Last month I began a long journey of re watching the entire Star Trek: The Next Generation. As soon as it got on Netflix, I hatched the plan.
I remember watching the show with my mom on Saturday nights at 10:30 as a 11 year-old. I owe much of my Sci-Fi love to my mom, she made me watch the original Planet of the Apes as a 12 year-old (of course, the ending blew my mind. I can't wait to show that one to my daugther someday and watch her face).
I am currently at the tail end of season two and frankly, this has basically sucked my free time away from me. This happened two years ago when I re-watched Lost seasons 1-5 before the run-up to season 6. I will find myself watching just 10 minutes of an episode to get it done. I think I dreamed about it the other night. My wife hasn't verbally complained but I know she isn't thrilled with this little project of mine. I have to get through seven seasons - at the rate I am going I think I will finish sometime in October, barring you know, actual life getting in the way.
Like my favorite television show of all-time, Lost, STNG often wrestles with existential questions about life, death, reality, and time travel all in colorful backdrop. At its best, it has solid acting (well, at least from Patrick Stewart) and asks big questions all with a dash of mystery and action.
At its worst it involves gaping plot holes with terrible special effects and often bad acting (why do I find myself rooting against William Riker?) Many times, even while exploring big questions, cheesy situations arise. Like a comic book, I just accept it - this isn't brilliant film, it is what it is. Sometimes the cheese is really, really good though. Here are two of my favorite moments. They will astound you with their epic-ness.
This one is, well, gross, it's like a really bad horror movie scene from the 80's. It made me laugh out loud....seriously though, the creepy factor was very high and it was so campy it was actually a treat.
So I have stuff to do...(like you know, watching Star Trek).
Peace
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Rich and Foolish
"Who, then, is greedy? The one who does not remain content with self sufficiency. Who is the one who deprives others? The one who hoards what belongs to everyone. Are you not greedy? Are you not one who deprives others? You have received these things for stewardship, and have turned them into your own property....The bread that you hold on to belongs to the hungry; the cloak you keep locked in your storeroom belongs to the naked; the shoe that is moldering in your possession belongs to the person with no shoes; the silver that you have buried belongs to the person in need. You do an injury to as many people as you might have helped with all these things!" - St. Basil
I came across this quote by St. Basil in a book I am currently reading. It was a splash of water on my greedy little soul.
Like most Americans I hoard things. I hoard books, clothes, food and lots of children's toys for my children. I even make myself feel better by comparing "my stuff" to other people's excess. You see in my heart I am terrified at what we are called to do. The parable of the rich fool will further illustrate:
"Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ "Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God”. - Jesus according to Luke 12
You see I am in love with my life. I hang on to my secure, warm and comfortable existence. I love my career, my comfortable air conditioned house, the internet, my books, the Netflix subscription. I can't plead ignorance like some- and that's what worries me.
Even now as our family explores these questions deeply. In the interim I feel like the rich fool in the story above. I am placing my security and pleasure in my worldly possessions. So, we've got our work cut out for ourselves. I hunger for justice and righteousness, but I'm not nearly hungry enough. Help me, Jesus.
I came across this quote by St. Basil in a book I am currently reading. It was a splash of water on my greedy little soul.
Like most Americans I hoard things. I hoard books, clothes, food and lots of children's toys for my children. I even make myself feel better by comparing "my stuff" to other people's excess. You see in my heart I am terrified at what we are called to do. The parable of the rich fool will further illustrate:
"Someone in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”
Jesus replied, “Man, who appointed me a judge or an arbiter between you?” Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
And he told them this parable: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest. He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ "Then he said, ‘This is what I’ll do. I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain. And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”“But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ “This is how it will be with whoever stores up things for themselves but is not rich toward God”. - Jesus according to Luke 12
You see I am in love with my life. I hang on to my secure, warm and comfortable existence. I love my career, my comfortable air conditioned house, the internet, my books, the Netflix subscription. I can't plead ignorance like some- and that's what worries me.
Even now as our family explores these questions deeply. In the interim I feel like the rich fool in the story above. I am placing my security and pleasure in my worldly possessions. So, we've got our work cut out for ourselves. I hunger for justice and righteousness, but I'm not nearly hungry enough. Help me, Jesus.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Poem Post: Memories
Written circa 2003-2004 (???). I have always found it interesting to go back and look at old pictures...I am a nostalgic guy. I am also fascinated with time. I am a firm believer that the past is not really the past at all in any objective sense... it's always changing and constantly being re-interpreted by us. This is a fun poem to read. I am sure it was spurred by looking at some pictures of my ex-girlfriend or something silly like that.
Memories
My old pictures aren’t the same
they've yellowed around the corners
and so much else has faded
these people's smiles seem so old, so strange
my face is different--odd, dark and young
years pass and the memories fade.
I haven't changed a bit -- it's the pictures that have changed.
Memories
My old pictures aren’t the same
they've yellowed around the corners
and so much else has faded
these people's smiles seem so old, so strange
my face is different--odd, dark and young
years pass and the memories fade.
I haven't changed a bit -- it's the pictures that have changed.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Saturday Night Special: Love Buzz
It's been awhile since I've posted a music video. So, here you are (and you're welcome). Just as I selected this song and found it on YouTube, I started thinking, "could this song have been better with more lyrics or more structure?" I immediately realized how asinine that idea is. This simple song, centered on this cool little bass riff does what it needs to do in under four minutes. I love the intro with its huge build up, the catchy chorus and just as the song begins to drag (or drone?), the cool guitar solo/bridge comes in. It's such a fun pop song and one of the two songs on Bleach that hints at the pop sensibilities of Kurt (the other, of course, is "About A Girl"). Four Stars out of Five. Have a great weekend world.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Charity, Capitalism and Rebellion (or "I got stuff to do, someone else start the revolution")
"Under a capitalist regime, the man who says he is neutral is considered objectively to be favorable to the regime" - Camus, The Rebel
We all like to think of ourselves as good people. We are all the protagonists of our respective books…that’s just human nature. The differences among us can be found in how we define “good” and how we implement it into our own lives and identities. The last few years I have struggled with how to work “good” acts within an immoral system (capitalism). When I found this video, it was nice to have someone else much more articulate than myself define the problem – watch below – the speech is great and the artwork is amazing.
To sum up the video (for those too lazy): our charitable acts end up contributing to a morally bankrupt system. The very act of compassion actually helps support the broken system. It’s as if we are prolonging a painful death in the name of love and compassion. According to the video, when I go to the homeless shelter I am actually working against the homeless and those in poverty by supporting the current economic and political systems that make homelessness and poverty not only possible, but in many ways enable and justify poverty.
Maybe it’s all just a dose of liberal guilt – you know you have it if you feel guilty for throwing away that can or plastic bottle instead of recycling (hence my car is full of bottles, cans and other items that can be recycled at home but never actually make it to the house). The question is, how should we work for "the good" in an all-present system that our culture celebrates (and defends at the drop of a hat).
Even by calling our system "immoral" myself I am beyond the pale of American politics.
How do you fight to change something that has no hope of ending within my lifetime (or even my children's lifetime)?I always teach and preach that, “we do what we can when we can". But is that enough? Is it ever enough? I don't have a option really. I have a family and bills to pay. So is Camus right? If living out life means that I'm neutral than there's never enough I can do. I've already embraced the dark side. Maybe this is why radicals never have families (Jesus, Buddha, etc.). You can't live out revolution if you've got kids to feed. That's the history of the world really - we're all too busy trying to survive (I hesitate to use the word "survive"; as my "surviving" is much different from survival in Somalia).
So, I'll do what I can. I'll read, think and act carefully. I'll teach about the nature of the beast in my class and plant seeds of doubt in those I interact with (believe me, my seeds are subtle and won't require a whole discussion on socialism, capitalism nor a "revolution" of any kind -- I'm too domesticated for that).
We all like to think of ourselves as good people. We are all the protagonists of our respective books…that’s just human nature. The differences among us can be found in how we define “good” and how we implement it into our own lives and identities. The last few years I have struggled with how to work “good” acts within an immoral system (capitalism). When I found this video, it was nice to have someone else much more articulate than myself define the problem – watch below – the speech is great and the artwork is amazing.
To sum up the video (for those too lazy): our charitable acts end up contributing to a morally bankrupt system. The very act of compassion actually helps support the broken system. It’s as if we are prolonging a painful death in the name of love and compassion. According to the video, when I go to the homeless shelter I am actually working against the homeless and those in poverty by supporting the current economic and political systems that make homelessness and poverty not only possible, but in many ways enable and justify poverty.
Maybe it’s all just a dose of liberal guilt – you know you have it if you feel guilty for throwing away that can or plastic bottle instead of recycling (hence my car is full of bottles, cans and other items that can be recycled at home but never actually make it to the house). The question is, how should we work for "the good" in an all-present system that our culture celebrates (and defends at the drop of a hat).
Yes, I am insinuating capitalism borders on the equivalence of evil of robots that take over the world.
Even by calling our system "immoral" myself I am beyond the pale of American politics.
Drop the Kool-Aide, this guy would be a moderate Republican in the 70's and 80's.
How do you fight to change something that has no hope of ending within my lifetime (or even my children's lifetime)?I always teach and preach that, “we do what we can when we can". But is that enough? Is it ever enough? I don't have a option really. I have a family and bills to pay. So is Camus right? If living out life means that I'm neutral than there's never enough I can do. I've already embraced the dark side. Maybe this is why radicals never have families (Jesus, Buddha, etc.). You can't live out revolution if you've got kids to feed. That's the history of the world really - we're all too busy trying to survive (I hesitate to use the word "survive"; as my "surviving" is much different from survival in Somalia).
So, I'll do what I can. I'll read, think and act carefully. I'll teach about the nature of the beast in my class and plant seeds of doubt in those I interact with (believe me, my seeds are subtle and won't require a whole discussion on socialism, capitalism nor a "revolution" of any kind -- I'm too domesticated for that).
Besides, I have to mow the lawn and we all can't be revolutionaries.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Lost Fragments in Time
Look, I've been enjoying the summer. Yes, posts are coming soon. Yes, I am pretending someone out there cares.
Fragments for those scoring at home:
Our oldest will be shipped off to kindergarten this year and I have mixed feelings. Someone asked me if my wife would cry on the first day, I told them I would be crying as well. Things I will miss that will soon be going away are mispronounced words (most of which is for food for some reason: "Tater Tots" (for Sweet tarts), "Gorilla Bar" (granola bar), "Strange Cheese" (string cheese) or "Stunk" (for skunk). So cute.
Pondering doing good in system that is morally corrupt - am I helping the system by helping it stay afloat?
Saw a Confederate flag flying (yes, a big ass flag in the back of at truck, you couldn't get more tacky)...out of my neighbor's daughter's boyfriend's truck (whew)....I always hated that but now with our family becoming transracial - I hate it even more. It's insulting.
Gearing up for the fall and getting really excited.
Maybe my love affair with religion and comic books stems from my fascination with magic. I honestly believe most good things in life on this planet happen because we're all trying to transcend the everyday hum-drum existence or at least transcend death.
Lately my head has been swimming with the thoughts of God's existence or non-existence, I suppose reading The Rebel will do that to you - I keep coming back to my ideas about why I think God does exist and frankly, they aren't that good, which is why I fall back on Kierkegaard's ideas so heavily.
Making a mix CD for a friend for the first time in YEARS. It's fun. Debating wheather the first track should be the theme song of Perfect Strangers or "The Book I Write" by Spoon.
Now that I am thinking about it....enjoy!
Update: Perfect Strangers did indeed open the CD - how could I have ever considered something else?
Fragments for those scoring at home:
Our oldest will be shipped off to kindergarten this year and I have mixed feelings. Someone asked me if my wife would cry on the first day, I told them I would be crying as well. Things I will miss that will soon be going away are mispronounced words (most of which is for food for some reason: "Tater Tots" (for Sweet tarts), "Gorilla Bar" (granola bar), "Strange Cheese" (string cheese) or "Stunk" (for skunk). So cute.
Pondering doing good in system that is morally corrupt - am I helping the system by helping it stay afloat?
Saw a Confederate flag flying (yes, a big ass flag in the back of at truck, you couldn't get more tacky)...out of my neighbor's daughter's boyfriend's truck (whew)....I always hated that but now with our family becoming transracial - I hate it even more. It's insulting.
Gearing up for the fall and getting really excited.
Maybe my love affair with religion and comic books stems from my fascination with magic. I honestly believe most good things in life on this planet happen because we're all trying to transcend the everyday hum-drum existence or at least transcend death.
Lately my head has been swimming with the thoughts of God's existence or non-existence, I suppose reading The Rebel will do that to you - I keep coming back to my ideas about why I think God does exist and frankly, they aren't that good, which is why I fall back on Kierkegaard's ideas so heavily.
Making a mix CD for a friend for the first time in YEARS. It's fun. Debating wheather the first track should be the theme song of Perfect Strangers or "The Book I Write" by Spoon.
Now that I am thinking about it....enjoy!
Update: Perfect Strangers did indeed open the CD - how could I have ever considered something else?
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