|
SubscriptionsSites I Read
|
|
|
|
| College college college. I love you and hate you. What would I do without you? You keep things interesting. You, my dearest, will one day be looked on fondly as the "best days of my life." Excuse me for disagreeing presently, but fuck you, college. There are some things I can put here that have been positive, but one, that would be lying, and two, you haven't been doing a good job of that lately, and three, I would have nothing to write about after graduation.
Why so negative? What went wrong? Well, with the amount of females on this campus, it's impossible to get a rapport going without upsetting someone. But that's just generalizing; let's be a tad more specific. There are some people who are spiteful, cliched, clicky, judgmental, but at first seem to be ultra-great-fantastic. Also, vice versa (Reader should assume that these are traps I fell into.) And then one little thing leads to the next and then we have a domino effect. And then people stat talking about each other and la dee da dee da and then everything goes to crap in four years. Don't get me wrong, there are many people here whom I love and adore, and New Paltz is just lovely and dandy; but at the same time, the large amount of people I can't stand outnumber those. I'm not referring to anyone specific; but rather throwing them into one big box of sorts.
In watching American History X for roughly the eighth or ninth time this past week, one of the lines that I've always loved kept repeating in my head: "Life's too short to be pissed off all the time." And even though the film and my current life are different (waaaaay different, I don't have any skinheads ripping faces off on campus), I realize how much of that line I and several others have made this a reality in life, ultimately concerning "friends" and their expiration dates. I like the term "friends," because there's always two sides of the spectrum. There's friends, that when you say it, you mean it: the people who come through for you, who show you the light at the end of the tunnel, who sit and listen instead of giving unnecessary advice; with whom you reciprocate, procrastinate, activate. Then there are "friends" meaning you love them or you pretend to love them but don't. "Friends" meaning the people you put your neck out for and either you get a hug or a kick in the jugular. "Friends" meaning the people you can depend on or if they can't come through you say, "I should have known." "Friends" meaning the people you can assume most actions for.
So what do we do about this situation, these "friends"? Someone irritates you? Don't call him/her for lunch. Someone keeps pushing those buttons? Don't stand in his/her vicinity at the party. Someone's morals and dignity differs from your own? Stay in for the weekend. But, then of course, we have extreme. Someone doesn't like your good friend, so you automatically have a dislike for that person. You hear a girl might be talking smack about you, so you don't say hi to her as you pass them on your way to class. You don't like someone based on what you've heard about him/her, so you put on a front and smile, but then immediately turn around to talk about how s/he fucked up. Somehow, you personally offend someone inadvertantly, and automatically, s/he will despise you, vow never to speak to you again, or all of the above.
Pick one of those, and whether you like it or not, you're cutting people off from your life. As I've matured (and I hope you have too), I've noticed the "friends" I have welcomed in and out of my life. I have always assumed/believed that people's actions follow their own concern for what is best for those around them; maybe I and others who are like this put too much hope into people. When they disappoint us or show their true colors, we do one of the above. Throw them away in one way or another. That being said, I have always tried to surround myself with people that make me feel positive; I think I've done a healthy job of keeping contact with those whom I hope feel the same way about me.
(Side Note: And here's a common misinterpretation of friendship. You don't have to have CONSTANT contact to be friends or to consider someone a good friend. I have plenty of people whom I don't speak to every day who I can depend on, go to if I'm upset, or go out for a lunch and catch up like no time has passed. I wouldn't consider the people I see every day (and secretly dislike) my "friends," but not talk to Ray for two weeks and not consider him a good friend. Just not right.)
In a positive light, college, you have truly helped me distinguish the different kinds of people there are [New Paltz is number one for diversity! School spirit! Yeah! (pukeeeeeee)]. You have helped me see the people I admire, the people I adore, the people I miss, and the people I can do without. And therefore you have helped me weed, tame, and maintain the garden and spray pesticides where necessary. And it looks phenomenal. (And you've done a pretty good job of giving me philosophies, which I admit are sometimes backwards, but thusly really entertaining.)
The question remains, taken from Buffy: Where do we go from here? Well, as of right now, I know the people who I want to keep around in my life; and it is up to us, and not others, to keep that going. The people who I am not too fond of or have grown an aversion to, not so much. Then there are the inbetweeners, who I don't mind seeing, don't mind not seeing, but are mostly leaving on a positive note. What is troubling, and sometimes sad, is that: no, we may not be able to control who is in our lives. People walk different paths. Every decision leads to something else. Relationships naturally grow and disintegrate. And we should not be completely alarmed when this happens. It is in our human nature to change comfort zones and move around to where we feel relaxed. When this does happen, it means we are just growing up a little bit more, we are just trying to keep ourselves content for the short time we are here; and I firmly believe that we cannot personally make others happy until we ourselves are content with ourselves. So where do we go? Where ever our feet may take us. Word of advice: Don't fight the current. Don't try to hold onto things that are heading for the deep end; at the conclusion, it will hurt much more. If you believe that someone can change and try to help the process, expect to wait for a long time; people will change themselves at their own pace. The best we can do is take things for what they are and not to be afraid when all begins to fade, so we can look back and laugh and smile. Maybe cry a bit, but without harsh feelings, bad words, and animosity. And things made are meant to fall apart or get broken. There can be no creation without demise.
So, mind you, young college. Your life is long and far and promising. I assure you that your experience will be different for everyone, some more negative, some more positive. One day, I will look back and say, "Gosh I miss those days." But right now, I want to go home for winter break.
| | |
| Does anyone even use this thing anymore? Me, me, me!!!! I've decided that I'm actually going to come back to this thing. Hooray? Yay. That means 'yes.'
| | |
| New Paltz is great; I might stay for Grad School. Updates on that when necessary. Now for the fun: Ok so this is going to be pretty long and winded and some of it will probably not make sense (like how and why I think Kanye rules) but deal with it. If you've put up with me for this long, you can handle this.
Of course, first off is summer flicks. Inglourious Basterds was a badass movie, as was District Nine, so on and so on. Now if I had to list the top three movies of the summer, in all honesty, District Nine was number one for me, Hurt Locker with a very close number two, and Inglourious Basterds at number three. When I say very close, I mean VERY close.
District Nine was simply amazing. It was fun and entertaining and at the same time, so technologically well done (WETA rocks). Documentary style, but completely fictional, the CGI is seamless. SEAMLESS. Sharlto Copely was surprisingly perfect. It's such a rare gem and beautiful to watch. Stunning special effects, a great story, and it completely blew me away. I had high expectations (A Peter Jackson protege) and low ones as well (first and only time actor as well as a first time director), but PJ knows his stuff. It's definitely one of those movies I can see several times without getting tired of.
Hurt Locker was an extremely close second. Also shot in documentary style and also lovely to see. It's been a while since I watched it, but I do know I walked out of the movie thinking, "WOW." This movie is going to get some awards. Pretty much everything about it was perfect. The only major complaint that I have was that the sniper scene was a bit too long; otherwise everything else was solid. The acting was great and the film itself is beautifully shot.
Inglourious Basterds had some really golden moments; I was expecting something else, but I loved it anyway. It's not QT's best; but like in most of his movies the characters are where it shines. Christoph Waltz is the stand-out as Landa; Brad Pitt is surprisingly not even in the movie as much as he is. Melanie Laurent is absolutely beautiful. And all of the Basterds were extremely interesting and regrettably, we don't learn much about them, which I would have loved to see. Diane Kruger is kinda pointless and barely memorable; Til Scwheiger, BJ Novak, and Eli Roth are the stand-outs. Oh, and Michael Fassbender looks perfecto. I think I might have replaced Antonio Banderas as my number 2. (Ed Norton, still numero uno!) There were A LOT of laughing areas; my personal favorite: HUGO STIGLITZ's entrance. Just hysterical. Other good movies this summer:
What deserves at least a number four or honorable mention is Pixar's achingly beautiful Up. The incredible animation paired with a more adult toned story (like Wall-E), yet simple enough for children to understand... Just amazing. Pixar is really learning that so much beauty can be found in simplicity and I give up a full standing ovation.
Star Wars V Harry Potter 6, which are getting better as the series goes along. Still really pissed about some parts as usual and disappointed with the ending, but the seventh/eighth will surely rock.
Public Enemies starring Johnny Depp. I got a little dizzy, but it was still fantastic. I'mpersonally getting tired of Batman Christian Bale; Ed Norton, Ben Affleck Matt Damon, or Leonardo DiCaprio would have been better.
The Hangover was ridiculously amusing, memorable, and quotable.
Star Trek. Awesome. 'Nuff said.
GI Joe was poorly made, but surprisingly entertaining.
And one of the best movies I saw, but doesn't count, Flame and Citron, a Danish movie starring Mads Mikkelsen- extremely good. As for the bad movies: looking back, Growly Batman #3 Terminator Salvation had its moments but overall, just a so-so movie; I'm really glad McG is forming his own identity though, he's terribly underrated. Transformers 2- BAD BAD BAD movie. Funny People... Adam Sandler needs to give up. G-Force just... looked bad.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Miley Cyrus is a terrible influence on the youth of America, and I think she should fall into a hole in the middle of a wooded area and be abandoned there. There, I said it. Megan Fox is also a ridiculously bad example of how shallow our country has become. Kim Kardashian is not helping and Vanessa Hudgens needs to keep her clothes on. Who should young ladies be looking up to? America Ferrera. Emma Watson. Not Lindsey Lohan. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, I think Kanye West still rules. What he did, wrong on all levels. I would have slapped him in the face. However, I really do think he's awesome. For one thing, have we not learned from the countless people such as Chris Benoit, Michael Jackson, Madonna, Brett Favre, LaDanian Tomlinson and so on and so on, that you can still be a dick, but what you produce is amazing? Tomlinson, perfect example. Amazing football player. The one most defensive teams fear. When it comes to signing autographs, brushes people off. Tells off reporters. Tells off camera people. Still a star, still a great player. Favre, as much of an asshole as he is (more on that later), is still one of the greatest football players to ever step foot on the field. So yes, you can be an ass. You can be a huge ass, but you make great things and you (usually) get what you want. Here's my point: Kanye wanted attention, not necessarily positive. By a simple run up and blah blah, he got mountains of it. Kanye has never asked to be loved. He has never asked to be the most huggable person on the planet. His number one priority is to be on top of the music industry, which arguably he is whether we like it or not.
And you know what? I feel for the guy. From day one, all he has wanted was respect of his music, which I honestly feel like he has never gotten. I don't think people respect him enough as a music artist. I think a lot of people have a struggle separating personas- Eli Roth: the sick director from the awesome personality, Quentin Tarantino: the great, outgoing director from the wallflowered-nerd, Michael Jackson: the legendary artist from the child molester, Chris Benoit: the revered wrestler from the child murderer, Brad Pitt: the actor from the husband who (like so many other men out there) cheated on his wife, and maybe even Sarah Palin: the politician from the mother who never taught her daughter about a condom hunter maverick sweet hockey mom. Ok, maybe that last one's not such a great example, but still the fact stands that people cannot separate work from the public image, which I and few others have learned to do. I would be an asshole too, if I put out three of the biggest selling albums of all time and didn't receive anything but a pat on the back for it.
The fact is: I think Kanye is an asshole. But I think his music (and borrowed music) is amazing. I think he has balls and his attempts, experiments, and colorful personality are something that separates him far from other people. He says "I don't care what you think," and actually doesn't, unlike all the other people who think it's "cool" to say that, but really sweat themselves to sleep at night wondering if they will ever be accepted by society. I think there's few other people who would dare to do or try what he does. And that's what I appreciate about him. Sorry I'm not an asshole pessimist who leaps all over the negative of the aforementioned people. And look at this: Would you be having this much fun if not for Kanye? NO. So appreciate him! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now the subject of Twitter has popped up and is bothering me. For starters, I hate how Facebook is making everything like Twitter: adding in the @ shout outs. Now if I wanted a Twitter, I would have signed up for a Twitter, and yes I do have one. At first, I thought the concept was really dumb. I pretty much used it to update myself with NIN, Kevin Smith, Steven Jackson (my man!), and some other celebs that I follow. Ian Watkins has become a recent fave. However, over the past few months, I have really grown to like Twitter. It's a quicker form of Xanga when I don't have time. I can get my insults out pretty quickly and sarcasm is pretty much obvious (as opposed to a lot of people taking me seriously otherwise). It's also a fairly simple way to get points across, without all this mish mosh. Xanga is good for venting, getting your thoughts out, etc. Twitter is good for the same thing. Just with less words.
Now, there are people who abuse the shit out of Twitter. I'm talking about the flamers and people who don't have anything else to do with their lives but insult others. Also, there are the random people who leave feedback and the random spammers. Twitter is too impersonal to weed out people; it's too easy to go tell someone to suck it. Who says I want so-and-so to come in and intrude on MY thoughts? See, I like Twitter when people use it to write something worthwhile, maybe like a Haiku or a short synopsis of how the day was, or a concise way of stating thoughts. A perfect example of this last one is my last Tweet: "... And Serena Williams is still a man-eating bison. Through YouTube, America has obviously become a better place since that line call." However, when people begin senselessly flaming each other, like Trent Reznor and Mr. Watkins have had to endure, it just becomes silly. People who I would never talk to suddenly feel important enough to tell me that I suck because I think Kanye West is still great, and therefore I don’t like them. That’s the basis of a relationship with a person I don’t know or even care about. And it’s disgusting.
Twitter erases diversity and opinions, simply because people cannot argue their place. And you know what, Twitter shouldn't be a place where we argue. It should be "I think ham and cheese tastes good. Especially in an omelet." Or "Picking up some eggs. Gonna make an omelet with cheese and ham. Yum." Not "YOU MOTHERFUCKER, HAM DOESN'T TASTE AS GOOD AS BACON WOULD!" Twitter’s point is to grow the world with trivial, silly love and similarities, not to create hate and pointless arguments. So in saying that: LIVE FREE KANYE WEST! LIVE FREEEEE!!!!!!!!! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I really dislike Brett Favre for the simple fact that he has turned his back on himself and thousands, legions of fans. Absolutely no loyalty at all. Way to suck, Brett. When you verbalize someone’s name into something negative, you know it’s bad. Now just for clarification purposes, pulling A Brett Favre is simply coming back when you’ve retired. Pulling THE Brett Favre is shitting on all the people who have stood by you for the past five years by going to the enemy and bad mouthing people. Ok that’s enough for now. That's really long. Hopefully makes up for lost time. For more frequent, way shorter, and slightly amusing updates, my Twitter is http://twitter.com/kyoungmb10. Peace and word to your mother. | | |
| "You is a dumb biddy"
^ Stay tuned for more to come.
| | |
| Kelly posting more is a fail.
Uhh, on a side note, because those seem to be my favoritest things in the world lately, people need to stop being so damn bipolar.
On another side note, retail work at one of the busiest stores on of the busiest intersections iin one of the busiest cities actually isn't all that bad. Honestly, I'd rather be running around and folding than not doing anything. And PS for my lazy coworkers who will go unnamed: Don't complain about the job is it's what you get paid for. Just do the damn work and we can all go home earlier. Thank you.
Transformers 2 sucked. Way to suck, Megan Fox (who actually loses her appeal a half hour into the movie).
GI Joe looks interesting. INGLOURIOUS BASTERDS looks awesome. Harry Potter looks nice as well. Tom Felton!
Ok now for things that actually matter: People are selfish. I know this, you know this, everyone knows this. It is a well known human fact that people will put themselves before others, not in all cases, but in some and in many. Which is why I must ask, for such a trivial act, why is this person (not me, and probably not you, if you are reading this, you may know the situation) being so selfish. Completely jeopardizing nearly every friendship surrounding the event, not taking into consideration at all the feelings of the other people, not kosher. If this affects so many people (aka making things way awkward), shouldn't more care and thought be put into this instead of going after what he/she may want? Shouldn't this person stop and think that maybe this is a bad idea? And shouldn't a good friend be seen as more than a piece of ass?
Gosh, and speaking of which, gender needs to be put aside for about two hours. If I'm a girl, and you're a boy, there is no explanation as to why we two cannot be friends and only friends. I have plenty of guy friends- who are just friends. If I talk to you, it's because I want to talk to you as a person, not just because you're a boy (which apparently is your mentality). If I wanted something else, I will do you a favor and let you know. But if I don't slip you that piece of knowledge, then drop it. Get off your fucking high horse and keep it in your pants.
PS: Cock Blocking is a crime. I don't do it and neither should you.
| | |
|
