I intended to do a post on faith healing, though it seems that is a beast that I don't have the discipline to conquer at the moment. Perhaps at another time.
However, I do feel the need to at least write something about the fact that George Carlin passed away yesterday at the age of 71. Now I'm not a die-hard fan, though I do appreciate what he offered to our culture. Carlin was a ballsy guy. He made a living from not only being inappropriately shocking, but bringing to the forefront the issues we as a society shy away from. In his obituary released by the AP today, the quote I wanted to use as a pull out on the front page was: "The whole problem with this idea of obscenity and indecency, and all of these things — bad language and whatever — it's all caused by one basic thing, and that is: religious superstition. There's an idea that the human body is somehow evil and bad and there are parts of it that are especially evil and bad, and we should be ashamed. Fear, guilt and shame are built into the attitude toward sex and the body. ... It's reflected in these prohibitions and these taboos that we have." (It was too long to use in the space I had.)
I think this epitomizes what Carlin dedicated his life to proving. That our culture is so virginal and scared of taboo subjects. He broke the rules and people loved him for it. Many hated him, but what he accomplished was showing us how easy it is to laugh at our own societal stigmas. He talked about what no one wanted to talk about. He said things no one wanted to hear or say, at least in a public venue. In 1978 the Supreme Court made a ruling upholding the government's authority to fine stations for broadcasting inappropriate language because an excerpt from "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television" was broadcast on a New York radio station. Carlin made a significant impact on our culture and it's devastating to lose someone like him.
I wish that I would've been able to see him during his early years. When I saw him at Purchase in 2006, he was bitter. Granted that was part of his schtick, but it wasn't funny bitter; it was old, worn down and hateful... but still a legend. I appreciated that fact that I was able to witness such a cultural icon live. I respect him for the work he did. Though in today's society the boundaries are tested frequently, Carlin was one of the first to try and succeed.
"I love and treasure individuals as I meet them, I loathe and despise the groups they identify with and belong to."
"The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, “You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I’m just not close enough to get the job done.”
"The reason they call it the American Dream is because you have to be asleep to believe it."
"Honesty may be the best policy, but it’s important to remember that apparently, by elimination, dishonesty is the second-best policy."
R.I.P. George Carlin, 1937-2008
Monday, June 23, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
The fire is sweepin' our very street today.
There is no denying anymore that the fuel situation in this country is getting out of control. In fact, the fuel situation is hitting hard in other countries as well. Today, truck drivers across Spain blocked roads and halted deliveries in protest of rising fuel costs. The length of the protest is indefinite, so Spaniards are stocking up on food and fuel in fears that soon they will be hard to come by. In Barcelona, 40 percent of gas stations have run out of fuel and it is reported that markets are running low on food supplies in other parts of the country.
In the U.S. gas is now more than $4 a gallon on average. I have watched the numbers climb day by day as I dread every trip to the gas station. It was $4.07 yesterday at a local Sunoco, this morning, $4.15. Industry analysts are expecting the frenzy to peak at $5 a gallon over the summer. Though the issue of fuel cost has been in the background for the past decade, it is only now coming to the forefront and changing the way people live.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll, 66 percent of Americans have changed their driving habits to cut back on fuel purchases. Seventy-one percent are considering buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle. This percentage -- especially in a country full of ride big, live big good ol' folk -- is mind blowing.
Every avenue of our lives is seeing the sting of higher fuel prices. The price of food is beginning to dramatically increase from week to week due to the fact that truck drivers are finding it harder to fill their semis with diesel. With diesel at more than $5 a gallon, it takes approximately $1000 to fill an 18-wheeler's tank. At what point will it all be too much?
People are currently -- and have been for some time -- cutting back on recreational spending, but now it seems that soon they will have to cut back on necessary spending. A Principal survey released today found that 56 percent of workers have cut back spending because of economic challenges. Is there a quick way out of this fuel fiasco?
Even if people start buying more fuel-efficient vehicles tomorrow, our dependence on oil would not be significantly tamed. It's like the leaders of this nation have been sucking the bank account dry and now the rent is due. Many people in this country want to keep their eyes shut to the fact that we are in a serious situation that cannot be easily remedied. Every single person in America -- and across the globe -- needs to wake up now, in the hopes that though we may not be able to stop anything in our time, our efforts today will at least assist the next generation. So many think that global warming is a joke and sort of associate the idea of fuel-efficient vehicles with that. It's unfortunate, because despite whatever you may think about global warming, oil dependency is real and serious and will soon steal the bread from your children's mouths.
In the U.S. gas is now more than $4 a gallon on average. I have watched the numbers climb day by day as I dread every trip to the gas station. It was $4.07 yesterday at a local Sunoco, this morning, $4.15. Industry analysts are expecting the frenzy to peak at $5 a gallon over the summer. Though the issue of fuel cost has been in the background for the past decade, it is only now coming to the forefront and changing the way people live.
According to a CNN/Opinion Research poll, 66 percent of Americans have changed their driving habits to cut back on fuel purchases. Seventy-one percent are considering buying a more fuel-efficient vehicle. This percentage -- especially in a country full of ride big, live big good ol' folk -- is mind blowing.
Every avenue of our lives is seeing the sting of higher fuel prices. The price of food is beginning to dramatically increase from week to week due to the fact that truck drivers are finding it harder to fill their semis with diesel. With diesel at more than $5 a gallon, it takes approximately $1000 to fill an 18-wheeler's tank. At what point will it all be too much?
People are currently -- and have been for some time -- cutting back on recreational spending, but now it seems that soon they will have to cut back on necessary spending. A Principal survey released today found that 56 percent of workers have cut back spending because of economic challenges. Is there a quick way out of this fuel fiasco?
Even if people start buying more fuel-efficient vehicles tomorrow, our dependence on oil would not be significantly tamed. It's like the leaders of this nation have been sucking the bank account dry and now the rent is due. Many people in this country want to keep their eyes shut to the fact that we are in a serious situation that cannot be easily remedied. Every single person in America -- and across the globe -- needs to wake up now, in the hopes that though we may not be able to stop anything in our time, our efforts today will at least assist the next generation. So many think that global warming is a joke and sort of associate the idea of fuel-efficient vehicles with that. It's unfortunate, because despite whatever you may think about global warming, oil dependency is real and serious and will soon steal the bread from your children's mouths.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Underdogs with good intentions.
I did it. I gave in and watched Juno. For a good while I refused to participate in the hype. I listened to the praises and adulation but remained strong in my conviction to not be disappointed once again by "The Greatest Movie Ever Made." But hey, everyone succumbs to Sunday evening boredom.
Well, I can't say I was devastated. Did this film fall prey to the issue I have with being pummeled by a film's acclaim only to find it lacking in all it was supposed to be? Kind of.
The writing was solid. Diablo Cody, former stripper and Juno's writer, tried to capture the awkwardness in the interaction between high schoolers. This came across well, however if one were to look at reality -- especially in today's teen society -- the language is leaps and bounds above what is used by most 16-year-olds. The dialouge was "hip" and "witty," with cute little catchphrases like "Your eggo is preggo" -- which actually seem more funny on Facebook flair than in the script.
The most well-developed character was by far Juno. Cody really worked on her and one could sense that Juno (the girl) was her baby. Her dialogue was interesting and her personality made the movie entertaining. Juno is someone anyone could know. Or at least someone anyone would like to know.
The soundtrack consists of super-indy, I'm-cooler-than-you-because-only-four-people-know-about-this-band acts a la Garden State with lesser known artists. I can't lie. I downloaded a handful of songs because they're quaint.
The film didn't leave me with a connection to it or a longing to watch it again, not really even a solid emotional response. I'm sure it's due to the fact that I've been told by 537 chicks that it was awesome. I can't say that. I can't say it was awesome just because I have a uterus. I can say it was cute. I can say that I appreciated the dialogue for the most part. I can say that I'd like to see Ellen Page in more films. But as far as a must-see... not so much.
Well, I can't say I was devastated. Did this film fall prey to the issue I have with being pummeled by a film's acclaim only to find it lacking in all it was supposed to be? Kind of.
The writing was solid. Diablo Cody, former stripper and Juno's writer, tried to capture the awkwardness in the interaction between high schoolers. This came across well, however if one were to look at reality -- especially in today's teen society -- the language is leaps and bounds above what is used by most 16-year-olds. The dialouge was "hip" and "witty," with cute little catchphrases like "Your eggo is preggo" -- which actually seem more funny on Facebook flair than in the script.
The most well-developed character was by far Juno. Cody really worked on her and one could sense that Juno (the girl) was her baby. Her dialogue was interesting and her personality made the movie entertaining. Juno is someone anyone could know. Or at least someone anyone would like to know.
The soundtrack consists of super-indy, I'm-cooler-than-you-because-only-four-people-know-about-this-band acts a la Garden State with lesser known artists. I can't lie. I downloaded a handful of songs because they're quaint.
The film didn't leave me with a connection to it or a longing to watch it again, not really even a solid emotional response. I'm sure it's due to the fact that I've been told by 537 chicks that it was awesome. I can't say that. I can't say it was awesome just because I have a uterus. I can say it was cute. I can say that I appreciated the dialogue for the most part. I can say that I'd like to see Ellen Page in more films. But as far as a must-see... not so much.
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