| (no subject) |
[Jan. 5th, 2007|02:30 am] |
For starters, I would just like to say this blog is entirely my opinion and my opinion only. I am not trying to suede you to think like me, nor am I necessarily hungrily awaiting your defending retorts. Fact is, you shouldn't really defend any one you don't know personally anyways, so why bother?
So, here we go. Deep breath.
I hate Mitch Albom. He is an overly pretentious douche capitalizing on human emotion during a time when people are most vulnerable and willing to cling to almost anything that gives hope and/or direction. In comparison, somewhat like a clingy ex-girlfriend who just can’t move on without you.
I read in a recent article (probably right around the anniversary for 9/11) how the average American is connected to a 9/11 victim through at least ten people you know. People are affected, they are vulnerable, and they need something to give them hope.
Side track one second; we just topped 3,000 casualties in Iraq. Someone knows at least someone in Iraq. We are directionless and seek redemption. Please, oh please, won't someone help us?!
A friend of mine recommended Tuesdays with Morrie as a good read for spiritual purposes while my father was fighting cancer. I read the book in two days, and can honestly say it wasn't a bad book. However, I will now tell you why I hated it.
What started as a spiritual journey, ended with a feeling of thievery. Throughout the book, Albom expresses a philosophy very similar to that of Fight Club: "you're not how much money you've got in the bank. You're not your job....You're not your problems.... You're not your age.... You are not your hopes...". The hidden concept is, you are what you are. You become who you are through those you know and nothing else matters but the family and friends you keep close to you. In a more direct sense, success is nothing, friendship is everything.
Well Morrie dies (sorry to ruin it for you, but I'm actually sparing you). The book ends, but that's not all! In the back of the book, right on the inside of the back cover, we see a picture of Mitch Albom. Beneath this picture, is a nice list of his accomplishments, his awards, his website and a brief synopsis of his journalism career.
Could we get any more condescending? Thievery at it’s best.
You see I hate Mitch Albom as a matter of principal. Think outside the box a bit. If I wrote that book, and I was pulling as much weight with my publishers as he allegedly does, I'd have made a point to omit such BS from the cover. Why? Well, to actually justify the point I was trying to make throughout the whole book. I don’t care if he goes on to write another book, whereby towards the end he lists the same diatribe. Unless the book focuses on the same premise, I don’t see what effect it would have. By all means Mitch, bloat yourself up some more.
Now, lets discuss his most recent book; For One More Day. This book promotes itself with the concept: "If you could have just one more day with a dead loved one, what would you do?" Where am I going you ask? Lets backpeddle to the 9/11 victims, the friends of the 9/11 victims and the friends and family of soldiers in Iraq. See where I'm getting at? Mitch Albom is capitalizing on human emotion at periods of vulnerability and we're letting him win.
Books like this are given as gifts. Someone thinks to themselves, "Wow, this would really touch Insert Name Here, especially with the recent passing of Insert Name Here", or, "Wow, Insert Name Here would certainly benefit from this one, well with her son Insert Name Here being blown to pieces in Iraq and all..."
Just like that, another $24.95 copy of For One More Day sells.
Another book by Albom: Five People You Meet In Heaven. The concept promotes the idea of how many lives you've touched without knowing it. Remember that time you told that guy to "Have a nice day" or you complimented his hair style, well good job! He didn't go home and kill himself as he planned, because you gave him some hope in the world. Don't worry; he'll remind you when you die. That is at least, if you don’t go to hell first for all the fucked up things you did as well.
Whether these books are read by the recipient or not remains completely irrelevant to me. Fact is, Albom is capitalizing on vulnerability and emotions. If you can actually read one of his books and claim it changed your life, well then, you have bigger issues than what can be expressed in this blog. Plus, if I wanted a fictitious story of faith and hope packed with a larger cast of characters I would have just read The Bible. |
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| Soundtrack |
[Aug. 3rd, 2006|01:55 am] |
Put windows media player on random....hit next for each new subject.
Opening Credits:
Kaya - Bob Marley
Waking Up:
Just Like A Woman - Bob Dylan
Falling In Love:
Pictures Of You - The Cure
Fight Scene:
Hatecrew Deathroll - Children Of Bodom
Breaking Up:
Let The Hammer Fall - Hammerfall
Make-up:
Wouldn't It be Nice - Beach Boys (what a sweet pick)
Life's Okay:
Drive By - Body Count
Mental Breakdown:
Devils - Motorhead
Driving:
Time Passes Slowly - Bob Dylan
Flashbacks:
Pale Blue Eyes - Velvet Underground (Oh God...get me the gun now)
Happy Dance:
2 Minutes To Midnight - Iron Maiden
Regretting:
Needle In The Hay - Elliot Smith
Final Battle:
Bad To The Bone - George Thorogood
Death Scene:
Come Clarity - In Flames |
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| (no subject) |
[Jul. 27th, 2006|07:52 pm] |
No use worrying - we cant control it can we?
When you're driving on the road and the DD's had too many
Swirving, spinning, shifting as the cadillac gently roams
Praying, hoping, wishing to finally make it home |
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| Gym |
[Jul. 26th, 2006|07:32 pm] |
I played 5 games of basketball today and wasnt even winded. I worked on the punching bag for 45 minutes, benched and did the other weights, 100 crunches and I really just wanna play some more basketball. The only reason I left in the first place was because I was hungry.
I really have nothing else the least bit significant to say. Game over. |
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| AC |
[Jul. 16th, 2006|06:23 am] |
I went down to AC on Friday night to meet up with Zanyor and some other peeps from the G at Trump Marina. I had me about 3 beers, and next thing you know he approached me about having to sit in as a judge for the bikini contest. Well, since I'm such a good friend amidst all of the other excitement of the evening, I took one for the team and opted to do it for him. I mean, thats what any friend would do, right?
Needless to say it entertaining. He kept naggin me while he was up on stage introducing the ladies, asking me what i liked, to keep it in my pants, etc.
Afterwards I ate me some free hooters chicken wings, which was a good thing cause I was starting to get a lil tipsy from the three beers. Every one who knows me knows that is never the case, but I hadn't eaten anything for nearly 8 hrs at that point.
Got some food in my stomach and everything started to get a lil better. I could feel my feet again and was gettin started up for the rest of the night. Around 10:30 or so I helped Sracy and others throw some crap in to my car from the station and then me, her and Zanyor hung out for the night. Of course, being in AC I had the itch to gamble. I'd already lost $50 at the blackjack tournament on the deck, so I had to make it up. So, to the craps table I went.
Won $140 there, my $50 I lost and then $90 on top of that. Through out $10 here or there on video poker, $5 on a slot, and then another drink or two at the bar. One way or another I was back down to $40. I walked over to the blackjack table and threw down $10. $10 became $20, $20 became $40, $40 became $80 and $80, $80 to $100 and then back down to $60. Figured at that point it would be nice to walk away, a $50 profit on a $10 bet.
But, of course, right before I left I just took a shot in the dark and threw down $40 on a blackjack hand. I got 2 Kings...awesome, a 20. The dealer is showing a 6, flips a 10. Sweet, 16...he's gonna bust. No, no he doesn't. He draws a 5...the one deck in the hand that beats me and I lost my $40. But I did it with the intent to lose, winning is the elustrious surprise. A $50 profit on the night wasn't bad at all, considering I'd been down $50 at one point.
Yesterday, for the first time in over a month, I filled up my whole tank with gas. $38, leaving me $12 from my winnings.
I'll save it for part of my ticket to sounds of the underground with Barnesy tonight.
LATER |
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| Seemless/Brand New Sin |
[Jun. 22nd, 2006|01:47 am] |
Today Barnesy and I decided to take a venture up to Hoboken to see a few bands over at Maxwells. Neither of us had ever been there before, but it turned out to be a pretty cool venue. The best part about it is that you are literally inches from the stage, so much to the point where it's almost like it's a basement or garage show more than it is a venue.
Afterwards I got to meet Jesse Leech, former singer of Killswitch Engage and current singer of Seemless. I know to a majority of people reading this, they don't even know who he is or even recognize his music, but he was a really nice guy and was happy to hear someone say they drove an hour to see them play.
Good shit.
The End. |
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| hello hello |
[Jun. 18th, 2006|09:04 pm] |
| [ | mood |
| |  blank | ] |
So I figured I'd make a post just to be trendy and cool like all those other people out there. Afterall, deep down inside you all know it's my passion to be just as trendy as every one else. But seriously, I dont have anything interesting to say. Well, I do, but I'm not up for saying it here. After all, a majority of the people who even read this journal are the ones who want to keep in touch with my life but not interact with me in any way. Prime example I can think of right now is 2 girls I used to date. It's bad enough one of them used to stalk my myspace profile all the time, and the other...well, she's an enigma, wrapped in confusion, wrapped in insecurity. She's one of those people who keeps in touch just for what they can use from you. She also pops in here every so often but tosses up an away whenever it comes down to talkin to her.
So yeah, that about settles that. Fuck em.
Bahamas and Montreal were great, I had a really good time. I'm home now and ready to get crackin again. Looking forward to startin some PT work next Saturday or so, but we shall see as the schedule of life commences.
That's it. See ya. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 29th, 2006|07:53 am] |
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I had a dream last night, again, that all of my teeth fell out. Last time this happened it was like a day or two before my dad died. Its supposed to signify loss or fear of losing someone close to you. My grandmother is gettin kinda up there in age...I'd hate to be right again. |
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| (no subject) |
[Apr. 7th, 2006|02:12 am] |
He's acting dumb
But thats what you've come
To Expect |
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| The Year |
[Dec. 8th, 2005|07:38 pm] |
1) Was 2005 a good year for you?
No, it wasn't
2) What was your favorite moment of the year?
Going to Vegas...going to LA
3) What was your least favorite moment of the year?
I was sick a lot this yr, and dad died.
4) Where were you when 2005 began?
My house
5) Who were you with?
Mom, Dad, Kevo, Alex, Jess
6) Where will you be when 2005 ends?
Not so sure...maybe Philly
7) Who will you be with when 2005 end?
Not so sure...maybe people in Philly
8) Did you keep your new years resolution of 2005?
Yes, but unfortunately not the method in which I had hoped to achieve it
9) Do you have a new years resolution for 2006?
I'm thinkin bout one
10) Did u fall in love in 2005?
I dont think it was given a fair chance
11) Do you regret it?
Not so sure what Im supposed to regret
12) Did you breakup with anyone in 2005?
Yeah
13) Did you make any new friends in 2005?
Yup, a few
14) Who are your favorite new friends?
Jill, Zanyor
15) What was your favorite month of 2005?
Hmmm...May, when I graduated
16) Did you travel outside of the US in 2005?
I've never been outside of the US
17) How many different states did you travel to in 2005?
9...Penn, NY, California, Arizona, Nevada, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Connecticut
18) Did you lose anybody close to you in 2005?
Yes, Dad
19) Did you miss anybody in the past year?
Dad and Grandpa
20) What was your favorite movie that you saw in 2005?
I dont know, nothing really stands out in my mind.
21) What was your favorite song from 2005?
It's Not A Fashion Statement, It's A Death Wish - My Chemical Romance
Comeback Kid - Wake The Dead
22) What was your favorite record from 2005?
I dont know
23) How many concerts did you see in 2005?
A few, I don't recall though...Bob Dylan is a drunken blur to me, The Machine was the best cover band I've ever seen, Social Distortion, Fear Factory. I dont know I don't feel like thinking much right now
24) Did you have a favorite concert in 2005?
Fear Factory
25) Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2005?
Yeah, you could say that
26) Did you do a lot of drugs in 2005?
I dont do drugs
27) How many people did you sleep with in 2005?
A Bazillion
28) Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
Nah
29) What was the worst lie someone told you in 2005?
Dont know, clearly it wasnt that big a deal
30) Did you treat somebody badly in 2005?
Not really
31) Did anyone treat you badly in 2005?
Yes
32) How much money did you spend in 2005?
I dont know
33) What was your proudest moment of 2005?
Writing and reading Dads eulogy, it was and will forever be the hardest thing I'll ever do
34) What was your most embarassing moment of 2005?
I dont know, but it probably involves puking
35) If you could go back in time to any moment of 2005 and change something, what would it be?
I dont feel like thinking about that
36) What are your plans for 2006?
Look in to Grad Schools, love myself a bit (more than the usual *wink wink*), get a fuckin real job, write something decent, write a song or two, just be a better person |
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