people did not know how to react. “When rock came onto the music scene it shocked the senses of music listeners everywhere.” Rock ‘n roll music was a completely different turn from music at the time, “the ‘live fast die hard’ mentality of a rocker was baffling to the public and they didn’t understand it.” So thus since rock was viewed as the cause of this rise in an ok mind set for drugs and sex, people labeled it as satanic music. This however only increased the marketability of rock ‘n roll to the rebellious youth. Jennifer declared that “when I was young rock ‘n roll wasn’t allowed in the house, so naturally I loved it!” The youth were the main following of rock on its up rise, but even though it was frowned upon by the older more mature citizens it did not stop the enormous amount of sales that rock did and still continues to bring in. “Owning a Kiss album then was like having a car now, without one it was hard to be cool.” So overall was it the shock that it had to the music scene that made people jump the gun on rock? Or was a true honest belief that people thought it was form hell?
Going by this it seems that it is just a case of being something new and foreign thus the adults don't know how to react and the rebellious teens love it.work
Why should we work? Should we not be able to get a sense of accomplishment by just living a long and happy life. At least not do things for money and do them for the betterment of society. I believe that if everyone did their work for the betterment of society that we could be a utopia. However greed, jealousy, envy, etc. prevent us from accomplishing these goals. The human races juvenile thought that we have to be the best prevents us from being just that. After all one man in the army with the weapons to fight in a war and the rest of the men in his army have sticks, the war is lost. However if everyone in the army has the weapons and technology to win then we shall win. The steps to make this utopia are impossible to achieve due to one man having to have the powers of a totalitarian dictator so that the arrangements can be made for humanity in a timely manner. This meaning that once that is accomplished that person would have to step down, which would never happen. In government today for a bill to be passed it first has to be proposed, then debated, then bashed by the media, then debated again, then filibustered, then edited, then debated again and again, then maybe JUST MAYBE it will get passed or vetoed back to start most of the process over again. Bottom line is there really is only one way to make everyone happy and that is to have a utopia, which will never happen and thus EVERYONE cannot be happy.
School closings
Schools should be more up to date with their school closings. If they are going to close school, at least have the dignity to do it the night before so the kids can be aware of their free day and be able to have fun. Schools once again trying to rob children of socializing time by issuing this one hour delay tactic to keep the parents from letting the kids go anywhere and making the children still do their homework when really they could have an extra day to do it. At times like today there is no way we should be having school tomorrow because all the back roads and neighborhood roads are in terrible condition. In fact I have almost ran into a light pole twice since the ice was laid down and everything frozen over. So going to school whenever there is so much ice all over the roads is just ridiculous to even fathom for a superintendent, especially when the high for tomorrow is not over 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step parents or Roomates?
Why are step parents more like room mates that rent out the apartment? You don't really know them that well and when they try to get to know you they eventually get fed up and play the "I pay the bills" or "while your living under my roof...." cards, which does nothing but increase the distance between the two of you. In the end step parents are really like the lease holding room mate that you pay rent to. You don't really like them but you try to make friends with them so they will ease up on the rent charges. They are like the rich friend you bring along to hang out with all your not rich friends because they can't make friends on their own because they are too snobby. It is also odd when they come into your relationship with your friends and try to say things they know about you that are completely off and but they seem like they know what they are talking about so you have to make them look like a fool in front of your friends and him/her be mad at you or let him/her be right and pretend to be something your not in front of your friends. All in all step parents should not try to come into a step child's life because they don't really know the child.
Tokyo
I ate Tokyo for the first time today and it was quite delicious. The yum yum sauce that I used to smother my rice and everything else in was especially inviting and polite to my taste buds. I have eaten at Shogun and New China Buffet, but Tokyo takes the cake as far as price, quality and speed of the food getting to my mouth. i bragged about it so much in fact by parents had me return to Tokyo for more of it for them. However since a friend and I drove there I did not take mental notes on the location of this fine establishment. So I was driving around frederica looking for the place to pick up, what was now, my parents hour old food. When I returned I was welcomed into the warm loving care of insults to my intelligence from my stepfather and the worry of my mother for my safety. However I was the true winner here because not only had I received Tokyo earlier that day, but I also stopped at Dairy Queen for directions and got a blizzard for my travels.
If I could be any animal
If I could be any animal I wanted I would be a koala. These awesome creatures sleep 23 hours a day. Not only that, but when they are awake they eat only eucalyptus leaves which gets them high. Also in that one hour is when they mate. So all in all the koala lives the greatest most fulfilling life of any animal ever made. They sleep 23 hours a day and only wake up to have sex and get high. They have no need for the hustle and bustle of city life, all they need is a eucalyptus tree, a pretty girl koala and a pillow and they are set for life (don't even really need the pillow). On top of that they live IN the tree so they are out of reach of most predators so they just don't move and live a long and very happy life.
New song
I wrote a new song recently that has a very intergalactic, psychedelic sound to it. Which made me wonder how do sounds affect what we feel and the images that they bring to mind. More up beat music brings to mind happiness and joy, while slower music may still bring happiness, but also make us reflect on what we have done in the past, and possibly bring us sadness. It is interesting to me because how can a sound inspire an image or how something with no shape can make one think of something with definite shape? These things are all a part of what I believe makes music such a desirable commodity. Music allows the mind to travel to a place that is whatever we want it to be. Listening to music that you like, lets the mind travel to a place with the mentality of the music your listening to. For example, mellow music may bring the mind to a beach or 80s hair metal may bring you to the top of a volcano, as you shred a guitar solo while riding a lightning bolt pulled by flying horses with flames hooves. Which ever scenario we crave at the time generates the desire to listen to that type of music.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
What is Ideal?
My ideal life would consist of me getting a full ride to Western Kentucky University and majoring in biochemistry and going into a pharmaceutical technician job. In this field I would start with a 100,000 dollar a year salary and be making medicinies for the general public. I would also like to have a minor in music and play stadium music in front of thousands of people. And my music gives the masses a new perspective on life and what is worth living for. I also see, ideally, that my girlfriend/wife will be an independent woman who will not be helpless without me. It would be nice if she could cook too.
As far as achieving these goals goes I believe that im am well on my way. I accel in the math and science aspect of school, and have a great desire to help and fix others. When I see someone with a problem I want to fix it, but at this point in my life I cannot because I lack the knowledge. However laughter is always helpful, and I am pretty funny. So hopefully with the knowledge I gain I will be able to use it to help others with problem that laughter cannot cure.
Musically speaking, I practice everyday and am always developing new material that I believe to be good. I have never taken a class to show me how to play guitar, I just figured it out. four to five hours a day of practice has granted me the ability to transfer the melodies in my head to the guitar, which is a truly incredible feeling when it happens. I still mess up when I play in front of people, but I warm up to the fact that they are there, eventually, and are no longer bothered by it. I have songs that I have written that people enjoy so much that I am asked to bring a guitar with me to people's houses to play for them, which is a large confidence booster for me. Lastly what is the most humbling is that multiple people have asked me, a person with no formal guitar knowledge, to teach them how to play the guitar. This gives me great pride in my disicpline and determination to learn how to play the guitar.
As far as achieving these goals goes I believe that im am well on my way. I accel in the math and science aspect of school, and have a great desire to help and fix others. When I see someone with a problem I want to fix it, but at this point in my life I cannot because I lack the knowledge. However laughter is always helpful, and I am pretty funny. So hopefully with the knowledge I gain I will be able to use it to help others with problem that laughter cannot cure.
Musically speaking, I practice everyday and am always developing new material that I believe to be good. I have never taken a class to show me how to play guitar, I just figured it out. four to five hours a day of practice has granted me the ability to transfer the melodies in my head to the guitar, which is a truly incredible feeling when it happens. I still mess up when I play in front of people, but I warm up to the fact that they are there, eventually, and are no longer bothered by it. I have songs that I have written that people enjoy so much that I am asked to bring a guitar with me to people's houses to play for them, which is a large confidence booster for me. Lastly what is the most humbling is that multiple people have asked me, a person with no formal guitar knowledge, to teach them how to play the guitar. This gives me great pride in my disicpline and determination to learn how to play the guitar.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Snow Days
This brief break from school gave me time to reflect.... on how blogging must have been invented by a depressed forty year old virgin who lives in his mothers basment, and needed someone to know of his unparalleled success at life thus far. I cannot think of anyone who really wants to know this much about people's lives. Blogging is like a library of knowledge for pedaphiles and stalker's; if you wanna know how many children someone has and what kind of candy and puppies their children like, why not check their blog? and it gives me carpal tunnel
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Crud
Jack frost seems to have flown his wintery crud everywhere. It is cold, wet and nasty. I am not a big fan of winter weather. I would prefer the hot sun, pool side with my guitar in hand. This snow crap is really not all that great on transporting my guitar either, as it gets out of tune. The good part, is when we get snowed in there is less things for me to be doing and more time to sit around and work on my music. I spent all day Thursday and Friday, both snow days, playing guitar.
Both of my stepbrothers have started playing now. I guess we will have to wait and see if they stick with it.
Both of my stepbrothers have started playing now. I guess we will have to wait and see if they stick with it.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
