Making it better

Of all the traditional music this time of year Handel's "Messiah" is the my favorite.
More than the beauty of the music, I love the story connected to it.

Handel debuted it to a PACKED house and it was an instant hit. After one show he was followed by a crowd congratulating him on creating something so entertaining. He turned to the crowd, and said:

"I did not make it to entertain you, I made it to make us better"

Now the implications in that statement are pretty heavy, but this statement got me thinking.

Think about what we watch on TV, what passes for literature, what the themes and dialogue are in the movies we watch, what the substance of popular music is. When was the last time an artist (writer, producer etc.) Dedicated their art, their work to the general purpose of being uplifting.

I'm not talking about peddling an particular moral agenda. I mean, what if their sole purpose was to create joy? Thinking about it, don't you long for something more than entertainment?

I hope you find it.

a simple "no"

Discipline is hard to get and easy to lose.

Being disciplined means being restricted, but in a funny way it also means being free.

A person without discipline, lacks the control to decide for him or herself. Whatever it is that they chose to leave unchecked in themselves, soon is beyond thier immediate ability to change. They become slaves of thier habits.

On the other hand a disciplined individual is free to resist, they can say no.

It's simply a thought to side-track you, but I thought I'd throw it out there:

Sometimes saying NO, is just as freeing as saying YES.

think about it.

Think about it.

"If the truth be known, the truth is more than to each his own."

Truth is Truth because it is constant, otherwise it'd be called something eles.

The fact that we don't understand the way something works or are incapable of finding a person who can explain it, doesn't prove it false or invalid. It simply means that we've got things to learn.

AND just becuase you don't belive something, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. You don't believe it, cool. That's your right. Still doesn't mean it's not real.

where you stand depends on where you sit

Karl Marx was evil. You can feel free to disagree with me, but as far as I'm concerned his abusive attitude toward his wife, children, and personal hygiene are completely disgusting. He was greedy, lazy, and foul (in so many senses of the word) but he did have a knack for expression. Despite being despicable, he did, sometimes, phrase things nicely.
I particularly like this quote:

"Those without heritage are easily persuaded."

It is almost menacing, as if he was thinking of manipulating you, (shocking) I think it is also true.
If a person is unwilling to claim a past, they have no roots, no way to stay grounded and (forgive the trite metaphor) may easily be blown about in the storm of ideas.

So, if at all possible, know your history and be an Oak instead of a Palm-tree

"a little side-step"

Judge Irving Younger, is quoted as having said: "The first task of free men is to call all things by their right names."

I absolutely agree. With out definitions, and recognition of those definitions, choas, atrocity, and severe annoyance are allowed to occur. Starting with the pollution of the general atmosphere and eventually ending with the destruction of all ideals.

On that note:
I am sick of the double-talk, glittering generalities and BS of our political personalities. The parasitical lobbyists, politicians and pundants are merely the most obvious offenders. However, in the DC area a day before the presidential election almost anyone you talk to is ready to regurgitate some foul piece of advertisement as Gospel Truth.
Nobody tells it like it is, not really (and especially not if they are trying to get elected).

In the process of writing the above paragraph I was interrupted 7 times by phone calls from the different political parties, each of them trying to tell me who I should vote for. I understand: it's a close race, every vote counts, that it's responsible participation in the democratic process!

But for the love of all things, can we please give the "Messiah-complex" a rest!
A new president is not, can not, and will not be a "savior". They're cupable, frail, HUMAN! (and as such certain to mess-up, alot.)

Whoever gets elected will fail to make good on all their promises, and in trying to implement new policies or change old ones will, without doubt, tick off large proportions of the population, maybe even everyone (not all at the same time of course, but eventually).

That being said, you should still go vote. Only, do so based on what you think not what streamlined add campaigns have been telling you to think. Examine your convictions and the candidates' words/ actions.
Then quit lying to yourself and get on with it.

Sleeping beauty and beauty sleep

Out of all the Disney princesses I think Sleeping Beauty had the right idea.
A care-free, pressure-free youth and plenty of rest; she's the only princess that gets to nap!

As I was looking around today, people seemed fundamentally tired. It was kind of sad. When people are so over-extended or exhausted that they seem hagard, you know they're not going to enjoy thier day.
I almost feel like it's a waste. It was a lovely fall day and people were too wiped to notice. Because of this I'm going to encourage a slightly radical idea: go to bed!



p.s. a note on the last post: I couldn't find a link that would work or do justice to the songs.

the fox

"The fox" is a song by Nickel Creek. The instumentals are amazing. If you enjoy Hill or folksy music you will love this song. On that same note (pun not really intended, but still going to be used) if you like the fiddle, "Ode to a butterfly" also by Nickel Creek, is even more enjoyable.

These are "toe-tapping" songs, and yes they're a little silly, but also beautiful.
Take five minutes, find them, and listen; they're nice.

So I'm borrowing a better expression.

I've never been good at expressing grief. I don't sob, and I find that hitting stuff just annoys me. I can be poetic, but when actually dealing with death composing poetry seems trite.
However, my buddies Scholtz and Sikes have a real knack for putting the foggy things of this world into a more concrete language:

"It's been such a long time; I think I should be going.
Time doesn't wait for me; It just keeps on rollin'.
. . . .
But I'm takin my time, I'm just movin along;
you'll forget about me after I've been gone.
. . . .
I'm just takin my time."

and really that's all any of us are doing.
None of us knows how much time we have, but we're taking it.
(And more than likely taking it for granted.)

some things are not synonyms

Watch out, now.
I'm about to get nerdy.

I was having a discussion with someone today and they kept using "ethics" and "morality" interchangably. These words do not mean the same thing!

Morality is based on the mores of a culture, people, society or what-have-you. Morals can change and Morality can be quantified and statistically documented. Where as Ethics is based on "ethos". Ethics implies a standard that ought not to change. It begs the question of Right vs. Wrong, not just "What is the majority doing?"
People are aware of this distinction, even if they don't know it. I mean, hasn't your mother ever said to you "Just becuse everybody's doing it, doesn't make it right"?

In the same way "transform", does not mean "shift". It's a complete change. You don't transform a little bit.

I know it seems a kind of up-tight, but in a world where so many people are looking for truth, the lack of clearly defined language is like shooting a runner in the foot and then telling them to race: it's not helpful.

So, dear reader, I encourage you to check your definitions and your assumptions/ enjoy your life.

Don't take it personally.

The idea that anyone in the world can see what I'm writing kind of creeps me out. That's right, I said it, you creep me out.

But I don't think you'll worry about it.

I've never done this "blog" thing before and to be honest if it weren't for a professor asking me to, I wouldn't be typing now. Mostly, because I don't like typing. (I'm sure I'll get over it.)

I might talk about what I do, what I think, my many misadventures or I might climb up on my soap box and JUST ramble. Whatever this thing evolves into (if it progresses at all), will be something that happens. . . not tonight.