Friday, February 25, 2011

Travel Time.

Sunday morning, bright and early, I'm going to drive from Houma, LA to Vine Grove, KY. The rest of the trip up to Mount Pleasant, MI will resume the next morning.
A week later, I'll travel from Mount Pleasant, MI to Kill Devil Hills, NC.
So much driving, so little time. But, that also means I wont be updating too often until I get settled.

With that said, I'll leave you with this website to explore at your leisure.
http://1000awesomethings.com/

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Effects and Dolphins.

We are still feeling the effects of the Exxon Valdez spill and that happened in 1989..... How long are we going to feel the effects from the BP oil disaster?


And, it kills me that baby dolphins are washing up on shore, dead. 24 dead babies..... and they said more are likely to appear.... Uggghhh.

What are we doing to this planet? When will we realize that money does not buy life, health, or happiness?

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

What's The Truth?

"Truth exists. Only lies are invented." Georges Braque

I've had several discussions with several different types of people about what truth really is. Groups all across the board like Republicans, Liberals, Christians, Buddhists, Atheists, Therapists, Writers, and Professors all believe they know and possess the truth (or at least some aspect of truth), but how can all of them be right? How can groups that harbor beliefs that are polar opposites still see their own "truth" as supreme, ultimate, "the right way"? It seems like believing your own truth takes a great deal of faith, and faith does not equal truth. Therefore, can we ever really know what the truth is?

And on a side note: I'm not even sure we can find truth because we are constantly bombarded by propaganda and marketing strategies that force us to think a certain way. The lives that many of us live are so convoluted and caught up in materialistic nonsense that we've taken other people's truths as our own.
I'm constantly searching for my truth. I'd encourage you to do the same.

Saturday, February 12, 2011

The Beautiful and Terrifying Portrait.

This link has two videos embedded in it. The first one is short, two minutes and eleven seconds. It shows some beautiful, scenic views of the earth. But, it also captures how the planet is in danger because of the exploitative ways we humans are living. The first clip  is almost like a long trailer for the second, "Home" by Yann Arthus-Bertrand. I haven't seen "Home" yet, but it seems as if it's filmed in a style similar to "Koyaanisquatsi: Life Out of Balance".
I saw "Koyaanisquatsi" in my "Religion and Social Issues" class my freshman year of college. At the time, I was too naive to appreciate what the movie has to offer. There's no dialogue, no characters, and it lacks a conventional plot. It's a bunch of scenes from all over the earth (natural and man-made) set to a soundtrack by Philip Glass. Years later, my sister gave me the DVD as a birthday gift. Since then, I've been trying to get everyone I know to watch it. (Note: It doesn't go over well at parties.)
This unique documentary is visually-striking and sends a powerful message if you're patient enough to sit through its entirety. It shows how badly our lives are out of balance. We're creating so much turmoil that we're inviting disaster. Be sure to see this movie (as well as the other two in the series; Powaqqatsi and Naqoyqatsi). There's a lot of truth in those films.

Some notes about Koyaanisquatsi.

Definitions
ko.yaa.nis.katsi (from the Hopi language), n. 1. crazy life. 2. life in turmoil. 3. life disintegrating. 4. life out of balance. 5. a state of life that calls for another way of living.

Translation of the Hopi Prophecies Sung in KOYAANISQATSI

"If we dig precious things from the land, we will invite disaster."
"Near the Day of Purification, there will be cobwebs spun back and forth in the sky."
"A container of ashes might one day be thrown from the sky which could burn the land and boil the oceans."



Back to "Home." The video is one hour and thirty-three minutes. As soon as I'm done dying from my cold, I'll be sure to watch it. I just wanted to make sure that the video was up here for others to watch!

Thursday, February 10, 2011

30 Days.

Recently, I've been watching episodes of 30 Days.
This show ran for three seasons from 2005 to 2008. It's hosted by Morgan Spurlock who also made the movie Super Size Me.
For 30 days, either Spurlock or another person (or group of people), immerse themselves in a lifestyle that was previously foreign to them. 30 Days is filmed in a documentary style and it brings to light, and indirectly challenges, a lot of social constructions that exist in our world. It's controversial and enlightening.
There is a lot of trash television out there, especially within "Reality TV." But, 30 Days is a quality show that has a lot of insight into society. It's refreshing to see a tv series that forces you to think and confront your own thoughts on certain issues.
An episode from the third season, Life on an Indian Reservation, was the most thought-provoking and powerful one I've seen. Spurlock lives on a reservation for 30 days and bonds with the family that hosts him. He participates in native ceremonies, experiences their culture, and is witness to a lot of issues on the reservation. The episode shows that (1) you dont have to speak the same language to create a bond, (2) you can relate to all sorts of people if you just take the time to understand their point of view, (3) everyone, every where has their own issues they are dealing with, and (4) it seems like white America is trying it's best to phase out other cultures.
I've seen the entire second season: Immigration, Outsourcing, Atheist vs. Christian, New Age, Pro-life, Pro-choice, and Jail. I'm now watching the third season, and I've been impressed by each episode.
Each episode has an important lesson.
Take some time, watch the show. It'll change your life, for real.

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Are You Happy?

Check out The Happiness Project. The site is full of blogs, quizzes, videos.... just anything one could want if she/he wanted to delve into the subject of happiness.
You can also sign up for a quote a day! :)
Thank you, Gretchen Rubin.