"Contempt is the emotion we feel for an opponent whose arguments are to formidable to refute."
- from "1984"
Friday, April 30, 2010
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.
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