Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Rhythm
I had a revelation today. I'm sick, so I'm sitting at home bored. I decided to try and finish a song that I'm writing (still no title) and thought of a song I wrote last year around this time. Then I tried to record it in February, and celebrated single's awareness day. I wrote some of my book in March. Wanted a relationship in April, was indifferent about May, had the camping/music bug in June and July, wanted to ask a girl out in August and September. Wrote more book in October and November, and got excited, then bored, sketched, did art projects, and had an idea for more songs in December. It's been this way since at least my Junior year of high-school. I've fallen into a pattern, and I need to break out. I like my artsy moods and all, but they're holding me back from making much headway in any one thing. Thing is, I have no clue how to go about breaking the funk.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I listened to that song on youtube and i really like it! Where did you find music like this? I'd never heard of the band before. Alsooo, do you have any other song or band recommendations?
I heard the band at a music festival I go to every year (Cornerstone) at the recommendation of my friend (Chris). Other artists that I like that you've probably never heard of are Andrew Peterson, The Letter Black, Marcel Tiemensma, Glenn Kaiser Band, and composer Nobuo Uematsu.
What is your favorite song or band? :)
This is a difficult question for me to answer, because I have many favourite songs spanning many genre's, but I'd have to say one of my most favourite songs (and one I never skip if it comes up on shuffle) is Song of the Harlot by The Violet Burning. It's musically interesting, and the words just hit me every time. Go listen to it if you can.
Friday, January 14, 2011
WikiLeaks & Me: Employing My Right To Be Informed
Edit: read this article too when you're done. I agree wholeheartedly: http://sofiaecho.com/2010/12/23/1016331_secrecy-is-the-problem-not-leakers
That's right, for once I'm talking politics. I've been avoiding doing a post on this for a while now, but I'll post now, because I want in on this moment in history. To preface, I started reading WikiLeaks before the press took a huge notice of it. I read the documents and cables, and I fully support the leaking of this material. There is a fine line between protecting people and withholding information, and the State has crossed this line, in my opinion. Just to note: WikiLeaks has leaked much about other gov't secrets too, not just the U.S. Another note: to address the Julian Assange issue: while I have no comment as to whether or not he should be tried (or is guilty of) rape and exposing classified information, I will say that his guilt or lack thereof shouldn't impact how you view the documents that WikiLeaks as a whole has released. "Don't shoot the messenger", or in this case, the fact that the messenger might have dirty hands shouldn't colour your opinion of the message. Now: onto the meat.
This is largely an agreement with the Can't hide love for WikiLeaks article, and I suggest you go read it. Our government is throwing a fit over what Julian refers to as his "Forced Move", which are the leaks. They seek to keep our (the collective America) knowledge limited, making us mindless followers of our elected leader. "You elected him, let him do his job" is what I hear the U.S. say. I'm not advocating that we all become nutters who think the government is trying to keep us all complacent by tainting our food and things of that nature (I know some of those people, and I wanna punch them in the face), but I am saying take a good hard look at what information is being presented to you. Examine the leaks, examine the response given by the U.S. and by the world, and decide for yourself. Don't be a brainless idiot, because then those that want to keep information limited have already won. Don't let them keep secrets from their own citizens.
On secrets, I feel I have to make a point about democracy. In order for democracy to work, the State has to be transparent to its people. The voters cannot make good decisions unless we know exactly what is going on, even before it happens. I'm not saying that the State should turn to other countries and say "Hey! Here's all our secret information.", and that certainly is a danger of being transparent with its voters, but we are a democracy after all, and we need to make informed decisions. That information should be made accessible to us, it's our right. Whether or not we use it is up to us.
A quick note for twitter followers of WikiLeaks, And what really ruffled my feathers the other day, is the Twitter Subpoena for all the available information of everyone who followed them. This includes (if possible) the ip addresses, usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, real names, credit card info, and more of EVERYONE. Now, they're probably only using it to track the heads of WikiLeaks, but this poses an issue for me: I've always wondered if I'd ever need to hide my digital self from the State, and now it seems like I do. All because I did something like read information that should have been available to me in the first place, I may be on a watchlist. What's next? We round up everyone who has ever read a banned book? Knows how to secure information? Use encrypted communications? It seems rather far-fetched, and I hope it never comes, but what if it does? There's talk of the U.S. wanting to give every American a digital ID, so they can follow what we do on the internet (the claim is so they can help fight fraud, which it would indeed do). If it comes to that, what will the uninformed mass do? Go right along with it I suppose. But I hope not. I hope we realize that some things are a bit too private, even though that may sound hypocritical. It isn't though. A democracy requires that our State be transparent, not the voters. That's what our bill of rights is for. I can honestly say that I grumbled when I learned of the Patriot Act. Allowing our government to search without warrant and detain without probable cause? That's a bit much. And yet, it was passed by both the House and the Senate swiftly. Where were our masses then? Remaining uninformed, I presume.
I guess, if you've actually bothered reading this far, your takeaway should be to be informed. Don't let all your media come from only one source. Read WikiLeaks, visit the BBC website, all that stuff. Even if it's boring, if it pertains to your privacy, read it.
One final thing: for those of you that don't read WikiLeaks, give it a go. Get informed. They have over 1,000 mirrors, but you can find them easiest at http://213.251.145.96
That's right, for once I'm talking politics. I've been avoiding doing a post on this for a while now, but I'll post now, because I want in on this moment in history. To preface, I started reading WikiLeaks before the press took a huge notice of it. I read the documents and cables, and I fully support the leaking of this material. There is a fine line between protecting people and withholding information, and the State has crossed this line, in my opinion. Just to note: WikiLeaks has leaked much about other gov't secrets too, not just the U.S. Another note: to address the Julian Assange issue: while I have no comment as to whether or not he should be tried (or is guilty of) rape and exposing classified information, I will say that his guilt or lack thereof shouldn't impact how you view the documents that WikiLeaks as a whole has released. "Don't shoot the messenger", or in this case, the fact that the messenger might have dirty hands shouldn't colour your opinion of the message. Now: onto the meat.
This is largely an agreement with the Can't hide love for WikiLeaks article, and I suggest you go read it. Our government is throwing a fit over what Julian refers to as his "Forced Move", which are the leaks. They seek to keep our (the collective America) knowledge limited, making us mindless followers of our elected leader. "You elected him, let him do his job" is what I hear the U.S. say. I'm not advocating that we all become nutters who think the government is trying to keep us all complacent by tainting our food and things of that nature (I know some of those people, and I wanna punch them in the face), but I am saying take a good hard look at what information is being presented to you. Examine the leaks, examine the response given by the U.S. and by the world, and decide for yourself. Don't be a brainless idiot, because then those that want to keep information limited have already won. Don't let them keep secrets from their own citizens.
On secrets, I feel I have to make a point about democracy. In order for democracy to work, the State has to be transparent to its people. The voters cannot make good decisions unless we know exactly what is going on, even before it happens. I'm not saying that the State should turn to other countries and say "Hey! Here's all our secret information.", and that certainly is a danger of being transparent with its voters, but we are a democracy after all, and we need to make informed decisions. That information should be made accessible to us, it's our right. Whether or not we use it is up to us.
A quick note for twitter followers of WikiLeaks, And what really ruffled my feathers the other day, is the Twitter Subpoena for all the available information of everyone who followed them. This includes (if possible) the ip addresses, usernames, email addresses, phone numbers, addresses, real names, credit card info, and more of EVERYONE. Now, they're probably only using it to track the heads of WikiLeaks, but this poses an issue for me: I've always wondered if I'd ever need to hide my digital self from the State, and now it seems like I do. All because I did something like read information that should have been available to me in the first place, I may be on a watchlist. What's next? We round up everyone who has ever read a banned book? Knows how to secure information? Use encrypted communications? It seems rather far-fetched, and I hope it never comes, but what if it does? There's talk of the U.S. wanting to give every American a digital ID, so they can follow what we do on the internet (the claim is so they can help fight fraud, which it would indeed do). If it comes to that, what will the uninformed mass do? Go right along with it I suppose. But I hope not. I hope we realize that some things are a bit too private, even though that may sound hypocritical. It isn't though. A democracy requires that our State be transparent, not the voters. That's what our bill of rights is for. I can honestly say that I grumbled when I learned of the Patriot Act. Allowing our government to search without warrant and detain without probable cause? That's a bit much. And yet, it was passed by both the House and the Senate swiftly. Where were our masses then? Remaining uninformed, I presume.
I guess, if you've actually bothered reading this far, your takeaway should be to be informed. Don't let all your media come from only one source. Read WikiLeaks, visit the BBC website, all that stuff. Even if it's boring, if it pertains to your privacy, read it.
One final thing: for those of you that don't read WikiLeaks, give it a go. Get informed. They have over 1,000 mirrors, but you can find them easiest at http://213.251.145.96
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Secrets & Lies of 2010
Apologies for the late posting. I got tired yesterday. Anywho, this list is an attempt for me to start the year off fresh. At least, as fresh as I'm mildly-uncomfortable being. What follow are the secrets I've kept and the lies I've told in 2010, which I'm (as I mentioned earlier) mildly-uncomfortably admitting. Those secrets which I deem too sensitive didn't make it to the list, and I hope that you the reader will respect that, as I try and respect those who tasked me with their keeping. Some secrets/lies have been held back so as not to hurt others, and I hope you can respect that as well. Now, without further ado, here are the Secrets & Lies of 2010:
- I listen to music that I wouldn't normally just to connect with others.
- I write this blog for my readers as much as myself. No readers, no blog.
- The whole week before I go to the beach or pool, I do only ab workouts: just to look good.
- I have many unpublished songs and thrown-out stories, because they (in my opinion) either suck or are too personal.
- I only send cards to a select few people.
- Some of my friends really piss me off sometimes.
- Some of my friends really sadden me sometimes.
- I lie to myself when I say I'm no longer attracted to my ex.
- When I play my guitar, I feel an emotional release that's like a high to me.
- Sometimes I think I suck as a singer, sometimes I think I kick ass.
- I stopped putting on cologne because I have no one to put it on for/no one would notice the difference.
- I really do hate wearing dress clothes.
- I didn't practice my violin nearly as much as I would've liked.
- I hate that I'm not heavy enough to donate blood.
- Sometimes I wish my pastor would stop asking me how God has brought me some emotion, and just let me feel the damn things.
- I know I'm being two-faced when in my heart I wish one thing, but outwardly I say I wish another. I hate that, but I don't want to kill someone else's happiness. At least, that's what I tell myself.
- I have virtually no means of self-motivation, unless I tie it to an emotion or a social interaction.
- I get nervous a lot. I just think I hide it well.
- I care about relationships way more than others know I do.
- Sometimes I really wish I could relive some of my life, just because those times were amazing.
- I use a quill because it forces me to think before I write. And it looks nice.
- Sometimes I wonder if things would be easier if I had no morals.
- There are some things that I really want to add to this list, but I don't want to hurt anyone.
- There are some things that I really want to add to this list, but I'm afraid what people would think.
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