Number one pet peeve: When people put a giant proverbial period at the end of their sentences. Especially when those sentences are made up entirely of their inferences and not fact, thus shutting down lines of communication and the further spread of knowledge and destruction of ignorance.
Note: It is inevitable that we will all do this from time to time, this complaint goes out to those where EVERY sentence is followed by this period, by this supreme knowledge that somehow the information they have and the conclusion that it is has lead them to has somehow blessed them with understanding of situations far beyond the scope of possibility of understanding of every other mortal caught within earshot of their musings.
This is directed at no one on this board but is a result of years of proverbial period abuse.
Have a great day,
Niall
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Kafka on the Shore/ the american dream
Kafka on the Shore by Haruki Murakami is becoming one of the best books that I will ever have read.
I would love to delve into some Russian literature after this.
I read a great article in Vanity Fair about the American Dream. It really made me see the mutations that the concept of "The American Dream" has gone through since the 50's. The notion was founded on the idea of "freedom from want", that somehow, the fledgling United States of America was going to be able to provide a lifestyle, more specifically the opportunity to attain whatever lifestyle a person wanted, that they may see their family's never go hungry and have all of the amenities that make life good and not really with the intent to focus on excess. That freedom from want principle is a beautiful thing.
But what has it become? Freedom to want everything. No longer is the American dream a comftorable livelihood that a family can exist by itself and how it pleases, but an excessive force that has become an unattainable thing for every American. 50 years ago, a man would walk through a parking lot and say, "I'd love to have a car like that someday." Now, a more common thing to hear would be "I want every man to want my car someday." Status has perverted that idea of American prosperity. And what of all of this? "Why is it so bad that people have more things now than they ever have?" After all, the average american makes 60% more per capita than we did in the 1950's (adjusted for inflation). Does it mean anything though if the rate of unhappiness is skyrocketing? Stress rated illnesses and diseases are at an all time high. Depression is at an all time high. Obesity is at all time highs. Something is wrong. I really feel that something is wrong, and it's not just with this country. But it's with this BS "dream" that the whole world has for itself. Granted not everyone wants to drive a porsche, or wants to be able to pick from 1 of 3 colors of rolls royce every morning, but almost everything we have is outrageously taken advantage of. Our life of material excesses is going to kill us all. If not physically, then mentally or spiritually.
End rant.
I would love to delve into some Russian literature after this.
I read a great article in Vanity Fair about the American Dream. It really made me see the mutations that the concept of "The American Dream" has gone through since the 50's. The notion was founded on the idea of "freedom from want", that somehow, the fledgling United States of America was going to be able to provide a lifestyle, more specifically the opportunity to attain whatever lifestyle a person wanted, that they may see their family's never go hungry and have all of the amenities that make life good and not really with the intent to focus on excess. That freedom from want principle is a beautiful thing.
But what has it become? Freedom to want everything. No longer is the American dream a comftorable livelihood that a family can exist by itself and how it pleases, but an excessive force that has become an unattainable thing for every American. 50 years ago, a man would walk through a parking lot and say, "I'd love to have a car like that someday." Now, a more common thing to hear would be "I want every man to want my car someday." Status has perverted that idea of American prosperity. And what of all of this? "Why is it so bad that people have more things now than they ever have?" After all, the average american makes 60% more per capita than we did in the 1950's (adjusted for inflation). Does it mean anything though if the rate of unhappiness is skyrocketing? Stress rated illnesses and diseases are at an all time high. Depression is at an all time high. Obesity is at all time highs. Something is wrong. I really feel that something is wrong, and it's not just with this country. But it's with this BS "dream" that the whole world has for itself. Granted not everyone wants to drive a porsche, or wants to be able to pick from 1 of 3 colors of rolls royce every morning, but almost everything we have is outrageously taken advantage of. Our life of material excesses is going to kill us all. If not physically, then mentally or spiritually.
End rant.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Wait..
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/World-News/Israeli-Army-T-Shirts-Mock-Killing-Palestinian-Women-And-Children-During-Gaza-Offensive/Article/200903315245946?lpos=World_News_Carousel_Region_2
what?
We mindlessly support these people why?
Oh right. Because the message of Jesus Christ tells us that never ending war is the way, that we shouldn't turn the other cheek, that we should take an eye for an eye. Yah, that's what I remember about the message of Christ. Oh wait. No it isn't.
what?
We mindlessly support these people why?
Oh right. Because the message of Jesus Christ tells us that never ending war is the way, that we shouldn't turn the other cheek, that we should take an eye for an eye. Yah, that's what I remember about the message of Christ. Oh wait. No it isn't.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Finished edits...
These are the finished edits from some of the pictures I posted the other day. These are what the blurry photos were intended for.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
GREAT DAY!
Did an awesome engagement photo session with my friend Jeremy and Kelsey today.
These are my favorite shots from the day:
What are YOUR favorites of the set and do you have any feedback as to the direction my photography is headed? ANYTHING is helpful to me!
Also! I'm going to sound like a broken record but if you need ANY photography for ANYTHING then PLEASE talk to me! My rates are those that are STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT would charge and I give you WAY more than you pay for!
Love,
Niall
These are my favorite shots from the day:
What are YOUR favorites of the set and do you have any feedback as to the direction my photography is headed? ANYTHING is helpful to me!
Also! I'm going to sound like a broken record but if you need ANY photography for ANYTHING then PLEASE talk to me! My rates are those that are STARVING COLLEGE STUDENT would charge and I give you WAY more than you pay for!
Love,
Niall
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Propaghandi interview
How do you feel about the current state of the music industry? Are physical copies of albums losing ground to digital releases? Is music better now than it was a few years ago?
The "industry" sickens me. It can be summarized like so: commercial pablum created to make lots of money for a handful old, ugly CEOs who hate music. If physical copies of albums are losing ground to digital downloads, at least there will be slightly less shit sitting in landfills for all eternity.
Are you glad you're a Canadian rather than a United Statesian? Do you think the people in the USA should be called Americans I mean North and South America should be Americans too?
I don't really think like that. To quote Neil Peart, "Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world than the pride that divides when a colourful rag is unfurled."
Band rules SO hard.
The "industry" sickens me. It can be summarized like so: commercial pablum created to make lots of money for a handful old, ugly CEOs who hate music. If physical copies of albums are losing ground to digital downloads, at least there will be slightly less shit sitting in landfills for all eternity.
Are you glad you're a Canadian rather than a United Statesian? Do you think the people in the USA should be called Americans I mean North and South America should be Americans too?
I don't really think like that. To quote Neil Peart, "Better the pride that resides in a citizen of the world than the pride that divides when a colourful rag is unfurled."
Band rules SO hard.
Friday, March 6, 2009
My mom vs. Barbara Boxer
This is an email I just received from my mom.
I know that EVERYONE in the blogosphere would love to read it.
Diana McCarthy 2012.
The Email:
Got an email tonight from our wonderful Senator Barbara Boxer telling about all the wonderful things coming our way because of this massive stimulus bill. Here's my response:
What about all the pork in the bill? What about the massive amount of money we are borrowing that will have to be paid back by US the TAXPAYERS???
What about the targeting of Americans who make around $250K a year and will now have to be taxed to death do to all the over-spending that you all in congress are doing?
My husband and I are finally making it. We dug ourselves out of a hole and went from barely making it to making a six-figure income. But my dear Senator we are NOT wealthy! How on earth can you put people who make $250,000 a year into the same bracket as multi-millionaires??? We feel every single tax that comes our way. We work hard. We asked for no hand outs. We have 3 kids w/ one in college. We get NO loans for it. My mother lives w/ us and we take care of her also. But w/ all the new taxes coming our way...and they ARE coming... we will start to sink under their weight. Where is our incentive to make more money? It will only go to someone else who didn't work for it.
We sit here w/ a mortgage that is upside down and can not refinance it to a fixed rate loan. We are paying our mortgage so no one wants to deal with us. We aren't looking for a bailout. We are just looking to refinance to a fixed rate. Not sure that will happen because again we are seen as "the rich". Too funny since 4 years after moving in we are just now buying curtains and still have a dirt backyard. You see we are trying to do things the right way. We want to have the money before we do the backyard....that is IF we still have one in the future.
I am tired of hearing about "the richest 2%" in our country. They worked darned hard for what they have and should not be demonized for it. What right do you all in congress have to take it away from those who earn it?
I suggest you all take a massive pay cut. But then again you probably wouldn't feel it. I'm quite sure you aren't making just $250K a year.
Instead of being so quick to spend someone else's hard earned money why don't you look at the real working Americans out there that are just like me. Working working working and the tax bills just keep climbing. It is time for a Boston Tea Party in America so you, our representatives, will realize that we are sick of this and aren't just going to keep taking every thing you want to throw at us. After all...YOU work for ME!
I'm sending this to all the idiots in congress who represent us. No more just talking! Time we let them know what we think too!!
Yah, my mom pretty much kicks ass.
I know that EVERYONE in the blogosphere would love to read it.
Diana McCarthy 2012.
The Email:
Got an email tonight from our wonderful Senator Barbara Boxer telling about all the wonderful things coming our way because of this massive stimulus bill. Here's my response:
What about all the pork in the bill? What about the massive amount of money we are borrowing that will have to be paid back by US the TAXPAYERS???
What about the targeting of Americans who make around $250K a year and will now have to be taxed to death do to all the over-spending that you all in congress are doing?
My husband and I are finally making it. We dug ourselves out of a hole and went from barely making it to making a six-figure income. But my dear Senator we are NOT wealthy! How on earth can you put people who make $250,000 a year into the same bracket as multi-millionaires??? We feel every single tax that comes our way. We work hard. We asked for no hand outs. We have 3 kids w/ one in college. We get NO loans for it. My mother lives w/ us and we take care of her also. But w/ all the new taxes coming our way...and they ARE coming... we will start to sink under their weight. Where is our incentive to make more money? It will only go to someone else who didn't work for it.
We sit here w/ a mortgage that is upside down and can not refinance it to a fixed rate loan. We are paying our mortgage so no one wants to deal with us. We aren't looking for a bailout. We are just looking to refinance to a fixed rate. Not sure that will happen because again we are seen as "the rich". Too funny since 4 years after moving in we are just now buying curtains and still have a dirt backyard. You see we are trying to do things the right way. We want to have the money before we do the backyard....that is IF we still have one in the future.
I am tired of hearing about "the richest 2%" in our country. They worked darned hard for what they have and should not be demonized for it. What right do you all in congress have to take it away from those who earn it?
I suggest you all take a massive pay cut. But then again you probably wouldn't feel it. I'm quite sure you aren't making just $250K a year.
Instead of being so quick to spend someone else's hard earned money why don't you look at the real working Americans out there that are just like me. Working working working and the tax bills just keep climbing. It is time for a Boston Tea Party in America so you, our representatives, will realize that we are sick of this and aren't just going to keep taking every thing you want to throw at us. After all...YOU work for ME!
I'm sending this to all the idiots in congress who represent us. No more just talking! Time we let them know what we think too!!
Yah, my mom pretty much kicks ass.
Watchmen
was AMAZING.
Do NOT listen to the critics on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. Most of them have beef with THE GRAPHIC NOVEL and not with the interpretation of that novel. It is completely unfair to fault a movie based on it's source material, when the ENTIRE point of the film is to adapt the source material.
Also, don't let people tell you it's super complicated, it isn't. Deep, but not overly complicated.
Also, see it on IMAX. Ruled.
NERD OUT!
Do NOT listen to the critics on sites like Rotten Tomatoes. Most of them have beef with THE GRAPHIC NOVEL and not with the interpretation of that novel. It is completely unfair to fault a movie based on it's source material, when the ENTIRE point of the film is to adapt the source material.
Also, don't let people tell you it's super complicated, it isn't. Deep, but not overly complicated.
Also, see it on IMAX. Ruled.
NERD OUT!
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What do you think?
Just put up some portraits for my friend Nathan's new book of poems he's putting out. In particular, I want to draw your attention to the headshot.
Do you like the edit of it? I'm in love with it but I would also like a non-artists opinion.
Love you guys,
Niall
Do you like the edit of it? I'm in love with it but I would also like a non-artists opinion.
Love you guys,
Niall
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