Many people today roll their eyes at what they perceive to be sensitivity... laughing, well snorting really (it isn't genuine laughter) at anything at all, no matter how dark the matter be. They complain that everyone is "too easily offended" and whoever takes the slightest shock or scoff or disgruntled stance is labeled "humorless."
"People need to lighten up," because they can't laugh at a joke about a dead baby. Or worse yet "People need to get a life," when they show the slightest provocation toward actually caring about something. Please everyone, get offended! You have a right to feel offended if someone belittles what is sacred to you. Odds are the person doing the belittling has nothing sacred to them. They are somehow embarrassed to have a soul.
Sense of humor implies sense. If you decide to laugh at anything because you're afraid people will think you aren't cool, you are as far removed from thinking as can be. You look stupid, not cynically savvy. If you can reason your own opinions, you wouldn't laugh at everything. Please, scoff, sneer, disdain, dislike, stand up, believe and GET OFFENDED.
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Best Quote Ever
No book is really worth reading at age of ten which is not equally (and often far more) worth reading at the age of fifty...Those of us who are blamed when old for reading childish books were blamed when children for reading books too old for us. No reader worth his salt trots along in obedience to a timetable.
-C.S. Lewis
-C.S. Lewis
Thursday, May 25, 2006
A Purple Glittering Must-Have Item
I am looking at these purple glittering spiderweb opera gloves that are still in their original package. Guilt weighs on me, heavy sigh...
It is not that I need an occasion (I don't think an appropriate one exists that warrants their wearing) but that I suppose I have mostly forgotten them, and when they catch my eye I never feel compelled to wear them. I felt very compelled to buy them. I remember the feeling, oh yes, "Purple glitter spiderweb opera gloves! Oooh, pretty, and they're on sale!"
Bad bad consumer, waster, wanter. Not that I am a minimalist by any means, though I admire that simple clean way of thought... I endow things I own with blessed appreciation and meaning, and love to be surrounded by beauty, and beauty, to me is eclectic and ornate. (translation = packrat) However, I do not like to own something never used, never worn, never given a thought. Bad.
I see but little recourse other than an ultimatum: Either these gloves glitter on my person within the month, or make a purple present to some deserving soul who will love them as needed.
I wonder if I can wear these to work?
It is not that I need an occasion (I don't think an appropriate one exists that warrants their wearing) but that I suppose I have mostly forgotten them, and when they catch my eye I never feel compelled to wear them. I felt very compelled to buy them. I remember the feeling, oh yes, "Purple glitter spiderweb opera gloves! Oooh, pretty, and they're on sale!"
Bad bad consumer, waster, wanter. Not that I am a minimalist by any means, though I admire that simple clean way of thought... I endow things I own with blessed appreciation and meaning, and love to be surrounded by beauty, and beauty, to me is eclectic and ornate. (translation = packrat) However, I do not like to own something never used, never worn, never given a thought. Bad.
I see but little recourse other than an ultimatum: Either these gloves glitter on my person within the month, or make a purple present to some deserving soul who will love them as needed.
I wonder if I can wear these to work?
Monday, May 22, 2006
One minute Desk Haiku
I just made up a new game (feel free to try it) wherein the goal is to create a Haiku in under one minute using something on the desk.
Vitamin power
A, C, E, in a large pill
Strength to take the train.
(You have to live in New York to get that one, I guess)
Vitamin power
A, C, E, in a large pill
Strength to take the train.
(You have to live in New York to get that one, I guess)
Higher Education
So lucky, the educated. So learned. We live in an enlightened age where, thanks to public libraries and student loans, education is there for the taking. Minimal struggle for even the poorest, most underprivileged individuals. Go and learn (or become employable.)
How many people do you know who have been to college?
Now, how many people do you know who have become better people because of it?
Now, really, how many people do you know who think they are better than other people because of it?
What have we learned? I know so many educated people who use their learning as a weapon, a point of contention, a vile act of snobbery, a means to the monetary and much worse. What became of wisdom?
Every person I know who attended an Ivy League or expensive school of reputation is compelled to mention where they went to school at least ten times a day. "I forgot to buy carrots - there's that Harvard education for you!" "This is the same kind of grass that grew on the ground when I was at Harvard." "Excuse me, I went to Harvard, do you have the time?"
Beg pardon, graduates, you are not leaving the impression that you think you are. A diploma is not a personality, nor the measure of your character, smart or no. People should not be arrogant about such things in this day and age, these schools are big and very old, by name indicating that it has all been done before! The compulsion to name-drop belies insecurity, and for that I have compassion. Undoubtedly there is hard work behind those high-falutin' educations, years of pressure and toil to emerge into a world you must think ready to bend to you, only to discover that Sally J. Housecoat took physics at Community College and John Q. Lunchbox read Ulysses for fun. And they see right through you. All that's left for you now is that internship at The New York Times, which you can impressively name-drop while you're at The New York Times or Harvard Alumni meetings. Your world gets smaller, and thus the chance for true knowledge diminishes even more.
Learning is the greatest thing we can do, school is a wonderful place to do it, but if you look down on other people who haven't had the advantage yet, you missed the point. If you are lucky enough to know, be grateful, and be ready for the many teachers yet to come. That'll learn ya.
How many people do you know who have been to college?
Now, how many people do you know who have become better people because of it?
Now, really, how many people do you know who think they are better than other people because of it?
What have we learned? I know so many educated people who use their learning as a weapon, a point of contention, a vile act of snobbery, a means to the monetary and much worse. What became of wisdom?
Every person I know who attended an Ivy League or expensive school of reputation is compelled to mention where they went to school at least ten times a day. "I forgot to buy carrots - there's that Harvard education for you!" "This is the same kind of grass that grew on the ground when I was at Harvard." "Excuse me, I went to Harvard, do you have the time?"
Beg pardon, graduates, you are not leaving the impression that you think you are. A diploma is not a personality, nor the measure of your character, smart or no. People should not be arrogant about such things in this day and age, these schools are big and very old, by name indicating that it has all been done before! The compulsion to name-drop belies insecurity, and for that I have compassion. Undoubtedly there is hard work behind those high-falutin' educations, years of pressure and toil to emerge into a world you must think ready to bend to you, only to discover that Sally J. Housecoat took physics at Community College and John Q. Lunchbox read Ulysses for fun. And they see right through you. All that's left for you now is that internship at The New York Times, which you can impressively name-drop while you're at The New York Times or Harvard Alumni meetings. Your world gets smaller, and thus the chance for true knowledge diminishes even more.
Learning is the greatest thing we can do, school is a wonderful place to do it, but if you look down on other people who haven't had the advantage yet, you missed the point. If you are lucky enough to know, be grateful, and be ready for the many teachers yet to come. That'll learn ya.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
The Greatest Place in New York City
THE CLOISTERS
A Train to 190th St. stop in Manhattan - the rest is easy - GO!
Persons Upon Whom I Bestow My Glad Admiration
Making lists is such fun~ here is a list of total strangers who have meant something wonderful to me:
Joseph Campbell
Henry David Thoreau
Jim Henson
Marion Zimmer Bradley
St. Francis of Assissi
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jane Austen
Alice Walker
Dr. Neal Barnard
Mark Twain
Abraham Lincoln
Emily Dickinson
John William Waterhouse
Lisa Simpson
*** hmmm, one fictional, eight vegetarian, all great for countless reasons. Of course we know I've forgotten some, they'll get their own special posts when memory serves.
Joseph Campbell
Henry David Thoreau
Jim Henson
Marion Zimmer Bradley
St. Francis of Assissi
Martin Luther King, Jr.
Jane Austen
Alice Walker
Dr. Neal Barnard
Mark Twain
Abraham Lincoln
Emily Dickinson
John William Waterhouse
Lisa Simpson
*** hmmm, one fictional, eight vegetarian, all great for countless reasons. Of course we know I've forgotten some, they'll get their own special posts when memory serves.
Hero with a Thousand Faces
Joseph Campbell has written the book on this subject (and many others of keen interest that took my young self down a peg - we are rarely the first to think a thought) and the very word sparks me. Joseph Campbell himself is something of a hero to me~ but is that the proper word? What are true heroes? Can a stranger to you truly be such a thing?
Personally, I think I am reserving it for my own heroes, those who are closest to me... My true love, my sister, whom I truly stand in awe of despite the fact that I have seen both in their most human moments. My cats can be my heroes, they save me daily from the dragons of stress and anger, even as I write this I am smiling and saying "Awwwww" - no, really, they are just that cute. I love them so much I am rescued.
There are so many persons upon which I bestow my glad admiration, but what is the true title, what category may I give them? Wait, maybe that's it there, yes, I have coined it myself. Ahh, babbling ramble proves fruitful! On to the next post!
Personally, I think I am reserving it for my own heroes, those who are closest to me... My true love, my sister, whom I truly stand in awe of despite the fact that I have seen both in their most human moments. My cats can be my heroes, they save me daily from the dragons of stress and anger, even as I write this I am smiling and saying "Awwwww" - no, really, they are just that cute. I love them so much I am rescued.
There are so many persons upon which I bestow my glad admiration, but what is the true title, what category may I give them? Wait, maybe that's it there, yes, I have coined it myself. Ahh, babbling ramble proves fruitful! On to the next post!
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Creaks and Groans
My words are rusty, a little dusty, here I fulfill my need for emphatic metaphors and lazy similies, a little here and there, a little crack of the knuckle and the click of the keys: Practice, play, its all the same. I love to write.
Once Upon My Time
I am saddened by the lack of knowledge, lack of reading, in general, and that folktales that lasted generations prior to the very printing press have withered to nothing in this most amazing point in history. If oral tradition could keep and travel the ancient Celtic tales of the Mabinogion to so many points in the old world, and every ancient culture has tales of similar theme that truly link us all to the traveling bards, how then today do so few people know the story of Diamonds and Toads?
You will find and should find much literary theory and thesis on the matter: Why fairy tales matter- (the bibliography is too extensive to provide now but a task I would heartily enjoy and will post at a later day) They matter so very much!
I would be one of the few scholars who will not bash Disney. For yes, though most people's current knowledge, and therefore misconceptions (largely due to happy endings) of fairy tales come from these, it is the Disney movies (and subsequent watered-down books) that keep the heart of these stories beating. I would be sadder still. People do not know Diamonds and Toads, imagine if they did not know Cinderella?
I would be one of the few people, no thanks to obvious psychological studies from the 19th century to late 20th century pop psychology, who will not bash Cinderella. The feminist fodder is prevalent in too many myths, fables and fairy tales to count, she just became the poster child due to her popularity. The theories of Cinderella representing rescue fantasies and passive behavior serve those with intent to market, these things have nothing to do with the character and the story.
At the heart, Cinderella is a good and kind person who works hard and makes the best of a bad situation. She is then rewarded with a better life, that is the basis of any hero tale. Being compassionate, empathetic, forgiving and never losing your imagination despite being daily subjugation and adversity- this is a fine definition of strength.
You will find and should find much literary theory and thesis on the matter: Why fairy tales matter- (the bibliography is too extensive to provide now but a task I would heartily enjoy and will post at a later day) They matter so very much!
I would be one of the few scholars who will not bash Disney. For yes, though most people's current knowledge, and therefore misconceptions (largely due to happy endings) of fairy tales come from these, it is the Disney movies (and subsequent watered-down books) that keep the heart of these stories beating. I would be sadder still. People do not know Diamonds and Toads, imagine if they did not know Cinderella?
I would be one of the few people, no thanks to obvious psychological studies from the 19th century to late 20th century pop psychology, who will not bash Cinderella. The feminist fodder is prevalent in too many myths, fables and fairy tales to count, she just became the poster child due to her popularity. The theories of Cinderella representing rescue fantasies and passive behavior serve those with intent to market, these things have nothing to do with the character and the story.
At the heart, Cinderella is a good and kind person who works hard and makes the best of a bad situation. She is then rewarded with a better life, that is the basis of any hero tale. Being compassionate, empathetic, forgiving and never losing your imagination despite being daily subjugation and adversity- this is a fine definition of strength.
Read, learn and be strong.
I was raised by fairy tales, and live one now. Happy ending.
Monday, May 15, 2006
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