The Beetles music video reminded me of this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KMQgvv6ngO8
Thomas the Dank Engine
I didn't choose the chug life, the chug life choose me
Smoke coal every day
That's all the puns I could come up with (for now). There are probably more that exist somewhere. in the darkest parts of the internet.
Here's another remix I really liked:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eco4z98nIQY
defiantly something that's swinging.
Monday, October 26, 2015
Monday, October 19, 2015
“If you stay, I'll do whatever you want. I'll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I'll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it'd be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I'd do it. I can lose you like that if I don't lose you today. I'll let you go. If you stay.”
― Gayle Forman, If I Stay
Love is the mistress of sacrifice, and like the author who gives himself into literature, it is the immolation to the common man.
It is something we all experience eventually; not a lust, but a yearning to find someone and give thyself into that person's will. Perhaps it is only human to give up one's freedom for achieving happiness, and like the Author's empire described, love is under constant siege.
In recent society, perhaps even more so in human history, the motion of true romance has come under the heaviest of bombardments: due to the hookup culture that has infested our society; the emergence of speed dating thru the internet; and the justification of sex over relationship, true love has come into a state of slow decay. As a result, the understanding between woman and men, the gender gap, has slowly been increasing.
"It was Woman, with her sudden fears, her irrational whims, her instinctive fears, her unprovoked bravado, her daring and her delicious delicacy of feeling." From the quote, I take it that woman can be, from the eyes of man, irrational in their view of love; they enjoy the chase more then the catch, and play with men until they either whimper away or become further engulfed in passion for her hand. Conversely, from a woman's point of view, man is a truly alien figure; aggressive, but funny; blunt, but somewhat sophisticated; wanting it now, but will to fight for what must be achieved.
What a shame to watch this romantic act end at its climax; the stage to dance with romance will never be more open in our lifetimes then here at collage, and it requires that the dance be a duo, not a single performance. While we are still young, we could adventure into the city, around Hoboken, or even just stroll down the river.
But most young people don't want this. They want it fast, effective, and now. Blinded by both work and physical pleasure, there has been a loss in romance that I feel will not be returning to the stage any time soon.
Love is the mistress of sacrifice; but most people fear this self immolation, and instead turn to easy, and short term satisfaction. It doesn't create happiness for the future, only lost opportunity.
And yet, I continue to believe in the notion of romance: perhaps a slight glimmer of hope remaining.
Monday, October 5, 2015
“Because there are three classes of intellects: one which comprehends by itself;
another which appreciates what others comprehend; and a third which neither
comprehends by itself nor by the showing of others; the first is the most
excellent, the second is good, the third is useless.”
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
It is a common occurrence to encounter problems on a daily bases; some consist of philosophical questions one writes for later in pure interest and desire; others consist of errands, and although they tend to be mostly reputable and require little to no thought to accomplish, there are methods to complete the tasks in a efficient, and thought provoking fashion; and lastly, problems arise within personal work studies.
and although in some of the examples it may not seem obvious, all three tasks require a level of intellect that is common within daily rituals:
1.) Regarding the first example of philosophical inquire, this is but a pleasure to indulge oneself in: its a train of thought that I personally peruse out of human curiosity; and as a result it both better myself spiritually and emotionally as an individual, while also keeping my mind and body healthy. In this process, personal meaning and comprehension develops. And although the benefits are reaped from this inquire into philosophy, I do not study these thoughts for reward: it is to enjoy the art of thinking; to ask questions not asked; and to push oneself into better state of mind naturally to install pure joy. Thus, to be truly devoted to intellect, one must first find pleasure in the pursuit of thought provoking questions.
2.) From completing daily errands, it is often a nullifying experience: like a factory worker in a manufacturing system, the tasks are of consistent repetition that requires little to no thought. For myself, this includes: maintaining hygiene, washing clothes, cleaning my room, setting calendar appointments, exercising, and writing reminders to myself. It is a bore, and often mind numbing process to complete these necessary tasks; and often times, people who do such tasks become unaware that they are completing them, and fall into a transit state of thoughtless, repetitive action. Using intuition, I do my best to avoid this. First, I find ways to multitask, in order to avoid wasting time with such brainless activities. Once this is complete, I often find ways to also exercise my thought as I do such tasks: I would sing in the shower to practice my vocal talents (I used to sing in my high school's drama club, and I intend to keep the act); while exercising, I would listen to music and indulge in philosophical thought, to avoid falling into a transit state of just running; but on contrary, I would also meditate, and clear my mind of thought to relax and better prepare myself while completing errands. In the final step, one must find ways to improve the efficiency of the tasks at hand to save time and money. To conclude, an intellect would find ways to reduce meaningless tasks in ones life to a minuscule amount, make most of the time the individual has when completing such tasks, and most importantly, find ways to better the tasks at hand.
3.) In truth, I find the arts of writing and human sciences to be a much more comprehensible then mathematics. It is only natural for one to become easily adept to the success of one field of study over another; nobody can be good in everything. This, as we all refer to, is intelligence, and it takes many forms. To be intelligent is to be a athlete at the top of his latter; to be intelligent is to be a renowned painter; and to be intelligent is to be a scientist or doctor who is highly respected in his field. However, though it is apparent from the examples given that each has a form of intelligence greater then that of a average person, this does not mean that they are true intellectuals. Individuals who find a task to be easy and effortless may in fact be intelligent: a neurologist who naturally understands the working of the human brain would be an example. Although it is apparent that he is intelligent, he naturally understands such his, without thought or reason; this is the same as the factory worker listed above in example 2, who completes the same task over again, with no personal thought into the task. A true intellect is one who breaks this naturalism that seeps into their professional career, and instead is able to find ways to further a field in research; to challenge themselves beyond a normal limit.
And although this is truly a higher form of intellect, certainly more valuable then intelligence, it is a disgrace that as a society we don't appreciate this, and instead we look towards the "role models" that produce a effect with no effort. A student who is naturally adapt at mathematics receives an A on an exam, with no thought or effort, is rewarded with popularity and pride from his peers and professors alike; in the opposite spectrum, a student who struggles in math spends hours studying in the field, forcing himself to digest the material, and receives a B minus on the same exam. This student is often looked down upon by his fellow peers, and is not praised by his professors, despite the individuals hard work.
It's a dishonorable shame that needs to be corrected; and as people, to better ourselves and our community, it is important that we remove this train of thought from society, and appreciate the intellectual's who are the true hidden gems within our life's.
― Niccolò Machiavelli, The Prince
It is a common occurrence to encounter problems on a daily bases; some consist of philosophical questions one writes for later in pure interest and desire; others consist of errands, and although they tend to be mostly reputable and require little to no thought to accomplish, there are methods to complete the tasks in a efficient, and thought provoking fashion; and lastly, problems arise within personal work studies.
and although in some of the examples it may not seem obvious, all three tasks require a level of intellect that is common within daily rituals:
1.) Regarding the first example of philosophical inquire, this is but a pleasure to indulge oneself in: its a train of thought that I personally peruse out of human curiosity; and as a result it both better myself spiritually and emotionally as an individual, while also keeping my mind and body healthy. In this process, personal meaning and comprehension develops. And although the benefits are reaped from this inquire into philosophy, I do not study these thoughts for reward: it is to enjoy the art of thinking; to ask questions not asked; and to push oneself into better state of mind naturally to install pure joy. Thus, to be truly devoted to intellect, one must first find pleasure in the pursuit of thought provoking questions.
2.) From completing daily errands, it is often a nullifying experience: like a factory worker in a manufacturing system, the tasks are of consistent repetition that requires little to no thought. For myself, this includes: maintaining hygiene, washing clothes, cleaning my room, setting calendar appointments, exercising, and writing reminders to myself. It is a bore, and often mind numbing process to complete these necessary tasks; and often times, people who do such tasks become unaware that they are completing them, and fall into a transit state of thoughtless, repetitive action. Using intuition, I do my best to avoid this. First, I find ways to multitask, in order to avoid wasting time with such brainless activities. Once this is complete, I often find ways to also exercise my thought as I do such tasks: I would sing in the shower to practice my vocal talents (I used to sing in my high school's drama club, and I intend to keep the act); while exercising, I would listen to music and indulge in philosophical thought, to avoid falling into a transit state of just running; but on contrary, I would also meditate, and clear my mind of thought to relax and better prepare myself while completing errands. In the final step, one must find ways to improve the efficiency of the tasks at hand to save time and money. To conclude, an intellect would find ways to reduce meaningless tasks in ones life to a minuscule amount, make most of the time the individual has when completing such tasks, and most importantly, find ways to better the tasks at hand.
3.) In truth, I find the arts of writing and human sciences to be a much more comprehensible then mathematics. It is only natural for one to become easily adept to the success of one field of study over another; nobody can be good in everything. This, as we all refer to, is intelligence, and it takes many forms. To be intelligent is to be a athlete at the top of his latter; to be intelligent is to be a renowned painter; and to be intelligent is to be a scientist or doctor who is highly respected in his field. However, though it is apparent from the examples given that each has a form of intelligence greater then that of a average person, this does not mean that they are true intellectuals. Individuals who find a task to be easy and effortless may in fact be intelligent: a neurologist who naturally understands the working of the human brain would be an example. Although it is apparent that he is intelligent, he naturally understands such his, without thought or reason; this is the same as the factory worker listed above in example 2, who completes the same task over again, with no personal thought into the task. A true intellect is one who breaks this naturalism that seeps into their professional career, and instead is able to find ways to further a field in research; to challenge themselves beyond a normal limit.
And although this is truly a higher form of intellect, certainly more valuable then intelligence, it is a disgrace that as a society we don't appreciate this, and instead we look towards the "role models" that produce a effect with no effort. A student who is naturally adapt at mathematics receives an A on an exam, with no thought or effort, is rewarded with popularity and pride from his peers and professors alike; in the opposite spectrum, a student who struggles in math spends hours studying in the field, forcing himself to digest the material, and receives a B minus on the same exam. This student is often looked down upon by his fellow peers, and is not praised by his professors, despite the individuals hard work.
It's a dishonorable shame that needs to be corrected; and as people, to better ourselves and our community, it is important that we remove this train of thought from society, and appreciate the intellectual's who are the true hidden gems within our life's.
Thursday, October 1, 2015
Working with some cute, intelligent girls in class on a collaborative project discussing Romance, Sex, and love; I'm super excited <3. Can't wait to do some research on the subject with them, I'm sure will become great friends in no time.
Kicking off this romantic (<3) research project, here is a video of a woman playing violin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A3i0GATnRI
P.S:
Chicks dig the violin. I'm a romantic, passionate guy; I should know
Kicking off this romantic (<3) research project, here is a video of a woman playing violin.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1A3i0GATnRI
P.S:
Chicks dig the violin. I'm a romantic, passionate guy; I should know
Monday, September 28, 2015
It's hard to define meaning
Values of meaning are derived from experiences in life, and as a result creates values that we cling to. Pivotal events may change personal value, or enlighten someone in a belief they were unfamiliar with.
It is a painful procedure, as often one gains meaning from uncomfortable experiences. The death of a loved one may trigger a new found value in human life; or the lack of an item could lead to appreciation of material. Often those who have large portions of material wealth have little to no care for currency; but people who are poor, and have little to spend, would appreciate what they could receive.
Thus, many people turn to religion to find meaning, to release suffering found from the lessons of life. It provides value, a wealth that is not material, and something to belong to. Being part of a group who too wants to find deeper significance in life will inevitably lead to a mental purpose to live. Cultivating this purpose, and desire to better themselves, religion takes those who have suffered, and gives to them "hope".
But one must not fall for the trap: "blind" hope is a dangerous scheme. Blind hope is the individual praying to god, asking for meaning, and asking for an end to suffering, without the notion of trying to improve themselves; they believe god loves them, and thus, he will help them with the individual first helping themselves.
God does not work in this fashion. Instead, he only helps those who want to better themselves: men who strive to fight against the darkness; to push against that which has made them suffer; and to not ask, but demand thru effort and passion, does god reward. In this process, meaning and personal value is found within one's life.
After all, light stems from darkness.
But one must not fall for the trap: "blind" hope is a dangerous scheme. Blind hope is the individual praying to god, asking for meaning, and asking for an end to suffering, without the notion of trying to improve themselves; they believe god loves them, and thus, he will help them with the individual first helping themselves.
God does not work in this fashion. Instead, he only helps those who want to better themselves: men who strive to fight against the darkness; to push against that which has made them suffer; and to not ask, but demand thru effort and passion, does god reward. In this process, meaning and personal value is found within one's life.
After all, light stems from darkness.
Sunday, September 20, 2015
Part 1:
Top Choice: Love, Romance, and Sexuality
I'm naturally a romantic person, and I strongly believe that there is a difference between sex and making love. To choose a partner in life; to become intimate to said individual; and to commit oneself, spiritually, physically, and mentally to the prosperity of the chosen loved one is an experience that our society should take more devotion towards, and something I eagerly cannot wait for.
Second Choice: Robotics, Computing, and Artificial Intelligence
One of my favorite science fiction series, Dues Ex, is about large corporations that sell bionic enhancements to further improve human capability; people would augment themselves to the extent in which they are no longer considered human, and go insane. In modern times, we are developing technology at a incredibly rapid rate, becoming more and more reliant on machines to do work for us. With advancement in robotic prosthetic limbs, to the creation of eye lenses that allow you surf the web, we may find ourselves closer to the science fiction of Dues Ex then ever before.
Third Choice: Food
I love the cook, and by looking at me, you can't tell. The art of cooking in itself is a "hidden talent"; unless one were to be invited for dinner, people normally do not watch a chef prepare the food, and with precision and skill, situate the meal in a manner that is both delicious and physically appealing. Guests simply eat the food, and do not think of how it was prepared, and more importantly, who prepared it. In a sense, its a feeling of not being appreciated, but that is not to say we don't enjoy the art. The pleasure of knowing that my guests are enjoying something that came out of my hands is bliss enough; but if I had the chance, I would enlighten people on the skill needed to prepare food.
Part 2:
Love, Romance, and Sexuality:
http://www.unimedliving.com/women/love-vs-sex/making-love-or-having-sex/making-love-having-sex.html
To have sex is physically rewarding, but emotionally draining; to wake up next to a person you don't remember is something of a norm in today's society. The "hook up" ideology has grown within modern America, and drains us of our emotional connection between partners. However, to make love is a different experience: making love is not just physically rewarding, but also emotionally fulfilling; and the connotation of love is not just the physical action, but the experience afterward: making tea, buying flowers and watching TV together. To undergo such a experience is to grow closer to a partner; to value physical and spiritual connection to a higher degree; and to grow as a individual for yourself and your partner.
Robotics, Computing, and Artificial Intelligence:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/524286/a-robotic-hand-this-time-with-feeling/
Man becoming part with the machine has been a topic of many science fiction writers . Star Wars and the famous Darth Vador; Star Trek and the existence of the borg; and even in recent media, such as Guardians of the Galaxy and the use of bionics. But with the development of prosthetic limbs that allow for an individual to feel object, can the science fiction that we see in media actually become a reality?
Food:
http://ozlemsturkishtable.com/
When I cook, I like to try different recipes from around the world. Food can speak a lot about a culture, by recreating dishes served around the world, it brings me to a closer understanding of their cultural values. I decided to try and make Turkish food, being that I only had tried it once before; the result was outstanding. Not only did my family enjoy it, but in the process I learned of the different spices that were used; the meats that were incorporated into the dishes; and most importantly, the flavors of the Turkish nation and culture. It was enjoyable, and an enlightening experience.
Top Choice: Love, Romance, and Sexuality
I'm naturally a romantic person, and I strongly believe that there is a difference between sex and making love. To choose a partner in life; to become intimate to said individual; and to commit oneself, spiritually, physically, and mentally to the prosperity of the chosen loved one is an experience that our society should take more devotion towards, and something I eagerly cannot wait for.
Second Choice: Robotics, Computing, and Artificial Intelligence
One of my favorite science fiction series, Dues Ex, is about large corporations that sell bionic enhancements to further improve human capability; people would augment themselves to the extent in which they are no longer considered human, and go insane. In modern times, we are developing technology at a incredibly rapid rate, becoming more and more reliant on machines to do work for us. With advancement in robotic prosthetic limbs, to the creation of eye lenses that allow you surf the web, we may find ourselves closer to the science fiction of Dues Ex then ever before.
Third Choice: Food
I love the cook, and by looking at me, you can't tell. The art of cooking in itself is a "hidden talent"; unless one were to be invited for dinner, people normally do not watch a chef prepare the food, and with precision and skill, situate the meal in a manner that is both delicious and physically appealing. Guests simply eat the food, and do not think of how it was prepared, and more importantly, who prepared it. In a sense, its a feeling of not being appreciated, but that is not to say we don't enjoy the art. The pleasure of knowing that my guests are enjoying something that came out of my hands is bliss enough; but if I had the chance, I would enlighten people on the skill needed to prepare food.
Part 2:
Love, Romance, and Sexuality:
http://www.unimedliving.com/women/love-vs-sex/making-love-or-having-sex/making-love-having-sex.html
To have sex is physically rewarding, but emotionally draining; to wake up next to a person you don't remember is something of a norm in today's society. The "hook up" ideology has grown within modern America, and drains us of our emotional connection between partners. However, to make love is a different experience: making love is not just physically rewarding, but also emotionally fulfilling; and the connotation of love is not just the physical action, but the experience afterward: making tea, buying flowers and watching TV together. To undergo such a experience is to grow closer to a partner; to value physical and spiritual connection to a higher degree; and to grow as a individual for yourself and your partner.
Robotics, Computing, and Artificial Intelligence:
http://www.technologyreview.com/news/524286/a-robotic-hand-this-time-with-feeling/
Man becoming part with the machine has been a topic of many science fiction writers . Star Wars and the famous Darth Vador; Star Trek and the existence of the borg; and even in recent media, such as Guardians of the Galaxy and the use of bionics. But with the development of prosthetic limbs that allow for an individual to feel object, can the science fiction that we see in media actually become a reality?
Food:
http://ozlemsturkishtable.com/
When I cook, I like to try different recipes from around the world. Food can speak a lot about a culture, by recreating dishes served around the world, it brings me to a closer understanding of their cultural values. I decided to try and make Turkish food, being that I only had tried it once before; the result was outstanding. Not only did my family enjoy it, but in the process I learned of the different spices that were used; the meats that were incorporated into the dishes; and most importantly, the flavors of the Turkish nation and culture. It was enjoyable, and an enlightening experience.
Sunday, September 13, 2015
One of my favorite quotes of all time comes from Emil Cioran, a Romanian philosopher:
"It is no nation we inhabit, but a language. Make no mistake; our native tongue is our true fatherland."
After reading this weeks article that defined language, its origin and use, I was reminded of this quote; and from my view as too what Emil is saying, he does not mean one's dialect, but something more.
Last week I had mentioned my shock when I first read the article about cockfighting: people would throw animals into the ring and watch them brutally murder each other for the sake of entertainment. As a westerner, I was brought up to love animals, but in the Bali culture, animals are seen as being dirty and disgusting.
The term animals defines the same primitive term in both languages: a non-human organism that is of the animal kingdom; but the "meaning" of the term animal in both culture from western and Bali is what creates this separation.
Looking into the article read this week, at section 10, the author makes the distinction that "The word signifies this."
The significance of the word "animal" and its meaning to me as an individual; to the society I naturally reside in; and to the language I speak within my discourse community, it is a cherished term. When I hear the word animal I think of horses, dogs, cats, barn animals, turtles, sea creatures, and a variety of other organisms. I do not think of them as lesser beings, nor do I think they are disgusting. I was culturally brought up to take interest within animal life; never have I heard my parents make negative connotations toward animals, and their values have past onto me.
The same could possibly not be said by someone living within Bali. During our discussion in class, it was mentioned that animals are viewed as being disgusting, and represent primal human instinct. The culture defines "animal" as a negative connotation; to grow up in Bali is to inhibit this same belief.
And is this wrong? Of course not. It is a cultural distinction that separates us. The word animal signifies something of joy, and nature within a western mindset. Within the Bali language, it is a representation of gross uncivilized nature.
And yet the physical language itself is the same; but the metaphorical symbolism, the signification of the word within two different nations, is completely opposite.
The language spoken is a foreign nation in its own.
"It is no nation we inhabit, but a language. Make no mistake; our native tongue is our true fatherland."
After reading this weeks article that defined language, its origin and use, I was reminded of this quote; and from my view as too what Emil is saying, he does not mean one's dialect, but something more.
Last week I had mentioned my shock when I first read the article about cockfighting: people would throw animals into the ring and watch them brutally murder each other for the sake of entertainment. As a westerner, I was brought up to love animals, but in the Bali culture, animals are seen as being dirty and disgusting.
The term animals defines the same primitive term in both languages: a non-human organism that is of the animal kingdom; but the "meaning" of the term animal in both culture from western and Bali is what creates this separation.
Looking into the article read this week, at section 10, the author makes the distinction that "The word signifies this."
The significance of the word "animal" and its meaning to me as an individual; to the society I naturally reside in; and to the language I speak within my discourse community, it is a cherished term. When I hear the word animal I think of horses, dogs, cats, barn animals, turtles, sea creatures, and a variety of other organisms. I do not think of them as lesser beings, nor do I think they are disgusting. I was culturally brought up to take interest within animal life; never have I heard my parents make negative connotations toward animals, and their values have past onto me.
The same could possibly not be said by someone living within Bali. During our discussion in class, it was mentioned that animals are viewed as being disgusting, and represent primal human instinct. The culture defines "animal" as a negative connotation; to grow up in Bali is to inhibit this same belief.
And is this wrong? Of course not. It is a cultural distinction that separates us. The word animal signifies something of joy, and nature within a western mindset. Within the Bali language, it is a representation of gross uncivilized nature.
And yet the physical language itself is the same; but the metaphorical symbolism, the signification of the word within two different nations, is completely opposite.
The language spoken is a foreign nation in its own.
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