With an Edgy Yet Classic Vibe.....Sure to Be Shocker

If there's anything I know, it's good, edgy music. I'm always on the prowl for something new and interesting that will keep me on my toes. A good music video can make or break an artists--the music may be blasé, while the video is enticing, leading a listener to 'believe' that what they are watching and simultaneously hearing is 'inspiring and talent-filled'. BUT WAIT, what if you have the combination of a cutting-edge thematic shoot, and a supremely talented singer? The result: is an edgy, yet inspiring and entrancing video worth watching. Kudos to Xenia Ghali and my good and talented friend Noni Culotta for a song that will be forever stuck in my head......which for the first time I'm one hundred percent okay with.

Re-evaluation: Helpful or Harmful?

*Phew*.....Well, it's been awhile since I've taken the time to immerse myself in a post.....we all know that for me its a time commitment since I tend to be very wordy and detailed in describing my thoughts, opinions, etc. As for thoughts, they have been scrambled, along with previous views and opinions, as I embarked on the  most recent whirlwind adventure life adventure, that being my scary first semester of college. Now as finals have wrapped up and final grades have been released, us students are gladly welcoming in the winter break and the down time to relax and re-coop before the spring. Unfortunately, I have no car for the time being and when not able to obtain a ride, have spent a majority of my break at home. No complaints though, what could be better than catching up on your favorite shows and reading (God knows I never have time to do any of this during the semester)? I'm not even ashamed to admit that I am currently re-reading Fifty Shades of Grey, problem number one of a broke college student being that I ran out of Amazon credits for my kindle and am resorting to rereading what I already have. While reading, I was surprised when Christian Grey pulled out this specific quote from Carnegie: "A man who acquires the ability to take full possession of his own mind may take possession of anything else to which he is justly entitled". It struck me, as simply, an outline, or better yet a formula, of the highly sought after secrets to success. It's a classic mind over matter deal, you can achieve what you want in life as long as you have the strength of personal perseverance to accomplish your set-out goals. In lieu of freshman year, my focus point being on recent grades and healthy diets going down the tubes (well, more the diet than the grades, I actually made a high GPA as an engineer that I don't mind but would like to improve next semester), I  have decided to take on this new Christian Grey philosophy and apply it to my own lifestyle. Entering spring semester I would love to have dropped the gross freshman fifteen I gained, due to too many appealing and unhealthy options in the dining hall for a weak minded girl, and have a mind-set geared towards greater focus on school and studying. I've got the tools for success, now I just need to properly utilize my skills so I can succeed. To measure my success by the end of this journey, I would like to be able to successfully run a half marathon and have a GPA above a 3.4. I'm taking full possession of my mind, now sit back and watch to see the results. ~~~~~It's All Gravy Baby, Life's Lovely~~~

Truth and reality are two entities that seem to go hand in hand more than one-way. In reading this piece, I came up with some of my own ideas regarding Truth and false versions of the Truth-in doing so, this helped to reaffirm what I believed to be the relationship between both Truth and Reality. I’m going to call these “False Truths” because even though they are like “falsehoods”, due to the psychological and innate beliefs of the innocent individual, resulting from conditioning by a greater power, these “False Truths” legitimately seem to be Truth in the eye of the beholder. To me, that seems a bit more than a mere “false hood” in which the individual has the ability through instinct and personal growth to work their way to seeing through such illusions. Plato is emphasizing the idea of “False Truths” by the imagery of the prisoners chained and forced to see what the puppeteer wishes. In this scenario, what they see is essentially what they believe. The Truth appears to be that a cow passing over the fire glow and casting its shadow is just that, a cow. Little do these people know, but that which appears to be a living and breathing cow could really be a statue or a human imitation. At the very beginning of his work, Plato makes this solid distinction between reality and surface appearance. Again, what one sees, may not always be what is reality. The apparent Truth through one’s sight and observation can be contrasted by the idea that there is an illusion existing which they are being fed by an overpowering and dominating force, or a “False Truth” in play. The Reality comes about when the person sees, after their “chains” are lifted, and they are able to turn “towards the fire” and view the shadows of Truth they had been fed. In many ways, True Truth comes from the experience of repelling the dominating forces, approaching the light and understanding that comes from approaching the darks corners and all aspects of a life. In embracing the ability to learn and perceive life on one’s own instead of being fed a series of images and thoughts by other powers, the individual is able to be a part of Reality and accept True Truth, while simultaneously rejecting the illusion of “False Truths”. Though this Reality that is achieved is ideal in that illusions do not exist, it is only one step in the achievement of betterment because others who are blind to such understanding will not accept the Truth that one who comes back attempts to share. Ergo, Reality and True truth change a person to want to help change others, but these two things are to be achieved solely by the individual without help. The light of individual understanding is stronger when achieved independently then is what Plato is saying, emphasizing the true power of the individual as a force of change.

Champs d’Honneur

     by Ernest Hemingway 

       

Soldiers never do die well;

         Crosses mark the places—

Wooden crosses where they fell,

         Stuck above their faces.

Soldiers pitch and cough and twitch—

         All the world roars red and black;

Soldiers smother in a ditch,

         Choking through the whole attack.

     It's funny how Hemingway can take such a short time to express such full meaning. A big part of Hemingway's style is his reflection on past experiences. He partook in the great war,  was not permitted to embark on field action, so he ended up driving the ambulances. He saw much horrific sights in this job, witnessed the struggles and intense pain of the wounded, the lack of justice that is experienced through war and the emotional hardship and psychologically intense trials the warriors on the field are put through. In this poem, there are two sections that have alternating rhyming (by this I mean that the first line rhymes with the third, the second with the fourth). The first section emphasizes the harsh fate of a soldier-death is not pretty, the wooden cross "stuck above their faces" poignantly alludes to the idea of Jesus and his struggles on the cross. The cross is a constant reminder of the pain and suffering the soldier has been through. This section is more figurative in the fact that it discusses fate through allusion. The second section is way more literal in it's description of the action that the soldier experiences on the field. The imagery is strong and causes the reader to step back and really appreciate what the soldier has done for his people. The tone therefore is one of respect and one of sadness-the soldier will always be remembered for what he has done, but it is a great shame that he lost his life in such a way. I wonder if Hemingway uses his reflection and past experience to emphasize the unnecessary nature of war and a need for better conflict resolution in the world (the tone gave me this idea). Hm, something to think about. Overall, these eight words have provided some great ~Food For Thought~

Tears, Idle Tears by Alfred Tennyson

One of the few Victorian
poets with thoughts of a
better tomorrow.......

'

EARS, idle tears, I know not what they mean,

Tears from the depth of some divine despair

Rise in the heart, and gather to the eyes,

In looking on the happy autumn-fields,

And thinking of the days that are no more.

 

'Fresh as the first beam glittering on the sail,

That brings our friends up from the underworld,

Sad as the last which reddens over one

That sinks with all we love below the verge;

So sad, so fresh, the days that are no more.

 

..........In an era in which change
was constantly progressive and a
city in which social structures
and attitudes were being tested...

'Ah, sad and strange as in dark summer dawns

The earliest pipe of half-awaken'd birds

To dying ears, when unto dying eyes

The casement slowly grows a glimmering square;

So sad, so strange, the days that are no more.

 

'Dear as remember'd kisses after death,

And sweet as those by hopeless fancy feign'd

On lips that are for others; deep as love,

Deep as first love, and wild with all regret;

O Death in Life, the days that are no more.'

         

         So, I drove to school today, only to turn right back around and head home after realizing that I am currently too sick to function in any kind of productive way. Because I do truly hate missing school, since it puts one so behind and I am currently overextended as it is, I thought I may as well put some of the six hours I wasn't sleeping to use-and let's be honest, any excuse to explore the internet and read I will gladly undertake. And what better a adventure to take on this day, then one with Lord Alfred Tennyson? To be honest, I had heard little bits and pieces about him throughout my life, but never had I taken the time to read his work. My conclusion after reading is that while he uses words that are simple, it is his meaning behind such simple words and subject matter that is pretty profound-I mean, he takes the simple thought of a tear in this poem and turns it into an time-transcending theme of carrying on through struggle. I think it is important to note that he uses non-rhyming iambic pentameter and has set up four sections that each contain five lines.

      The first section has to do with tears for the past, that what one enjoyed that is no longer existing. Is this sadness brought on because one truly will miss the times, or because they did not appreciate what they had while it was right there for them? I wondered this as I read. It almost strikes me by tone, though, that there are thoughts of regret in the individual. The tears themselves are literally stated in this section of the poem, whereas in other sections there is more of a figurative presentation of ideas.

     As I read through, the ideas of section one were bolstered and supported by each of the following sections. There is a major theme of death and loss throughout the entire poem-by saying that "he knows not what they mean" in thinking of his tears, Tennyson emphasizes that grief, loss and pain are not rational, and death brings a bleak outlook on an individual, one that haunts them. This is especially emphasized in the third section, lines two and three, when Tennyson talks about the pipe of the half awakened birds being lost onto ears and eyes of one who is mentally, though not physically, dead in the fact that their despair and heartbreak over a loss has become an inhibitor for their ability to function.

     But I think that the most important portion of the poem is the last section, it ties up all the loose ends and changes the tone of the poem from one of despair to one of hope. Tennyson admits that true, one will always remember and be plagued with memories of their first love and ones they have lost, but in the last line he emphasizes, and simultaneously contradicts, his previous observation of "days no more"and how death profoundly effects one, in his statement "O Death in Life, the days that are no more" in which the thoughts of despair and death are literally "put to death" and are themselves no more. This is ironic and unexpected when reading the poem because it seems that his feelings of despair and angst are so strong, that they will plague the him for life. By releasing his attachment to such feelings, the author gives his readers hope for any struggles they go through, gives them a powerful sense of good feeling towards achieving the best in a situation. 

    It is important finally to connect everything I'v spoken about so far with historical background. Tennyson lived during the Victorian Era, a time when English society was in a transition period and ideas of the future were mere speculation. Tennyson as a writer during this age reflects a lot on the state of his society, but unlike many writers acknowledges that the inevitable change to come is not to be shunned but is to be embraced by the hopeful soul. This poem embodies Tennyson's initial approach towards these ideas-in the beginning it seems like all subject matter is and will concern despair and loss, but by the end, he acknowledges that yes, we constantly experience the struggle of death and the pain of loss, but realizes that the strong individual in order to prosper must move on from these two entities. It's basically your common acknowledgment that bad stuff happens, but it is the person that is able to learn and move on from experience that will achieve success. And that in of itself is a time transcending way of thinking-one that many people in our currently society need to accept. Yet again, I'll give you another work to munch on in an everlasting meal of food for thought! Enjoy this taste of what Tennyson has to offer.

Somebody That I Used to Know by Gotye

Welcome to the marvelous world of Gotye! It's not even that his voice is that appealing as an artist, it's the sound that he creates which will inevitably draw you in. My favorite radio station has always been Radio 104.5 because of its quirky and individualistic choice of song material, but sometimes I do become a bit irritated at how this station caves to popular demand and overplays a song (granted, they do have to make a living i understand that). Unfortunately for those who followed Gotye before he became "popular demand", this song has become the station's target play-twelve-or-better-yet-twenty-times-a-day hit. I greatly sympathize with your irritation and sincerely understand your pain. Regardless, music is such good food for thought, listen carefully to the lyrics and they just might inspire you. Enjoy.

To Believe or Not Believe: An Introduction to New World Order or Simple Paranoia?

Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe
Just an innocent Face?

This sweet song is doubtless one of those addressed to

Frederica.]

HAND in hand! and lip to lip!

Oh, be faithful, maiden dear!

Fare thee well! thy lover's ship

Past full many a rock must steers

But should he the haven see,

When the storm has ceased to break,

And be happy, reft of thee,--

May the Gods fierce vengeance take!

Boldly dared is well nigh won!

Half my task is solved aright;

Ev'ry star's to me a sun,

Only cowards deem it night.

Stood I idly by thy side,

Sorrow still would sadden me;

But when seas our paths divide,

Gladly toil I,--toil for thee!

Now the valley I perceive,

Where together we will go,

And the streamlet watch each eve,

Gliding peacefully below

Oh, the poplars on yon spot!

Oh, the beech trees in yon grove!

And behind we'll build a cot,

Where to taste the joys of love!

1771

So, a friend of mine this past weekend introduced me to the Illuminati "conspiracy". It is safe to say, that I have been conceptually mind-blown by the idea of this New World Regime. The thing is, though, that I do not easily invest myself in belief in something until I have thoroughly researched and spent time considering it-ergo, yes i accept that this theory of conspiracy exists, but I am not sure whether or not I believe that the "conspiracy" group itself actually does. To take my interest a little further, I decided instead of focusing on the shock factor that modern rappers (Jay-Z, Beyonce, U2) and singers took part in this conspiracy, I would look a little more into the past and what famous writers and political figures were to believed to have partaken in this "cult". This is where Johan Wolfgang Von Goethe comes into play. He was listed as a believed Illuminati, and i decided he would be my target in analyzation to see if he does in fact fit the standards of such a group. The poem is obviously about two lovers-the man watches as his love is taken away from him by storm. The tone is wishful and hopeful for their future together. But what strikes me is when Goethe says "When the storm has feast to break, And by happy, reft of thee--May the Gods fierce vengeance take!" It is almost that the tone changes from dread and sorrow of the death of the one he loves to acceptance and elation at such an event. Happy reft of thee? Is he really admitting that he is happy to be robbed of his love after he strongly expresses the extent of his devotion in the beginning? what inspires such a contradictory statement? It goes on next to his acknowledgement and acceptance of a  higher power at work-he realizes that though she is gone to him, they may still reunite in another world, a higher place which has beauty to surpass the life of the living and where they will never be separated. But at the same time, again comes to mind the spiteful tone of the line "May the Gods fierce vengeance take" to combat his final thoughts in the poem. In sense of illuminati literature, the idea of God's taking vengeance fills their supposed belief that the dark of evil will encompass and illuminate the sins of the world and that through this sin one can be freed of attachment that will inevitably harm the individual. But at the same time, his thoughts of heaven in the form of a jolly, beautiful after world combat such a belief, his thoughts greatly contradict. It is almost as if the man in the poem realizes the darkness in his thoughts and that such a change kills the dark and the light enters symbolically in the form of the dream-like heaven. Goethe alludes then to darkness of the soul of humanity, but with the contradictory possibility and potential for light and happiness through internal analyzation and understanding. So in an attempt to understand this conspiracy, Goethe has managed to confuse my sense of it further through such use of both contradiction and strong conceptual imagery. Again, here's some more food for thought for you readers. Is Goethe really trying to subliminally convince us in his Illuminati beliefs, or is he just a poet with thoughts of a better tomorrow. I'll let you decide as I mull of these questions myself.