Friday, January 18, 2008
Turn the engine but the engine doesn't turn.
I was moving to Eureka. I was going to share an apartment with a good friend of mine. It had been in the works for some time. I was finally going to get out of this house and be put into a situation where I would be able to work to better myself, without my family getting in my way. Then, just a couple days ago, someone else swooped in and took my place in the equation. Back to hopelessly rotting in filth, I suppose.
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Hitting a Snag
Large, stained glass windows rattle a rhythm of forced labor, edging around the mellow pool of irrevocable truths with the intensity of pleasurable nuances fluttering within a soul. Triangular metal slabs sharp as the frigid rain falling freely among the leaves of an elder soul within the confines of rough bark stretched among the silky web of deceit laid upon the glistening surface of the raging frozen waste. Shimmering candlelight seductively dancing blissfully among the galloping monstrosities after the dire tidal waves of the cerulean seas.
Monday, December 17, 2007
The Ocean to the North
Why is it that basic geography is lost upon many people?
My definition of 'basic geography' is knowing the general layout of the country in which you live, with the ability to locate and identify much of the important landmarks within it. For example, I know where most of the states in the US are on a map, though I cannot point out the capitol cities of them. I live in California, I know where the capitol city is, and I can name significant cities and counties within the state. Not perfect knowledge, but it's what I consider the line for basic geographical knowledge.
I was speaking with someone about a trip I took to Michigan a number of years ago. Making a comment about the differences between here and there, I mentioned that it was odd that the ocean was to the north. For an American who has a basic knowledge of geography it should be obvious that I was referring to the Great Lakes. She proceeded to ask me if I was referring to the atlantic ocean.
This bothers me. Off-hand, I think of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Erie. I believe there is one or two more, and I am comfortable that I am unable to think of them because I am very internet-oriented. Now, I'll do a quick check of Wikipedia to see what the lakes I'm missing are. They were lake Huron and lake Ontario.
I tend to be unforgiving of missing knowledge because I've almost always got instant access to what I need to know on the internet. In real world conversations I become increasingly irritated as I see people that are having to draw upon what they remember without having the vast resources of the internet. I also acknowledge that I may be becoming less able to remember things on my own due to my reliance on the internet.
My definition of 'basic geography' is knowing the general layout of the country in which you live, with the ability to locate and identify much of the important landmarks within it. For example, I know where most of the states in the US are on a map, though I cannot point out the capitol cities of them. I live in California, I know where the capitol city is, and I can name significant cities and counties within the state. Not perfect knowledge, but it's what I consider the line for basic geographical knowledge.
I was speaking with someone about a trip I took to Michigan a number of years ago. Making a comment about the differences between here and there, I mentioned that it was odd that the ocean was to the north. For an American who has a basic knowledge of geography it should be obvious that I was referring to the Great Lakes. She proceeded to ask me if I was referring to the atlantic ocean.
This bothers me. Off-hand, I think of Lake Michigan, Lake Superior, Lake Erie. I believe there is one or two more, and I am comfortable that I am unable to think of them because I am very internet-oriented. Now, I'll do a quick check of Wikipedia to see what the lakes I'm missing are. They were lake Huron and lake Ontario.
I tend to be unforgiving of missing knowledge because I've almost always got instant access to what I need to know on the internet. In real world conversations I become increasingly irritated as I see people that are having to draw upon what they remember without having the vast resources of the internet. I also acknowledge that I may be becoming less able to remember things on my own due to my reliance on the internet.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Respect and Submission
Many people, particularly older people, believe in the concept of 'respect your elders'.
...Why?
The only people I see pushing it are people who don't give anyone respect, but believe that they should be placed on a pedestal due to their age. They do not want respect, they want submission. In my time working in the service industry, the most difficult people to deal with were those who had this air of superiority, angry because they did not get special treatment from the younger people working at the location.
Just recently I have lost a lot of respect for certain people due to their pushing of submission as respect. An uncle of mine has taken to harshly yelling at my younger brother with the intent of 'teaching him some respect'. This is not teaching him respect, this is showing him that my uncle is not worthy of respect, that all he wants is submission to his will. What the hell.
My grandfather is the same way. I have no more respect for him, he has lost it all due to his actions showing that he does not want respect, he wants submission, which nobody deserves.
There was a lot more that I wanted to say on this subject, but I got started on writing it long after I sat down with the intent to do so. I intend to go further on this subject at a later time.
...Why?
The only people I see pushing it are people who don't give anyone respect, but believe that they should be placed on a pedestal due to their age. They do not want respect, they want submission. In my time working in the service industry, the most difficult people to deal with were those who had this air of superiority, angry because they did not get special treatment from the younger people working at the location.
Just recently I have lost a lot of respect for certain people due to their pushing of submission as respect. An uncle of mine has taken to harshly yelling at my younger brother with the intent of 'teaching him some respect'. This is not teaching him respect, this is showing him that my uncle is not worthy of respect, that all he wants is submission to his will. What the hell.
My grandfather is the same way. I have no more respect for him, he has lost it all due to his actions showing that he does not want respect, he wants submission, which nobody deserves.
There was a lot more that I wanted to say on this subject, but I got started on writing it long after I sat down with the intent to do so. I intend to go further on this subject at a later time.
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