Introducing, if I haven't already, THE FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS.
Buy IN to it.
City Creek, If you haven't been, you should, it's incredible, the way its put together is astounding. It is fresh, clean, and has some very nice vendors-- if you're into that kind of thing. However, I couldn't help but wonder, why? What is this really doing for downtown Salt Lake, or the people here?
City Creek was funded by the Church ("through its commercial real estate arm, Property Reserve, Inc. No public dollars of tithing funds [were] used in the development"), but the teachings of consumer America, stands in striking contrast next to the buildings just across the streets, from the massive mall.
I came to the mall in some clothes that I felt were decent, I had no problem wearing them before I came in. But as I was going through the mall, checking clothes, watching others, I became aware of how I looked. Human nature I guess, but I felt like I was out of place, not in style, or fashionable. I was feeling a little stupid for being there.... I don't know what shook me from this state of mind, maybe my growling belly, but I started to think, "hold on, this whole mall, the idea of consuming, is garbage." And it is. Does it make you better because you wear a shirt from Brooks Brothers? Sure, because you can afford to be apart of a country club. The fat Rolex on your arm makes you more of success than me. You fit into a higher tax bracket, thus making you better. Then I thought of what Tyler Durden would say.
Man, I see in fight club the strongest and smartest men who've ever lived. I see all this potential, and I see squandering. God damn it, an entire generation pumping gas, waiting tables; slaves with white collars. Advertising has us chasing cars and clothes, working jobs we hate so we can buy shit we don't need. We're the middle children of history, man. No purpose or place. We have no Great War. No Great Depression. Our Great War's a spiritual war... our Great Depression is our lives. We've all been raised on television to believe that one day we'd all be millionaires, and movie gods, and rock stars. But we won't. And we're slowly learning that fact. And we're very, very pissed off.
I'm not pissed off, yet, but what he said resonates with me. I have had the blessing of living in a third world country, seeing people, who have little to no luxuries in life, be completely happy. They work to survive, not work to satisfy an idea. And I wonder, why can't I be more like them, content with the simply pleasures of life? Do I really need a pair of $100 jeans to feel good about myself? No. Not at all, but I buy them anyway. It's habitual. I want to be accepted. We all do.
We are the Earth's greatest nation, yes? At least that is what we are told. We are brainwashed into this thinking because we have the highest GDP, largest military force, and we are the free world leader. This is not me saying that America sucks, it doesn't, I am saying that we are backwards. Our thinking has retarded. Shouldn't life be more substantial than trying to be better than everyone else, or just fitting in?
The things you own end up owning you.... We're consumers. We are by-products of a lifestyle obsession. Murder, crime, poverty, these things don't concern me. What concerns me are celebrity magazines, television with 500 channels, some guy's name on my underwear. Rogaine, Viagra, Olestra.
I digress. I am talking about a multitude of things. In essence, I am saying, I am bugged that I am caught up in the hype. Angry that I am not above it. I am frustrated that I really don't know how to change it. And now I am pissed, that tomorrow morning, I will wake up and wonder when I will be able to afford a nice truck... because that is when I will have made it. Cause, you have to have money to be happy.
The audacity
I wish I had the balls to do this, but then again, I don't own a handgun... which would be my fail safe if things got really out of control.
You're right Danny Glover
It's hard sometimes, to come up with garbage to write about. It's hard to know what people want to read-- or if they are even reading. I don't know why I keep up this blog, I just do. Wall-E didn't know why he kept making cubes of trash, he just did, but he found hidden gems every once in a while.But honestly, sometimes I feel like saying, 'Man, I'm too old for this shit."
Warning, this video contains a plethora of cursing.
AAPL
Apple is going for just over $600 dollars a share. It has about $93 billion in cash. And the company doesn't seem to be slowing down. People just love Apple shit (Americans love to buy stupid stuff too). They love the nice looking gadgets. They love the fancy things they can do with with their fat fingers. But mostly, people love to be cool. So do I. I would buy an Apple car if I could afford it. I can't wait for them to start making toasters. Holy smokes! They actually could re-invent the wheel. Wait-- Walker Wood has already done that.
I bought an iPhone, to be cool. And guess what, I feel way better having this iPhone than when I was wearing JINCO jeans. The poor can now have a decent status symbol. Can't wait to sell alarms so I can buy myself MacPro. Then an Apple TV. Then an Apple bathtub. DIE DROID, DIE!
It's an orange ball.
I read this article the other day on ESPN.com, mostly because the link inferred that Kobe Bryant is overrated, that talked about 'Hero Ball'. Mr. Abbott, the author of said article, doesn't tell us anything that we don't already know; team work wins-- the majority of the time. He blames Michael Jordan for 'Hero Ball', because he was so clutch in pressure situations. Just watch the highlights, and look at the stats, Jordan was the exemption. As I was reading, I couldn't help but get defensive, even mad that someone was calling my Kobe over-hyped. By the way, Henry Abbott is bald and ugly. Looks like he will be always under-hyped. Then I hear sacrilegious propaganda, from Ric Bucher, saying that Kobe should be traded. All I can do is throw up my hands in disgust and shake my head at such outlandish propositions. The dude wore a black mask like Zorro!
The NBA is full of talent, but no one like Kobe. Name a current player that has the career comparable to Kobe? No one. Someone who plays like him? No one. Many would like to, but they simply can't. The NBA needs Kobe. He is the villain, that somehow people love. Because as a human, I don't think he is worth much. Every game he will do the same thing, head fake until it looks stupid, take one hard dribble to the elbow and shoot, exploit defenders with his footwork, act like he was hacked every time he goes to the hoop, and look at the officials as if they were born with an arm coming out of their butt. In essence, he will never back down, he plays the same game every night. I don't think you can say that about any other player. He obviously won't make all of his shots, or even half of them, but when he gets hot.... we all start getting hot, if you know what I mean. And I think you do know what I mean.
Basketball fans need Kobe to be Kobe, he makes the NBA enjoyable. He creates a storyline that is better than a highlight. While his style, which is diametrically opposite of what is best for the team, it has led him to five championships. I know he had help from Shaq Daddy, but the young brash Kobe shot a lot, and the Diesel conceded that KB is the best Laker ever.
See, he is never afraid to shoot. It doesn't bother him that he just missed 20 shots, lost a double digit lead point lead for his team, or that everyone is shouting at him to pass. He wants to be #1 every single game. That is what makes me love KB24 so much. To have that kind of mentality, that will power, is what separates him from everyone else. Bean probably says to himself, "Screw everyone else around me, damn the consequences, I am getting mine. I am alpha male. I am alpha predator." I know that he is egotistical, selfish, arrogant, rude, and probably really unfriendly. He is the only player that night in and night out will play with absolutely no regard for anyone else, his own team included.I wouldn't want to be his friend. I probably wouldn't want to be his teammate. He doesn't play team basketball, but that's why we watch.
Kobe lover or Kobe hater, you have to admit that without Kobe who would we talk about? LeBron? Ugh. That story is overplayed and under-performing -- The Dan Marino of basketball. Derrik Rose? SNORE fest. If he had an ounce of marketability that guy would be IT. I would buy his shoes tomorrow. Dwight Howard? Those big shoulders are so inconsistent and full of talent, it makes me sick. Jeremy Lin was perfect, while he lasted. By the way, Lin is NOTHING like Tim Tebow. Ricky Rubio/Rajon Rondo? Broke jumper, no hops, great passing, and that is where it ends. Not a great story line. Kevin Durant is compelling, but he plays for OKC, and has yet to make it to the 'ship. He is also too cool and nice. Americans love controversy and blood, just like The Bachelor.
Like every Drama, we need major roles to fill. Kobe plays the antagonist and protagonist. Not many can do that. As any audience would like from a play, we need a compelling plot, action, and summary. How much better of a story is last year's NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks, because they swept the Lakers - the 2010 NBA champions. Or how about the comments that Kobe made about Lin and the Thunder? His hubris attitude is a challenge to these rising stars and validates them when they prove him wrong. Finally, look at him calling out LBJ for not taking the last shot in the All-Star game; it makes James look like a fool.
If we didn't have Kobe to hate or love, the NBA would be a substandard entertainment system, like the game cube.
The NBA is full of talent, but no one like Kobe. Name a current player that has the career comparable to Kobe? No one. Someone who plays like him? No one. Many would like to, but they simply can't. The NBA needs Kobe. He is the villain, that somehow people love. Because as a human, I don't think he is worth much. Every game he will do the same thing, head fake until it looks stupid, take one hard dribble to the elbow and shoot, exploit defenders with his footwork, act like he was hacked every time he goes to the hoop, and look at the officials as if they were born with an arm coming out of their butt. In essence, he will never back down, he plays the same game every night. I don't think you can say that about any other player. He obviously won't make all of his shots, or even half of them, but when he gets hot.... we all start getting hot, if you know what I mean. And I think you do know what I mean.
Basketball fans need Kobe to be Kobe, he makes the NBA enjoyable. He creates a storyline that is better than a highlight. While his style, which is diametrically opposite of what is best for the team, it has led him to five championships. I know he had help from Shaq Daddy, but the young brash Kobe shot a lot, and the Diesel conceded that KB is the best Laker ever.
See, he is never afraid to shoot. It doesn't bother him that he just missed 20 shots, lost a double digit lead point lead for his team, or that everyone is shouting at him to pass. He wants to be #1 every single game. That is what makes me love KB24 so much. To have that kind of mentality, that will power, is what separates him from everyone else. Bean probably says to himself, "Screw everyone else around me, damn the consequences, I am getting mine. I am alpha male. I am alpha predator." I know that he is egotistical, selfish, arrogant, rude, and probably really unfriendly. He is the only player that night in and night out will play with absolutely no regard for anyone else, his own team included.I wouldn't want to be his friend. I probably wouldn't want to be his teammate. He doesn't play team basketball, but that's why we watch.
Kobe lover or Kobe hater, you have to admit that without Kobe who would we talk about? LeBron? Ugh. That story is overplayed and under-performing -- The Dan Marino of basketball. Derrik Rose? SNORE fest. If he had an ounce of marketability that guy would be IT. I would buy his shoes tomorrow. Dwight Howard? Those big shoulders are so inconsistent and full of talent, it makes me sick. Jeremy Lin was perfect, while he lasted. By the way, Lin is NOTHING like Tim Tebow. Ricky Rubio/Rajon Rondo? Broke jumper, no hops, great passing, and that is where it ends. Not a great story line. Kevin Durant is compelling, but he plays for OKC, and has yet to make it to the 'ship. He is also too cool and nice. Americans love controversy and blood, just like The Bachelor.
Like every Drama, we need major roles to fill. Kobe plays the antagonist and protagonist. Not many can do that. As any audience would like from a play, we need a compelling plot, action, and summary. How much better of a story is last year's NBA champions, the Dallas Mavericks, because they swept the Lakers - the 2010 NBA champions. Or how about the comments that Kobe made about Lin and the Thunder? His hubris attitude is a challenge to these rising stars and validates them when they prove him wrong. Finally, look at him calling out LBJ for not taking the last shot in the All-Star game; it makes James look like a fool.
If we didn't have Kobe to hate or love, the NBA would be a substandard entertainment system, like the game cube.
Pessmistic
the debbie downers of the world suck. next time you want to be a negative nancy (why are these saying involving women) think about how much it would suck to be a pig or a kid in china making nike shoes. don't be a moaner.
SMOOVE.
wanna feel dumb? leave your wallet when you are taking a date to eat. wanna feel even more stupid? leave your wallet again, when you take the same girl to lunch. promise, you'll know what it means to make a zero move.
This song, however, is not a zero. It is contributing. I like to listen to it in the background, while I am working on my craft. But if you ain't feel my boy Cudi, then you adda listen to just youtube search your favorite rapper (I've only seen 50 cent, B.I.G. *His is the best, Tupac, Jay-z, Nas, Kayne) vs. the xx. Telling ya, you'll be hooked.
I am not big into covers, but my older brother, the connoisseur of music, posted this, and I was impressed. It also helps that I do not like the original.
This song, however, is not a zero. It is contributing. I like to listen to it in the background, while I am working on my craft. But if you ain't feel my boy Cudi, then you adda listen to just youtube search your favorite rapper (I've only seen 50 cent, B.I.G. *His is the best, Tupac, Jay-z, Nas, Kayne) vs. the xx. Telling ya, you'll be hooked.
I am not big into covers, but my older brother, the connoisseur of music, posted this, and I was impressed. It also helps that I do not like the original.
Nasty Encounter
The story I am about to share actually happened. I hope I can convey it in such a way that you feel that you were there and were apart of it.
Time: 10:47 pm. Location: just out side of the Mariott Library, on the University of Utah campus.
I walk outside. It is bitter cold. I hear an odd angry type of 'ughhh' sound, but it had a woman's tone to it. I turn the corner and a couple comes into my sight. The girl is talking very fast. She keeps making the angry yelp sound. He says nothing, he just keeps looking down. They are far enough away that I don't really hear what is going on, and I try to keep my distance, cause she seems like she is ready to snap. Her arms are flailing all over the place. She finally yells, "Fine. I'll walk." And she does. She storms off. The man snaps his head up and watches after her, like he was awakened from a dream by a bucket of ice water. She is cruising, and the dude just keeps looking at her. Doesn't call out to her or run after her. Just stares. He slowly takes out his phone as she is about 40 yards away and I makes a phone call.
By this time she is almost out of sight. He is still staring, with the phone up to his face. By this time, I have completely stopped and am staring. She turns back to look at him. I can't see her face, but her whole body has that 'REALLY? ARE YOU JOKING?' look to it. It's that angry little girl look.
She takes out her phone, with the screen shinning brightly - indicating an incoming call, answers it, and yells.
She said things that would not be deemed lady like. She hung the phone up, turned around, and went back to her walking gig. He watched until she was out of sight, shrugged his shoulders, and went back into the library. By this time, I was like AWESOME!
Time: 10:47 pm. Location: just out side of the Mariott Library, on the University of Utah campus.
She takes out her phone, with the screen shinning brightly - indicating an incoming call, answers it, and yells.
She said things that would not be deemed lady like. She hung the phone up, turned around, and went back to her walking gig. He watched until she was out of sight, shrugged his shoulders, and went back into the library. By this time, I was like AWESOME!
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