As you can see by this blog, I’m more than a genius. I teach the geniuses. I... all right. I can’t keep that up. It’s supposed to fit the theme of the blog, but I don’t like the character. Instead, I’ll give it to you plainly.
I don’t know much. But, neither do you. No one does. All we can do is read, write, love and learn. And, try to be smart. It doesn’t always work out. But, we must try.
There are many more topics that I didn’t even touch down on. But, I really do believe you can apply most of what I’ve discussed here into anything.
I hope you’ve come to the realization that some things are worth getting very upset about, but certainly not money. I hope that you’ll look at your kids now and know that they’re the best things ever, or when you have kids you’ll give them that benefit. I hope that when you choose to wake up in the morning, you will also choose to have a good day.
Because that’s what this is all really about - the choice. We’re human beings. We always have a choice. We choose who we’re with. We choose to be miserable. We choose to live a good life. Or not. But, the choice is always our own.
Jim Carrey was on the talk-show circuit a couple of months back promoting YES MAN. He said something that I’ll never forget. He said, “Everything that happens to you... is the best thing that’s every happened to you.”
And, I’ve never agreed more with such a simple line. It’s basically the famous Nietzsche saying of “That which does not kill you makes you stronger.” But, Jim Carrey’s is more positive and pertains to the present.
Think about that concept - everything that happens to you is the best thing that’s ever happened to you. It’s so empowering. It gives you complete ownership of everything in your life. It’s completely true.
Everything that happens to you is what makes you who you are. And, you choose what happens to you. That makes us all masters of our own future. That’s what makes each one of us important and special... if we choose to be.
That’s really what I wanted to do when I first started writing this blog. I wanted you to see the world for what it really is. And, I wanted you to question the norm. Question life and it’s workings. Why am I doing this? Why am I doing that? Then, if you find that you’re full of shit most of the time, change. Thinking then action.
So, we’re at the point where you ship off into this new world. Go explore. Go discover an enlightening path that leads you to more questions than answers. Go find great people that challenge you and make you stronger and smarter. Go think, so one day you can sit down and reminisce about your experiences and views on everything.
You won’t be right all the time... Just most of the time. But, that’s okay, too.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The End
It's coming soon. Not the end of the world - the end of this blog, which, to some, might be the end of the world. Because of this, I'm going to keep it concise today.
I hate to steal directly from Bill Maher, but I have some rules (NEW RULES) to live by:
- Don't be a douche bag. Whatever you do, do NOT, for any reason, be a douche. That's the worst.
- Don't pretend like you're tough... or you'll get your ass handed to you. Most people don't know how to fight. If you do know how to throw punches and take punches, or sprawl and some wrestling moves, it puts you light years ahead of the rest of the world. If you're just big and oafish, that doesn't make you tough. It makes you a douche bag. So, see the first rule.
- Don't think you're smart. That's the reason for this blog - to enlighten you about life. You are not smart. You are stupid. Realizing this makes you smarter. Nobody knows anything, said the great William Goldman. Remember this.
And, that's pretty much it. If you abide by these very simple rules, you'll be okay. If there are any other issues you're worried about, just give me an email and I'll let you know.
I hate to steal directly from Bill Maher, but I have some rules (NEW RULES) to live by:
- Don't be a douche bag. Whatever you do, do NOT, for any reason, be a douche. That's the worst.
- Don't pretend like you're tough... or you'll get your ass handed to you. Most people don't know how to fight. If you do know how to throw punches and take punches, or sprawl and some wrestling moves, it puts you light years ahead of the rest of the world. If you're just big and oafish, that doesn't make you tough. It makes you a douche bag. So, see the first rule.
- Don't think you're smart. That's the reason for this blog - to enlighten you about life. You are not smart. You are stupid. Realizing this makes you smarter. Nobody knows anything, said the great William Goldman. Remember this.
And, that's pretty much it. If you abide by these very simple rules, you'll be okay. If there are any other issues you're worried about, just give me an email and I'll let you know.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Over The Line
Do not, under any circumstances, hold up the line. And, never, I mean NEVER, hold up the line at the grocery store.
If you do, you’ll get what I call the “huffy puffy” look from everyone behind you – from everyone whose life is so much more important than yours. These people are in a rush. They probably don’t know why they’re in a hurry, but they are. So, move it!
You’ve probably witnessed someone writing a check or paying with food stamps – something that holds up the line for a few seconds. And, what does everyone do in line when this happens?
They roll their eyes. They evil stare. Cross their arms. Shake their heads. Exhale loudly. Huff and puff. And, not one time in my grocery shopping days have I ever noticed this to be an effective method of speeding up the line. But, the frustration continues.
Why? Where do these people have to go so sudden? Are these government officials who need to send a fax to Congress to pass life-altering legislation (from their important offices in Carpentersville, USA – the center of the middle of nowhere)?
Are they flying today and need to catch the plane (but decided orange juice, Breyer’s Ice Cream and frozen pizza were essential materials for the flight)?
Or, are they doctors late for surgery (who happened to stumble into a Jewel before they performed that all-important amputation)?
The answer is “no” to all of the above.
They’re probably just headed to Starbucks (where they’ll get mad in that line, too). Or, they’re headed back home to lie on the couch and watch Grey’s Anatomy (that they’ve TiVOed, so it’s not going anywhere anyway).
Either way, they’re headed somewhere of no significance or importance. It’s the suburbs – everyone has time on their hands. There’s never a rush. It’s hurry up and wait.
There’s never a legitimate reason to project negativity towards another human being for taking away what you think is your precious time.
I’m sick of it. I’m fed up. I always say something to the people around me if they act like that. I’m not going to not say something – they must be told, like a child, that they are acting socially unacceptable. It’s usually something off the top of my head and sarcastic – in case they have a penknife and are in the stabbing mood, I can deny.
But, I think this anger and annoyance in lines stems from the idea of individual over community. And, people think that their time is more valuable than everyone else’s.
Instead of being self-serving, why not be friendly? Instead of getting irritated, why not extend a helping hand? Why not relax and do something that was invented a couple years back – talking to your neighbor?
This is a tiny problem, but it needs fixing. It’s small, but it says something bigger about us as citizens of this world. It’s representative of how we live our lives in general and what the future holds.
So, beware of the huff and puff.
If you do, you’ll get what I call the “huffy puffy” look from everyone behind you – from everyone whose life is so much more important than yours. These people are in a rush. They probably don’t know why they’re in a hurry, but they are. So, move it!
You’ve probably witnessed someone writing a check or paying with food stamps – something that holds up the line for a few seconds. And, what does everyone do in line when this happens?
They roll their eyes. They evil stare. Cross their arms. Shake their heads. Exhale loudly. Huff and puff. And, not one time in my grocery shopping days have I ever noticed this to be an effective method of speeding up the line. But, the frustration continues.
Why? Where do these people have to go so sudden? Are these government officials who need to send a fax to Congress to pass life-altering legislation (from their important offices in Carpentersville, USA – the center of the middle of nowhere)?
Are they flying today and need to catch the plane (but decided orange juice, Breyer’s Ice Cream and frozen pizza were essential materials for the flight)?
Or, are they doctors late for surgery (who happened to stumble into a Jewel before they performed that all-important amputation)?
The answer is “no” to all of the above.
They’re probably just headed to Starbucks (where they’ll get mad in that line, too). Or, they’re headed back home to lie on the couch and watch Grey’s Anatomy (that they’ve TiVOed, so it’s not going anywhere anyway).
Either way, they’re headed somewhere of no significance or importance. It’s the suburbs – everyone has time on their hands. There’s never a rush. It’s hurry up and wait.
There’s never a legitimate reason to project negativity towards another human being for taking away what you think is your precious time.
I’m sick of it. I’m fed up. I always say something to the people around me if they act like that. I’m not going to not say something – they must be told, like a child, that they are acting socially unacceptable. It’s usually something off the top of my head and sarcastic – in case they have a penknife and are in the stabbing mood, I can deny.
But, I think this anger and annoyance in lines stems from the idea of individual over community. And, people think that their time is more valuable than everyone else’s.
Instead of being self-serving, why not be friendly? Instead of getting irritated, why not extend a helping hand? Why not relax and do something that was invented a couple years back – talking to your neighbor?
This is a tiny problem, but it needs fixing. It’s small, but it says something bigger about us as citizens of this world. It’s representative of how we live our lives in general and what the future holds.
So, beware of the huff and puff.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
The Idea List
This is one of my favorite songs that I've written:
High On Peace
Is it really real?
Can it exist?
I'm talking about peace
I know about violence
Every time I turn on
The radio or TV
It's a body count
Of a madman's killing spree
But my theory is
If we want to see the root
Understand that madman
Why he do what he do
Jump inside his head
Extend a little empathy
It's the only way
That we will find peace
Because I'm high on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
High on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
It's not just a ploy
Not silly words to you
It's a goal to have
Something that we have to do
What happens if we fail?
What happen if we don't?
It's better to say 'I will'
Than to say 'I won't'
Lennon said peace at work
And peace at home
I'm convinced that peace
Has been with us all along
If you agree
Throw a peace sign to the sky
Keep it up
And fly that peace sign high
Fly it high
Fly it high
Fly it high
Fly it
High on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
I'm high on peace
I'm high on love
It's something that
I've been dreaming of
Am I a delusional, naive idealist? Or, are my ideas just big and positive? I ask myself that question all the time. And, I never have a clear answer, partly because I don't want to have a real answer to anything, especially complex life issues.
Regardless, I think anyone that complains about a way of living should come up with an new idea list. You can't complain about something, then have no other possible solutions. If you think something's wrong, then what's right?
That's my challenge. Next time you find yourself bickering about something, take a moment and THINK. Try to come up with a couple of ways to fix the problem. Don't just continue to plod forward mindlessly. In short...
Don't be an idiot.
High On Peace
Is it really real?
Can it exist?
I'm talking about peace
I know about violence
Every time I turn on
The radio or TV
It's a body count
Of a madman's killing spree
But my theory is
If we want to see the root
Understand that madman
Why he do what he do
Jump inside his head
Extend a little empathy
It's the only way
That we will find peace
Because I'm high on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
High on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
It's not just a ploy
Not silly words to you
It's a goal to have
Something that we have to do
What happens if we fail?
What happen if we don't?
It's better to say 'I will'
Than to say 'I won't'
Lennon said peace at work
And peace at home
I'm convinced that peace
Has been with us all along
If you agree
Throw a peace sign to the sky
Keep it up
And fly that peace sign high
Fly it high
Fly it high
Fly it high
Fly it
High on peace
High on love
Something that
I've been dreaming of
I'm high on peace
I'm high on love
It's something that
I've been dreaming of
Am I a delusional, naive idealist? Or, are my ideas just big and positive? I ask myself that question all the time. And, I never have a clear answer, partly because I don't want to have a real answer to anything, especially complex life issues.
Regardless, I think anyone that complains about a way of living should come up with an new idea list. You can't complain about something, then have no other possible solutions. If you think something's wrong, then what's right?
That's my challenge. Next time you find yourself bickering about something, take a moment and THINK. Try to come up with a couple of ways to fix the problem. Don't just continue to plod forward mindlessly. In short...
Don't be an idiot.
Thursday, July 2, 2009
The Real (Pathetic) Drug Addict
Marijuana is illegal. One cannot die from marijuana use. Although general apathy and some minor crime is linked to grass, its immediate effects will not cause death.
Cocaine is illegal. Okay. I get it. Crack cocaine can be blamed for A LOT of felonies and destruction of lives and families. But, so can alcohol, and that's legal.
Crystal meth is illegal. And, rightfully so. Nothing positive comes from that horrible drug.
LSD is illegal. And, I get it. But, take away LSD and half The Beatles/The Doors/Jimi Hendrix catalog is gone. If there were no Beatles, A LOT of bands would be generic copycats. Wait...
These are all considered recreational drugs. Recreation... fun... amusement... entertainment... and, if used for those purposes, can achieve the desired goal.
The drugs that really scare me are the prescription drugs for problems and ailments that might not exist in the first place. Drugs like Prozac, Xanax, Ritalin and Ambien frighten me to no end.
Now, some of these drugs do seem to "work." But, "work" isn't really the correct word. What these drugs do, for the most part, is take away the symptoms of the problem, NOT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. They temporarily mask the symptoms.
Problems from depression stem from all types of things. Childhood instances, family troubles, many things can lead to what psychiatrists refer to as depression.
If you can't sleep at night, there are reasons. If your child is unfocused and acting like a lunatic, chances are you did something wrong, or you overlooked something.
I'm not a doctor (obviously), and some would say because of that, I don't know what I'm talking about. But, that's part of the problem - doctors prescribe certain pills because of contracts with prescription drug companies that make a profit. The best deal for the doctor is what determines what pill he's going to prescribe you. It's a business. And, when the bottom line is the only concern, NOT YOUR HEALTH, there is a problem.
Doctors and pharmaceutical companies DO NOT make a profit if you are cured. They make money when you return to their offices and continue to purchase their product. It's that simple.
If you actually want to solve your problems, or try to, there are many ways. Healthy living, diet, exercise, activity, positive friends and peers, good way of life, productive time spent... all changes in your life.
But, that's THE problem. No one wants to change or admit that they're wrong. They want to take a pill once a day to cure their life's problems. WE'RE NOT THAT SIMPLE.
People are complex. If you don't believe that, ask a human genome scientist. So, how did we, as a society, get so lazy to think that a simple little pill would solve complicated issues?
One of the answers is that we're bombarded with advertising by these giant companies. Another reason is that we want to fit in - we want to be like our neighbors, friends and family who are living a certain way. We naturally follow instead of lead.
I bring this topic up because of Michael Jackson's death. Toxicology reports will confirm what his family and physicians already suspect - he had a cocktail of drugs in him that included pain medication (for the countless surgeries), sleeping pills (for his insomnia) and a host of other anti-depressants.
Hmm... Doesn't this sound a lot like another famous talented celebrity that died just last year? Yes. Heath Ledger. They essentially took the same drugs.
When are we going to wake up?!? When are we going to smarten up and really live a life filled with ups and downs, strikes and gutters and real experiences?
My advice is... when confronting a problem that regularly would yield prescription drug use, first try every alternative possible. Go the holistic doctor in your city. Change the negative parts of your life. Do something different.
Don't be a pathetic drug addict. If you're going to be a drug addict, do it right - HEROIN.
Cocaine is illegal. Okay. I get it. Crack cocaine can be blamed for A LOT of felonies and destruction of lives and families. But, so can alcohol, and that's legal.
Crystal meth is illegal. And, rightfully so. Nothing positive comes from that horrible drug.
LSD is illegal. And, I get it. But, take away LSD and half The Beatles/The Doors/Jimi Hendrix catalog is gone. If there were no Beatles, A LOT of bands would be generic copycats. Wait...
These are all considered recreational drugs. Recreation... fun... amusement... entertainment... and, if used for those purposes, can achieve the desired goal.
The drugs that really scare me are the prescription drugs for problems and ailments that might not exist in the first place. Drugs like Prozac, Xanax, Ritalin and Ambien frighten me to no end.
Now, some of these drugs do seem to "work." But, "work" isn't really the correct word. What these drugs do, for the most part, is take away the symptoms of the problem, NOT THE ACTUAL PROBLEM. They temporarily mask the symptoms.
Problems from depression stem from all types of things. Childhood instances, family troubles, many things can lead to what psychiatrists refer to as depression.
If you can't sleep at night, there are reasons. If your child is unfocused and acting like a lunatic, chances are you did something wrong, or you overlooked something.
I'm not a doctor (obviously), and some would say because of that, I don't know what I'm talking about. But, that's part of the problem - doctors prescribe certain pills because of contracts with prescription drug companies that make a profit. The best deal for the doctor is what determines what pill he's going to prescribe you. It's a business. And, when the bottom line is the only concern, NOT YOUR HEALTH, there is a problem.
Doctors and pharmaceutical companies DO NOT make a profit if you are cured. They make money when you return to their offices and continue to purchase their product. It's that simple.
If you actually want to solve your problems, or try to, there are many ways. Healthy living, diet, exercise, activity, positive friends and peers, good way of life, productive time spent... all changes in your life.
But, that's THE problem. No one wants to change or admit that they're wrong. They want to take a pill once a day to cure their life's problems. WE'RE NOT THAT SIMPLE.
People are complex. If you don't believe that, ask a human genome scientist. So, how did we, as a society, get so lazy to think that a simple little pill would solve complicated issues?
One of the answers is that we're bombarded with advertising by these giant companies. Another reason is that we want to fit in - we want to be like our neighbors, friends and family who are living a certain way. We naturally follow instead of lead.
I bring this topic up because of Michael Jackson's death. Toxicology reports will confirm what his family and physicians already suspect - he had a cocktail of drugs in him that included pain medication (for the countless surgeries), sleeping pills (for his insomnia) and a host of other anti-depressants.
Hmm... Doesn't this sound a lot like another famous talented celebrity that died just last year? Yes. Heath Ledger. They essentially took the same drugs.
When are we going to wake up?!? When are we going to smarten up and really live a life filled with ups and downs, strikes and gutters and real experiences?
My advice is... when confronting a problem that regularly would yield prescription drug use, first try every alternative possible. Go the holistic doctor in your city. Change the negative parts of your life. Do something different.
Don't be a pathetic drug addict. If you're going to be a drug addict, do it right - HEROIN.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
LEBRON & SHAQ
You might not have heard - THE CLEVELAND CAVALIERS TRADED FOR SHAQUILLE O'NEAL. They gave up Ben Wallace, Sasha Pavlovic, $500,000 and a second round pick.
Is this the greatest thing ever?
Or, is Shaq too worn out to make a positive impact?
I don't know.
I think this is the kind of piece that LeBron's needed his whole career to really be effective. He's never played with a true low post player - a big big. Shaq is who you create in NBA Live when you want to dominate everyone.
Now, outside shots will be easier for LeBron. He'll have easy dumps to Shaq in the post. Finally, when a high screen is set, it will be set with an actual stable body, not a drifting Z.
Everything tells me that the Cavs will roll through teams, beating them on the inside, outside and everything in between. In the Playoffs, they'll have a low post man that punishes teams on offense and defense.
What do you think?
Is this the greatest thing ever?
Or, is Shaq too worn out to make a positive impact?
I don't know.
I think this is the kind of piece that LeBron's needed his whole career to really be effective. He's never played with a true low post player - a big big. Shaq is who you create in NBA Live when you want to dominate everyone.
Now, outside shots will be easier for LeBron. He'll have easy dumps to Shaq in the post. Finally, when a high screen is set, it will be set with an actual stable body, not a drifting Z.
Everything tells me that the Cavs will roll through teams, beating them on the inside, outside and everything in between. In the Playoffs, they'll have a low post man that punishes teams on offense and defense.
What do you think?
Thursday, June 18, 2009
The Guitar
There's a new documentary coming out called IT MIGHT GET LOUD starring The Edge (U2), Jimmy Page (Led Zeppelin, The Yardbirds) and Jack White (The White Stripes, The Raconteurs). It's all about the guitar.
The trailer starts off with Jack White standing by a worn, splintered house deck. He drills a thin, two-foot-long piece of wood into the deck, and the preview continues...
The guitar. Is it the single greatest material item ever? Is there anything more powerful? More magical?
The Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White all meet at a warehouse studio to jam. I'm sold. These are three of the best guitarists, three of the most unique sounds in the history of music, from three different generations.
Documentaries don't hit as hard in theaters as narrative films, but IT MIGHT GET LOUD looks like it could be one of the best movies of the year.
Jack White situates an empty, glass coke bottle to one end of the wood strip, then a pick-up. He pulls strings over the bottle and secures the to the end of the wood. A short stack of amps sits nearby, which he rigs to his new invention.
It's a makeshift slide guitar. And, he cranks out a jam on it. He stands back, pops a rolled, brown cigarette into his mouth and says, "Who needs to buy a guitar?"
Rock musicians... guitarists are a different beast. They're the warriors of our day - the nickname of the guitar is "axe" - who shred for us and slay audiences.
There's nothing cooler. If you're great on the guitar, that's it. You're at the top of the world.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/itmightgetloud/
The trailer starts off with Jack White standing by a worn, splintered house deck. He drills a thin, two-foot-long piece of wood into the deck, and the preview continues...
The guitar. Is it the single greatest material item ever? Is there anything more powerful? More magical?
The Edge, Jimmy Page and Jack White all meet at a warehouse studio to jam. I'm sold. These are three of the best guitarists, three of the most unique sounds in the history of music, from three different generations.
Documentaries don't hit as hard in theaters as narrative films, but IT MIGHT GET LOUD looks like it could be one of the best movies of the year.
Jack White situates an empty, glass coke bottle to one end of the wood strip, then a pick-up. He pulls strings over the bottle and secures the to the end of the wood. A short stack of amps sits nearby, which he rigs to his new invention.
It's a makeshift slide guitar. And, he cranks out a jam on it. He stands back, pops a rolled, brown cigarette into his mouth and says, "Who needs to buy a guitar?"
Rock musicians... guitarists are a different beast. They're the warriors of our day - the nickname of the guitar is "axe" - who shred for us and slay audiences.
There's nothing cooler. If you're great on the guitar, that's it. You're at the top of the world.
http://www.apple.com/trailers/sony/itmightgetloud/
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