Category Archives: Alert: Opinion Inflicting!
Gaiman: SOPA and PIPA are on the wrong side of history
Author Neil Gaiman
The twin anti-piracy threats that were being considered by Congress — the SOPA bill in the House and the PIPA legislation in the Senate — have been put aside due to the storm of controversy and criticism they sparked. But the media and entertainment industries are unlikely to give up their battle so easily, author Neil Gaiman said in an interview this week, even though what they’re trying to do amounts to “trying to put genies back in bottles.” Gaiman, who…
WTF?! I Wanted An iPhone!!! Song (1089)
I know Christmas just ended, but a number of people decided that they have the right to have first world problems during one of the most awaited celebrations in the world. “I don’t care if the economy is going down, I want an iphone”. This is exactly why I don’t like the fast dispense of technology, will it really hurt if they release it 5 years after they’ve just released a new model. These people are quite insensitive, too. There are kids out there who try to ask for something minimalistic like books and clothes, because they know their parents might not be able to afford all the spiffy stuff. And you know, it just makes those people in the video a lot more awful, because they don’t know the state their parents are in, and how some of those parents who actually bought them what they want, worked hard for it. Jonathan Monn composed a song using the tweets of all the self-centered,materialistic brats in the world.
I can’t understand your existence
I also am not ashamed to say that I am Catholic-Christian. But I am very ashamed that a guy like this actually exists. I’ve been taught, growing up, that one of the most important lessons Jesus taught us is love. Jesus said to love one another as He has loved us, as we love ourselves. I can’t understand why we can’t extend that love to people who are different from us. I believe that this ultimate commandment is the foundation of our faith, and not doing it just makes all of our prayers, our good deeds, meaningless, because it shows that you’re just doing it because your faith tells you to. Since we’re talking about religion let me just say, that sometimes it is the homosexual community, those that you have deemed a disease and the cause of the problem of your country, the ones who have a deep faith in God. It makes me jealous of how they have grown in their faith, knowing that there are people like Rick Perry around, ridiculing them. I admire how strong they have become, hanging on to God, and not minding what others are thinking. They know that there are some things deprived from them by the Church, like the sacrament of marriage, but that does not stop them from going to church and praying to God asking Him to make this world understand them.
Blaming homosexuals for everything bad that is happening to America just doesn’t make sense. It’s people who are close-minded, and selfish, and power hungry that’s responsible for what’s happening in your country, or to any country for that matter. There is no need to point fingers to people who are actually helping you keep the country safe. Do you think the homosexual soldiers serving in Iraq or Afghanistan like being away from their families just to make sure that each and everyone of you sleeps safely at night?
As for non-Christians, well this is where I am confused. I don’t understand why there is an invisible feud STILL between all the religions saying that theirs are better than the other religions. We all have one goal and that is to spend eternity in paradise. I see no point in vilifying religions, because we might learn something from them. Being a devout Christian does not give you the right to tell other people that what they are doing is wrong. It’s not about who has the “right religion”, it is about understanding that we have different religions that point to one.
I’m not American this is probably none of my business, but the choices that country will make will affect the world, whether we like it or not. And if someone who does not appreciate everyone in his country will be in office, then I don’t know what kind of catastrophe is bound to happen.
When I saw his hate video, I immediately looked for responses, and I did find a couple which I think is worth a watch.
And, to lighten the mood, I found this on Funny Or Die:
Bad Lip Reading: Rick Perry’s Strong Ad
God Bless, everyone.
Losers by Everynone
When I was a kid, when someone says something about you, you react by retaliating through words. I think this is mostly why most people are sarcastic nowadays, because sometimes, what we lack in physical strength, we make up for mental strength, because what better way to best out people who pick on you but by words, retorts. But this was when words are enough to pacify them.
It makes me sad that people take their own lives because society does not understand them. Rather than comforting people who are feeling alone, confronting problems they think they are too weak to face, society judges them, ridicules them, vilifies them. And we wonder why kids as young as six years old would even think of taking their own life to make it all stop?
I think this is because we are afraid of accepting something new to us, and I get it, I really do. That does not mean that the people who are very different from you should be punished just because you cannot accept that existence of an idea, or a practice, or whatever it is that is new today. I’m with you, being surprised that this is all happening, that suddenly new things, new experiences have spawned. But that means that we will be learning and experiencing something different, and us not being used to it does not mean its bad.
Another problem is that society has this tendency to look up to the wrong people, which I think ultimately leads to insecurities. It’s getting worst actually because a lot of people that I know starve themselves to death just to look like some of those models you see on magazines. My own sister thinks she’s fat; but if I show you a picture of her right now (and I can’t because she would not allow me to), you would even compliment her at how fit she actually is. But she doesn’t see that, all she sees is fat. And it scares me.
It’s simple.We need a lot of work, perception wise. If we perceive that something is bad, then for us it’s the most evil thing ever done and we would hate it until the end of time, and that’s what we need to change. We need to see things as something that is alien to us; thus making us realise that “hey, I still have a lot of things to learn about this beautiful blue round planet where everyone is beautiful and talented and happy, why don’t I go learn these things and tell my neighbour how lovely she is today”, instead of instantly judging people because they are different.
The Flying Spaghetti Monster, the Invisible Pink Unicorn, and the Lolcats War
Yup, you are reading it right.
People are fond of parodies, may it be parodies of music videos, TV shows, or a speech from a politician. Now this is a different kind of parody, the Flying Spaghetti Monster and the Invisible Unicorn are deities of parody religions that exist today. Religious satires may have been the result of agnosticism or atheism, Kantra said that religious satires are attempts of man to play god.
If, like me, this is the first time you’ve heard of all this, then join me as we journey to the unknown *cue evil laugh* (Dramatic feel=always appropriate)
The Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster
The Flying Spaghetti Monster first made its appearance in an open letter by Ben Henderson regarding a decision by the Kansas State Board of Education to include intelligent design in the curriculum as an alternative to evolution in public schools. In the letter, he parodied the concept of intelligent design by stating that the creator resembles spaghetti and meatballs. Henderson further stated that Flying Spaghetti Monsterism be put in the curriculum as well.
After the letter’s released, the Flying Spaghetti became an instant hit on the internet and was made a symbol for those who are against the teaching of intelligent design. Their beliefs, which is appropriately called Pastafarian beliefs, are satires of creationism.
The central belief is that an invisible Flying Spaghetti Monster created the universe and that Pirates are considered the original Pastafarians (a portmanteau of pasta and Rastafarians). Also, the declining number of pirates constituted global warming.
It is now considered as the contemporary version of Russell’s teapot or the celestial teapot which is an argument that the idea of the philosophic burden of proof lies upon a person unfalsifiable claims, and not those who are rejecting it.
Invisible Pink Unicorn
The Pink Unicorn is the goddess of this parody religion. This is used to satirize theistic beliefs in the form of a unicorn that is both invisible and pink. Like the Flying Spaghetti Monster, the Pink Unicorn is a rhetorical illustration used by “skeptics”.
Discussion in this parody religion mostly involves pointing out that because the unicorn is invisible, no one can prove that she does not exist, or if she is in fact pink. That the unicorn is not subject to universal laws and thus tells us nothing about the unicorn’s existence. Her attributes include her invisibility and her pinkness which are contradictory. This is because she is something invisible that has visible characteristics, which is part of the satire.
Lolcat
Well, the symbol for this satire is not as creative as the other two. This is basically just a picture of a cat with text on it, which is actually a common internet meme.
The Ceiling cat is a character spawned from a picture of a cat looking out of a hole in a ceiling thus starting the internet meme “Ceiling Cat is watching you [insert verb here]“. And the Ceiling cat is supposedly waging war against the evil Basement Cat. They represent good and evil in the lolcat universe.
Like I said, I know nothing about this, a friend of mine (yep, this is you Mmina!) just told me that these actually existed. I love my religion and would not think of replacing it with the aforementioned ideas, because let’s face it, even if these are parodies, their objectives and their goals are their real ideas. I learned something new and different, which is basically what everyone is after, doesn’t really mean that we have to adopt the things we’ve learned and just delete the ideas our own minds have formed.
Very interesting month, I hope you guys had way more fun than me.
Oh, and visit my friend’s account http://thoughtspresso.wordpress.com
I worry about this country…
Let’s cut to the chase, everything that’s wrong with this society is not just because of her. I am well aware that she did things that are unforgivable, enough for all of us to hate her, to condemn her, and that we vilify every single thing that she does. But we are not barbarians. Why can’t we just let her go and get treatment?
If we really hate selfishness and greed, then we would not think like this. We would allow her to go, and if we are that worried that she will escape, then have escorts go with her. I’m pretty sure reporters and guards will be with her, updating everything. We can find ways, that’s what I’m saying. I’m sorry, but I don’t want to have a sickly person, who is probably inching her way to being bedridden or maybe worst, get in court and cannot properly defend herself and have people bully her. That is not who we are.
All I’m saying is, if we are hating on vile, pretentious, evil people, then I’m not going to start acting like one. I remember a line from an animated show appropriately named Hell Girl, she always tells people who would want to send someone to hell, “When a person’s cursed, two graves are dug”. It’s the same with us. If we want to completely eradicate people who wants nothing but total satisfaction for themselves, then shouldn’t we be starting with ourselves? Isn’t that why campaigns such as “Ako Mismo” and “Bayan Patrollers” are there? These programs keep saying “ako ang simula ng pagbabago”, change will start with us, then why think like this?
The Three Musketeers
This particular Alexandre Dumas novel is a favourite in the world of adaptations isn’t it. There was the 1973 movie which starred Michael York, Oliver Reed, and Frank Finlay which was directed by Richard Lester, and the 1993 film directed by Stephen Herek which starred Chris O’ Donell, Charlie Sheen, and Keifer Sutherland. Now a new version has come out and it is directed by Paul Anderson. So, how did it do?
There were a lot of unnecessary things in the movie, like the use of the 3D effect. Again, the movie would have been okay without the 3D effect because really, there was nothing there that would make the whole 3D experience enjoyable. The movie looked like one of those video-game movie adaptations, Tekken for example, that actually made the movie a bit corny because of the slow-motion action sequences that the movie had. I think it was just because Milla Jovovich, who plays Milady, was in it, the Resident Evil-like action was for her. No actually, not Resident Evil, it was like Matrix, especially the first few scenes. It was a bit ridiculous.
Logan Lerman played D’Artagan. I think this is just me, but the character was a bit forgettable. It was so bland that I actually got a bit annoyed. Matthew Macfadyen who played Athos, Ray Stevenson as Porthos and Luke Evans as Aramis, were all great in the movie actually that I was surprised that they were always in the background. The movie was just focused on D’Artagnan that you kind of forget that you are watching a movie that is about the three musketeers. I know the book was about D’Artagnan but that’s how annoyed I got that I’d rather watch a movie that is mostly about the three musketeers. Christoph Waltz was also in the movie, he plays Cardinal Richelieu, as expected, he was really good. Orlando Bloom as the Duke of Buckingham was also a background character, or looks like he was a background character because he was seldom there. But he was still able to make an impact with what little scenes he has been given. Freddie Fox as King Louis XIII was actually spot on, he portrayed the whole “kid-King” very well. My favourite character, however, is Planchet who is played by James Corden, which I actually remember seeing in Doctor Who. His character gave the humour element that the movie needed, and I like him not because he was funny or made fun of in the movie, it was because he portrayed the “silly manservant of the three musketeers” character very well.
I loved the costumes and the set. I most especially loved the war-machines only because it was weird seeing something very “Steam Age” like in a Medieval era. Also, the fish, the fake fish the Queen was trying to catch, I thought that was an odd choice of game that they put in.
The movie also hinted a sequel, but overall, the movie was still tolerable. I am hoping that the sequel will be better, if it will actually happen. You should still check it out, I might be the problem hence this poor review.
I’m born in the wrong decade
I was in the middle of writing my midterm paper for my history class when I suddenly had some sort of flashback. Weird as that sounds, that kind of thing actually happen to me, random flashes of things I either want to forget or were at the darkest corner of the archive section of my brain.
The flashback was of a conversation that I had with a friend of mine. I remember it very vividly because I got a bit annoyed at this person, and the whole conversation just made me laugh. It was during our Philosophy class, we were seated at the back of the room, we were about to watch a film about existence when she tapped me on my shoulder and asked me if I wanted to go to a party with her and our other friend. When people say party, I assume that it’s some sort of cocktail party, where there is casual talk involved. Actually that alone makes me uncomfortable given that I’m actually talkative and socializing is surprisingly a weakness of mine. Anyway, so I said “Yes, why not”, and then proceeded to ask her where this party is going to be, the next thing I know she was laughing at me for abruptly saying no, I don’t want to come. It must have slipped my mind that I am already in college, in a University full of people very different from me. She was referring to partying in “the club”, which I’m really not into. Her reaction made me a bit curious, mainly because it was the first time I’ve encountered it.
First thing I asked her, obviously, was why she was laughing. It seemed odd to me that refusing an invitation to go to a club, that I haven’t even heard of, is weird for people. She went on laughing, then I said “well,I just think that I have better things to do than go to a club to party, when I can be at home, read some books, surf the internet, and talk to myself” (I just made up that last bit, but you know what I mean). And then she said that I’m not enjoying my college life because I don’t like going out. What I got from that was, in order for me to enjoy being in college, I have to go out to party and lose my stiff facade and lose control. I didn’t get angry, but I got a bit defensive and annoyed, so I gave a two minute rant.
First and foremost, I’m an awkward kid. It still surprises me that I’m able to have more than two minutes of just talking to people in social gatherings. I didn’t even want to go to my own prom, and wouldn’t have if it wasn’t required, let alone clubs. Second, I don’t like dancing. I’ve spent half my life trying to tell people that I don’t dance, until I realized that in my era, jumping is now considered a form of dance. That’s actually a bit of an insult to those people who actually dance in clubs and concerts, but if you look around, there is actually more jumping than dancing. Third, who ever said that going out and exercising complete freedom is a way, if not a must, to enjoy college. I’m alright with being indoors, I’m alright with just going out to the cinemas and shop with friends, I’m actually alright with almost anything. I just don’t like rowdy places, and for some people that comes off as weird.
I’ve been forced to do all kinds of things, and this would probably be the first time that I’ve expressed vexation and still find humour in it, because I now come off as an anti-social geek trying to find meaning in the banalities of the era I live in. And it actually feels quite liberating, almost proud of myself for venting out. Then I remember, this is why people pity me.
I’m just saying, nothing good will come out with forcing people to do what they don’t want to do, or forcing ideas that you know they will not accept.
End of rant.
Like this:
Third Star
Third Star is a British comedy-drama film directed by Hattie Dalton. It stars Benedict Cumberbatch, J.J. Feild, Tom Burke, Adam Robertson, and Hugh Bonneville.
The film is about James (Benedict Cumberbatch), who is terminally ill with cancer, and his three closest friends Davy (Tom Burke), Miles (J.J. Feild), and Bill (Adam Robertson). At James’ request, they went on a camping trip to his favorite place, Barafundle Bay, a coastal area in West Wales. James is almost always in pain, and he also is mostly unable to walk unaided, which is why he constantly chugs down liquid morphine and he has cart designed just for him. He is slowly losing his perception of reality, evinced by his repeated visions of a man standing on a beach, and the random times where his vision gets blurred whenever he is on drugs and starts talking about how his friends lives are and how it is going to be when he dies. His friends are also fighting their own personal demons and believes that the trip is just something they need to do for one last time.
There have been a lot of hindrances, including the loss of their supplies and of James’ cart. This, however, became a test of their commitment to getting James to where he wants to be. James, who has now become immensely acrimonious, needs to be carried by his tired and weary friends who, at this point, is losing patience and sympathy for each other, and even for James. When they reached Barafundle Bay, shortly after celebrating their successful hike, James tells them the purpose of the trip and why he insisted on continuing it…He is to swim to the sea and drown himself, he is asking his friends for help. Naturally and initially, his friends refused to help him. However, they saw James’ struggle with the pain after accidentally losing his medication. They decided to help James carry out his plan, and just tell everyone else that they found him dead when they woke up.
James was just supposed to swim out by himself, but Miles, Bill, and Davey joins him. Davy, being unable to swim further, went back with Bill. Miles was left with James, he helped James drown himself.
Third Star showed us more than just the message of appreciating one’s life and cherishing every moment of it. It is a story about someone who is struggling because of his illness and just wanted, for one last time, to know how it feels like to actually live. He wanted to make sure that when he leaves, his friends and his family will be able to move on, and that everything goes on with their lives. This movie is about living, and being happy with the way one’s life turned out to be. Busying ourselves with things that do not matter and things that does not even make a ripple in our lives, is not living.
We are all going to die eventually, and it is our right to make our lives a happy one. Surely we will not waste it on being resentful and angry at everything and everyone, or even sad and depressed at how our life turned to be. Whatever happens in this roller-coaster of a life that we have, they are part of what makes the ride worth it.
At the twilight of our lives, all we are going to ask ourselves is…How have I lived?
So let us pack our bags, carry our tents, and just brace ourselves for a trip to the rugged and isolated coastal area of our lives. We might just be surprised at the things that we learn about ourselves and the people around us.
Bon Voyage!
“So I raise a morphine toast to you all. And if you should happen to remember it’s the anniversary of my birth, remember that you were loved by me, and that you made my life a happy one. And there is no tragedy in that.” -James
