For a long time I've always thought of myself a Democrat.
I certainly fit the profile, immigrant/immediate son of immigrants, living in an urban center, not wealthy nor on the high side of middle class, and I'm young.
When I was younger and barely being introduced to politics, I sided a lot with Democrats.
Also, it seemed to be the 'cool thing', (in my circles), to bash George W. Bush and everyone with him, especially when he was in office.
Yes, a lot of people can say with pride that they are Democrats, and that's fine for them.
The trouble is, sometimes I like to support the Republicans.
Their ideology is one that takes more than a shallow introduction to fully understand and/or appreciate, their actions take some context to fully comprehend (for lack of a better word), sometimes research is necessary to appreciate or sympathize their actions or perceived ideas.
My love for history has lent me a different viewpoint than those of my friends, even the uber-political ones.
With a little bit of looking, I can't find much reason to not like the Republicans anymore.
I share a lot of their ideas, and I can't appreciate their representation in the media sometimes. The same way that Democrats don't like the way they are portrayed by Republican media outlets.
I suppose it'll happen, mutual mudslinging.
It's a shame that the people most paid attention are the most extreme supporters, and that it's so easy to forget that the Tea Partyers (yes, I'm aware of how I spelt that, you are reading a Grammar Nazi's post) and the Occupy Wall Streeters do not represent the entire side.
Both sides have plenty to say and agree upon, until they are only shown excited extremists and consequently believe false truths about the other.
I support Republican attitudes about many issues and topics.
But I also support Democrats in many more.
I think that George W. Bush was an intelligent man (albeit not very showing of it), and made decisions that many other smart men would make too, and the people who want to disagree might be too stubborn to accept that fact. But not everyone, obviously.
I think the Democrats are right to support civil rights and furthering them, and I think they are right in strengthening the government (but sometimes I think corporations need an amount of leg room, the level at the moment, however, is too much for my liking).
I support the 2nd Amendment, because I'm a young guy who plays games like Grand Theft Auto and Modern Warfare..
The difficulty of our position in the Middle East is far too complicated for me to comment on, especially in any serious, consequential manner.
I feel that that issue is best handled by professionals and only professionals (professionals meaning experts), anyone who chooses to spew their opinion about it and other, similar matters, is drastically misinformed and not helping.
Once more,
you have a right of free speech, you are entitled to your opinion, of course, but I think you (not necessarily you, reader, but instead and especially in a general sense: "you..") should not voice it as if it were the only answer, if you do so you are nothing more than a troll and should be ignored.
If you really feel strongly about something, do research. Do more research than is needed.
Be the most objective you can muster.
Then you are an expert, and I will be glad to hear your expert opinion about it.
I suppose I just wrote this post as a passive-aggressive way to explain myself to one of my diehard (but unfortunately and definitely ill-informed) Democrat friend.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
My Last Experience with Thanksgiving
I use the term Thanksgiving as loosely defining the two days that have just passed, 11/24 and 11/25, because I spent both days eating turkey (yesterday was a reluctant meal of leftover turkey..) with family on my mom's side, each day hosted by two of my aunts in their respective homes (it feels odd to say aunt instead of tetya).
Besides some unexpected and a bit disheartening news, I enjoyed my time with them, but what is most relevant to this blog was my older cousin (by two years) who asked me why was I a brony.
It was a serious question, not one with any sarcastic undertones or any judgment. He was genuinely curious how I could like a show marketed toward little girls and prefer to talk with other fans of the show, who happened to also be my age and further confused him.
Not one to keep him confused for no reason (although I've been known to do that to friends and girlfriends), I told him my prepared list of reasons that anyone can agree with in an objective stance. I'm asked this question more often than he knew at the time, and it mildly surprised him that I was so ready to answer. But unfortunately..
To the best of my abilities, I tried to list the same reasons I previously posted on this blog in My Account of a Brony Lifestyle and Another Thing About Being a Brony, but I couldn't recollect those reasons as well as I'd hoped.
This led to a bit of confusion inside my mind and I opted instead to go on the offensive, which was recommending the show to him.
I have yet to see what will come of this, but I'm silently hoping he becomes a brony too.
A bit about my cousin, he is one of the closest things I have to a brother, having grown up in the same house with him when our mothers were poor and living together. But over the span of about 7 years we've undergone a lack of communication, and during that time, it made me sad.
Besides some unexpected and a bit disheartening news, I enjoyed my time with them, but what is most relevant to this blog was my older cousin (by two years) who asked me why was I a brony.
It was a serious question, not one with any sarcastic undertones or any judgment. He was genuinely curious how I could like a show marketed toward little girls and prefer to talk with other fans of the show, who happened to also be my age and further confused him.
Not one to keep him confused for no reason (although I've been known to do that to friends and girlfriends), I told him my prepared list of reasons that anyone can agree with in an objective stance. I'm asked this question more often than he knew at the time, and it mildly surprised him that I was so ready to answer. But unfortunately..
To the best of my abilities, I tried to list the same reasons I previously posted on this blog in My Account of a Brony Lifestyle and Another Thing About Being a Brony, but I couldn't recollect those reasons as well as I'd hoped.
This led to a bit of confusion inside my mind and I opted instead to go on the offensive, which was recommending the show to him.
I have yet to see what will come of this, but I'm silently hoping he becomes a brony too.
A bit about my cousin, he is one of the closest things I have to a brother, having grown up in the same house with him when our mothers were poor and living together. But over the span of about 7 years we've undergone a lack of communication, and during that time, it made me sad.
Thankfully that's the way it was, as during our later years as teenagers we had gotten ahold of our own cars and were able to go wherever we want, and we chose to hang out once more.
When I was younger, he introduced me to things, him always being the 'cooler' one. Now that we are older it seems I'm introducing him to cool new things. Through him I was interested in drawing at a young age (comics and sketches and the like), then later when he became involved in graffiti so did I. He had gotten caught vandalizing a couple times, and because of him recommending I keep my drawings on paper instead of on walls, I kept out of trouble. He helped me change the way I dressed from the unpopular old ways to fashionable new ways, it seems the purpose he serves for me (to put it in such words) is to help me get older (and thus wiser) in less time. When I say older, I mean he brings me from the old ways of juvenility to a more adult sense of function.
So yes, he means a lot to me.
And it feels good to show him interesting things I find on the internet, and in school. Just a few days ago he noticed I was on a website named memebase.com, and he asked me about it. Now he browses is and perhaps in time he will be a veteran of websites and messageboards like me.
But it wouldn't matter as much compared to the role I might have played in making him a brony.
My Little Pony: The (Abridged) Mentally Advanced Series
As you might have been able to sleuth from the name of my blog and a few of the posts here, I'm a fan of My Little Pony.
If you read some of the individual points of my fandom, you would know that I pay more attention to fan-created content than the actual broadcasted show, because they usually gear more humor towards my age group.
MLP: The (Abridged) Mentally Advanced Series is definitely some of the best entertainment I've ever seen, MLP-related or otherwise.
The jokes, (while some are a swing and a miss), are spectacular, reminiscent of the TV shows like Archer and Always Sunny in Philadelphia, (these were the closest examples I could think of off the top of my head), but this series of Youtube videos holds its own identity, and makes you laugh in its own way.
A healthy amount of dark humor, an insight toward some of the implied workings of the MLP universe, and some quality voice acting (albeit, sometimes not-so-greatly edited, but they are definitely working on that), and beautifully delivered satire kept me watching all day yesterday, ten episodes, each with an average amount of 10 or so minutes.
It's representation of each main character (and of the background ponies) are excellently expressed. Fans of the show can recognize a flaw or two in their favorite character, and this show captures the image of that character dominated by that flaw. As a fan of some sorts of cynical humor, it's witty and hysterical. It's so absurd and droll but at the same time, each joke is handled with more cleverness and nimbleness than I've seen in so many other places.
Pinkie Pie's eccentricity and hyper activity is exploited to a point of outright insanity (reflected in the original intro), Twilight Sparkle is a witty, selfish, cynic, Rainbow Dash is constantly craving attention and the tomboyish side of her seems to translate into outright homosexuality (but it seems she isn't aware of this as much as everyone else, her intellect is pegged down some), Rarity is a catty *erhm* lady of the evening, Applejack is a pony with a weakness for alcohol (actually, everypony is), Fluttershy is ignored by everyone and you just have to see Apple Blossom and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle for yourself.
I watched a few episodes again now that I'm on my computer again, and even though the punchlines were a bit expected this time around, it was still worth watching. If you haven't seen this yet, definitely make a point to, I promise that it's one of the best ways to spend a few ten-minute segments on the Internet.
My only complaint of any importance is in regards to the intro (Pinkie Pie being my favorite pony and all), but FimFlamFilosophy has already manufactured a new parodic-to-the-real-show intro that I like, so really this complaint only counts if you watch the first nine episodes.
If you read some of the individual points of my fandom, you would know that I pay more attention to fan-created content than the actual broadcasted show, because they usually gear more humor towards my age group.
MLP: The (Abridged) Mentally Advanced Series is definitely some of the best entertainment I've ever seen, MLP-related or otherwise.
The jokes, (while some are a swing and a miss), are spectacular, reminiscent of the TV shows like Archer and Always Sunny in Philadelphia, (these were the closest examples I could think of off the top of my head), but this series of Youtube videos holds its own identity, and makes you laugh in its own way.
A healthy amount of dark humor, an insight toward some of the implied workings of the MLP universe, and some quality voice acting (albeit, sometimes not-so-greatly edited, but they are definitely working on that), and beautifully delivered satire kept me watching all day yesterday, ten episodes, each with an average amount of 10 or so minutes.
It's representation of each main character (and of the background ponies) are excellently expressed. Fans of the show can recognize a flaw or two in their favorite character, and this show captures the image of that character dominated by that flaw. As a fan of some sorts of cynical humor, it's witty and hysterical. It's so absurd and droll but at the same time, each joke is handled with more cleverness and nimbleness than I've seen in so many other places.
Pinkie Pie's eccentricity and hyper activity is exploited to a point of outright insanity (reflected in the original intro), Twilight Sparkle is a witty, selfish, cynic, Rainbow Dash is constantly craving attention and the tomboyish side of her seems to translate into outright homosexuality (but it seems she isn't aware of this as much as everyone else, her intellect is pegged down some), Rarity is a catty *erhm* lady of the evening, Applejack is a pony with a weakness for alcohol (actually, everypony is), Fluttershy is ignored by everyone and you just have to see Apple Blossom and Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle for yourself.
I watched a few episodes again now that I'm on my computer again, and even though the punchlines were a bit expected this time around, it was still worth watching. If you haven't seen this yet, definitely make a point to, I promise that it's one of the best ways to spend a few ten-minute segments on the Internet.
My only complaint of any importance is in regards to the intro (Pinkie Pie being my favorite pony and all), but FimFlamFilosophy has already manufactured a new parodic-to-the-real-show intro that I like, so really this complaint only counts if you watch the first nine episodes.
Wow 15 Days.
I'm genuinely surprised I haven't contributed anything in over two weeks, I was so excited about this blog.
But no worries, my absence wasn't stemming from disinterest or quitter-ness,
I had just struck into a few opportunities that kept me from any free time for my blog, also,
writer's block.
But I've a few new topics to discuss here (on this glorious one-sided discussion called a blog), which I'll get into right after this.
Hope you like it, and happy belated Thanksgiving to any Americans reading this.
But no worries, my absence wasn't stemming from disinterest or quitter-ness,
I had just struck into a few opportunities that kept me from any free time for my blog, also,
writer's block.
But I've a few new topics to discuss here (on this glorious one-sided discussion called a blog), which I'll get into right after this.
Hope you like it, and happy belated Thanksgiving to any Americans reading this.
Friday, November 11, 2011
The Demanding Life part 1
It was an exhausting night last night, but it was worth it.
Below this sentence is a tale of friendship, not unlike My Little Pony, but still particularly unlike it because it takes place in where my college-student-aged mind imagines it to.
Please enjoy reading it.
I've met a couple persons on ponychan.net last night, a Doctor and a Solen, most notably.
This is not the first time I've stayed up late on account of bronies, and it will surely not be the last. What makes this time special was the bronies who now know me by name and who's names I will remember.
In a place like ponychan, there are things to hear, things to see, things to say..
And last night, there were people to meet.
Plans to be made.
Hope to be founded.
I took part in a few threads, it was a routine lurking session throughout the /chat/ board of ponychan, when I noticed a seemingly ordinary thread hosted by a brony named Solen.
"No matter," I thought, "as long as the thread has decent content and/or decent image macros of MLP ponies."
The OP of the thread asked me a question, specifically, about my opinion on life. It wasn't directed to me, it was part of the invitation to the thread.
I hadn't thought about it beforehand, so I lurked a bit more in the thread, before coming up with some generic answer that was just in agreement with someone else's post.
After that, I stuck around a little longer, the thread feeling like a crowded bar in some coastal town. Yes, I was letting my imagination get the best of me.
I walked in through the door, the place had a faint blue light covering every flat surface, when I hear Solen, the bar owner, ask a guy named Butch Glitterface his opinion on war.
Glitterface, revealing to be too cynical for such a name, said that "unfortunately, war is a necessary evil that helps control the human population."
He said it with this weird look on his face like he got hit with a shovel across the mouth.
I stepped near the two guys and said aloud, "That is the most cynical way to put it, but yeah it's definitely a truth."
With me put in an air of agreement between the two, I changed the topic, something I just thought up, "Anyone else feel that population booms are directly related to economical growth?"Someone shouted right after I finished, "Not if cataclysmic disease has anything to say about it!"
This guy shouting looked straight happy about what he said, not knowing I just changed the subject from war to population booms, (and imagine my confusion when I thought he was talking to me), but Solen took my focus off of him for a second by saying, "Didn't China always have a huge pop...In comparison to time."
He said it more as a statement than a question.
With that kind of confidence about the subject, I tried to think up a rebuttal, so I shouted to the disease guy "Go see Contagion! Fantastic movie, I promise." with a big smile.
Why did I promise him?
Why did I smile?
That was the attitude in ponychan: smiles, peace, and camaraderie.
Yet, Solen turned to the disease guy "Damn you new age kids and your zombie apocalypse."
I faced Solen and told him that I didn't know enough about Chinese history (I even apologized, explaining how, I dabble mostly in Euro & American history) to agree or disagree with him. I was afraid we'd have to choose another topic to discuss.
With a smirk, he threw out a suggestion: "Hypocrisy in the Americas and Eurasia in 1400-2011."
It was a funny suggestion to be sure, but it was immediately followed by "Jk jk jk I don't care.. How about the downfall of American culture? (in his opinion)"
I liked this topic instead, and returned with an enthusiasm to voice my opinion.
I don't know how many people were listening, but I was happy to say what I thought in such a place.
I began: "Schadenfreude, I liked that hypocrisy suggestion, but I like your newer idea better.
What makes you think America has fallen down in terms of culture?
I certainly think that the elevation and prestige associated with reality TV and sex tape stars are to blame, but what can you do when screenwriters and genuinely talented people cost too much money when compared to (seemingly) unscripted television?"
The conversation continued between all of us, some in pairs, and some telling all of us their opinion on life. It was really a sort of introduction of them to us, it was a nice thread to be in.
Solen replied to me, "I'm more passionate about music and art/animation. Just everything is so lazy.. Songs have just basic chords. Tv shows have the same scripts since 1994. Just everything is going to hell."
"Also the "cool way" of living hedonism Oh my grosh!!!
Just fucking partying and what ever. Our generation upraises it but it's not good I hate it.
In my opinion, it's terrible.
'Jersey Shore'. *Exaggerated groan*"
I replied adamantly, "Well I think that's what makes America's culture, and in return, it's reception of other cultures pretty great.
Let the herds gather around the simplistic stuff,
if you want quality, then it's matched by how hard you look for it.
To actually put in as much effort in finding great songs as the artist who made them,
it's a great feeling and I think it goes well with the old (but maybe, hopefully, not dead) American Dream. And thank God I've never had to sit through a Jersey Show episode, I've always turned off the TV or left the room if it came on because a sibling had the remote or whatever. --And as for the hedonistic lifestyle (See: LMFAO and Lady Gaga, or, Jay Z and Kanye West), I think it's a response to what most people want to hear and talk about, which is a better lifestyle. In no way does more money + more things make a better lifestyle, but it seems that way when you don't think about it too hard.
So yeah, I suppose I'm a bit resentful towards the people who ruined how my country looks in front of other people in the world.."
A guy named Dafoid butted in and told me that what I said was "Completely true. I've heard Generation X-ers or baby boomers complain about how modern music is a lowly version of past excellence, for example, but popular music has always been rather trite. Then again, any good band has followers. Much like the late Beatles and Pink Floyd, you don't immediately look at the top-grossing songs, but the ones with the most artistic and creative potential..
Okay, bad examples, but still-most "classics" were hardly known in their time. Prog rock ftw."
I thanked Dafoid, saying "Thanks for agreeing, if you like that maybe you can check out my blog: It's ClosettedBrony.blogspot.com and whatnot. Aand just to add, I can appreciate Prog Rock, some King Crimson and all that :D.
Solen laughed at someone's joke and asked me, "Now what's your opinion on hypocrisy?"
A bit taken back, I made a pompous face and stated matter-of-factly: "Hypocrisy is unavoidable, because people who chase after power are rarely the ones who deserve it.
Especially the ones who achieve an office or other position of power..
And you?"
Solen: "I don't even know...Just there is so much..I can't even begin..."
With his undecidedness, I opted to direct him to a store across the street I was in earlier, who was looking for volunteers. He wordlessly agreed and left the thread for a minute to help stock the place with pictures of Rarity.
He returned later, and we discussed the artistic legitimacy of Dubstep, but the topic was rather boring as we walked around the thread.
We were wandering past the pool table when I passed by the bar, there were two different but equally shrouded persons talking about animal testing.
I heard one man, named the Doctor, begin with this morally-relativistic words swinging, trying to bully the other person into defeat instead of convincing him.
The other person was noticeably meek, probably one of those shy kids you see all the time in here.
I'm afraid I'll have to continue this irresponsibly long story at a later time, as this was all the set up to a rather brain-frying discussion and debate, the likes of which I haven't enjoyed before in months.
Check back soon for part 2. (I'm very sorry for any disappointment ':/)
Below this sentence is a tale of friendship, not unlike My Little Pony, but still particularly unlike it because it takes place in where my college-student-aged mind imagines it to.
Please enjoy reading it.
I've met a couple persons on ponychan.net last night, a Doctor and a Solen, most notably.
This is not the first time I've stayed up late on account of bronies, and it will surely not be the last. What makes this time special was the bronies who now know me by name and who's names I will remember.
In a place like ponychan, there are things to hear, things to see, things to say..
And last night, there were people to meet.
Plans to be made.
Hope to be founded.
I took part in a few threads, it was a routine lurking session throughout the /chat/ board of ponychan, when I noticed a seemingly ordinary thread hosted by a brony named Solen.
"No matter," I thought, "as long as the thread has decent content and/or decent image macros of MLP ponies."
The OP of the thread asked me a question, specifically, about my opinion on life. It wasn't directed to me, it was part of the invitation to the thread.
I hadn't thought about it beforehand, so I lurked a bit more in the thread, before coming up with some generic answer that was just in agreement with someone else's post.
After that, I stuck around a little longer, the thread feeling like a crowded bar in some coastal town. Yes, I was letting my imagination get the best of me.
I walked in through the door, the place had a faint blue light covering every flat surface, when I hear Solen, the bar owner, ask a guy named Butch Glitterface his opinion on war.
Glitterface, revealing to be too cynical for such a name, said that "unfortunately, war is a necessary evil that helps control the human population."
He said it with this weird look on his face like he got hit with a shovel across the mouth.
I stepped near the two guys and said aloud, "That is the most cynical way to put it, but yeah it's definitely a truth."
With me put in an air of agreement between the two, I changed the topic, something I just thought up, "Anyone else feel that population booms are directly related to economical growth?"Someone shouted right after I finished, "Not if cataclysmic disease has anything to say about it!"
This guy shouting looked straight happy about what he said, not knowing I just changed the subject from war to population booms, (and imagine my confusion when I thought he was talking to me), but Solen took my focus off of him for a second by saying, "Didn't China always have a huge pop...In comparison to time."
He said it more as a statement than a question.
With that kind of confidence about the subject, I tried to think up a rebuttal, so I shouted to the disease guy "Go see Contagion! Fantastic movie, I promise." with a big smile.
Why did I promise him?
Why did I smile?
That was the attitude in ponychan: smiles, peace, and camaraderie.
Yet, Solen turned to the disease guy "Damn you new age kids and your zombie apocalypse."
I faced Solen and told him that I didn't know enough about Chinese history (I even apologized, explaining how, I dabble mostly in Euro & American history) to agree or disagree with him. I was afraid we'd have to choose another topic to discuss.
With a smirk, he threw out a suggestion: "Hypocrisy in the Americas and Eurasia in 1400-2011."
It was a funny suggestion to be sure, but it was immediately followed by "Jk jk jk I don't care.. How about the downfall of American culture? (in his opinion)"
I liked this topic instead, and returned with an enthusiasm to voice my opinion.
I don't know how many people were listening, but I was happy to say what I thought in such a place.
I began: "Schadenfreude, I liked that hypocrisy suggestion, but I like your newer idea better.
What makes you think America has fallen down in terms of culture?
I certainly think that the elevation and prestige associated with reality TV and sex tape stars are to blame, but what can you do when screenwriters and genuinely talented people cost too much money when compared to (seemingly) unscripted television?"
The conversation continued between all of us, some in pairs, and some telling all of us their opinion on life. It was really a sort of introduction of them to us, it was a nice thread to be in.
Solen replied to me, "I'm more passionate about music and art/animation. Just everything is so lazy.. Songs have just basic chords. Tv shows have the same scripts since 1994. Just everything is going to hell."
"Also the "cool way" of living hedonism Oh my grosh!!!
Just fucking partying and what ever. Our generation upraises it but it's not good I hate it.
In my opinion, it's terrible.
'Jersey Shore'. *Exaggerated groan*"
I replied adamantly, "Well I think that's what makes America's culture, and in return, it's reception of other cultures pretty great.
Let the herds gather around the simplistic stuff,
if you want quality, then it's matched by how hard you look for it.
To actually put in as much effort in finding great songs as the artist who made them,
it's a great feeling and I think it goes well with the old (but maybe, hopefully, not dead) American Dream. And thank God I've never had to sit through a Jersey Show episode, I've always turned off the TV or left the room if it came on because a sibling had the remote or whatever. --And as for the hedonistic lifestyle (See: LMFAO and Lady Gaga, or, Jay Z and Kanye West), I think it's a response to what most people want to hear and talk about, which is a better lifestyle. In no way does more money + more things make a better lifestyle, but it seems that way when you don't think about it too hard.
So yeah, I suppose I'm a bit resentful towards the people who ruined how my country looks in front of other people in the world.."
A guy named Dafoid butted in and told me that what I said was "Completely true. I've heard Generation X-ers or baby boomers complain about how modern music is a lowly version of past excellence, for example, but popular music has always been rather trite. Then again, any good band has followers. Much like the late Beatles and Pink Floyd, you don't immediately look at the top-grossing songs, but the ones with the most artistic and creative potential..
Okay, bad examples, but still-most "classics" were hardly known in their time. Prog rock ftw."
I thanked Dafoid, saying "Thanks for agreeing, if you like that maybe you can check out my blog: It's ClosettedBrony.blogspot.com and whatnot. Aand just to add, I can appreciate Prog Rock, some King Crimson and all that :D.
Solen laughed at someone's joke and asked me, "Now what's your opinion on hypocrisy?"
A bit taken back, I made a pompous face and stated matter-of-factly: "Hypocrisy is unavoidable, because people who chase after power are rarely the ones who deserve it.
Especially the ones who achieve an office or other position of power..
And you?"
Solen: "I don't even know...Just there is so much..I can't even begin..."
With his undecidedness, I opted to direct him to a store across the street I was in earlier, who was looking for volunteers. He wordlessly agreed and left the thread for a minute to help stock the place with pictures of Rarity.
He returned later, and we discussed the artistic legitimacy of Dubstep, but the topic was rather boring as we walked around the thread.
We were wandering past the pool table when I passed by the bar, there were two different but equally shrouded persons talking about animal testing.
I heard one man, named the Doctor, begin with this morally-relativistic words swinging, trying to bully the other person into defeat instead of convincing him.
The other person was noticeably meek, probably one of those shy kids you see all the time in here.
I'm afraid I'll have to continue this irresponsibly long story at a later time, as this was all the set up to a rather brain-frying discussion and debate, the likes of which I haven't enjoyed before in months.
Check back soon for part 2. (I'm very sorry for any disappointment ':/)
11/11/11
Happy Triple Eleven everyone!
It's been a week since the inception of my blog and first posts, and I must say, this blog has done pretty well for it's first week.
I'm going to start following some of my favorite authors once I learn how to do so, and am probably going to ramp up post production now with the free time I'm planning to have from now on.
So this post comes after an odd but pleasant surprise of a night last night,
I'm writing about it now, you guys should read it, I'd like some feedback about what I'm experimenting with in this next post. I think I'm using a little too much of my imagination, but you tell me.
It's coming up in a bit :D
It's been a week since the inception of my blog and first posts, and I must say, this blog has done pretty well for it's first week.
I'm going to start following some of my favorite authors once I learn how to do so, and am probably going to ramp up post production now with the free time I'm planning to have from now on.
So this post comes after an odd but pleasant surprise of a night last night,
I'm writing about it now, you guys should read it, I'd like some feedback about what I'm experimenting with in this next post. I think I'm using a little too much of my imagination, but you tell me.
It's coming up in a bit :D
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart
Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart have their own shows, the Colbert Report and the Daily Show, respectively. I'm a fan of both, because it's natural to be a fan of satire when interested in politics, and these two perform satire really well.
Now this might just be me, but when I watch the Colbert Report, its noticeably more intense in the Daily Show, maybe because Colbert or his writers operate best at that degree. When I say intense, I mean more in character and more outspoken against or for certain things.
So with an intense performance every night, Colbert's fan base is quite large, and pretty hardcore (including me). Fans of Colbert gather to make a organization named the Colbert Nation, which make cool things like the Colbert Super Pac possible.
I'd say I'm a member of the Colbert Nation, I've always liked his jokes more than those on the Daily Show, and I go out of my way to express that enthusiasm.
It's also worth noting that Colbert's particularly popular on the internet for his extremely popular parody of what a Republican might be like. Message boards light up with his quotes and image macros, because he and his show are just abundant sources for humor. So it's not hard to see why internet groups have had a history of being great fans for him.
The Word, Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger, The Threat-Down, and so many more bits that are always funny, I'm proud to be a fan of the Colbert Report.
I also own Stephen Colbert's book, I Am America And So Can You, which was just fantastic. I actually reread it a couple times since I've first bought it, it was definitely worth getting if you like his brand of humor.
Now Jon Stewart's show is older, and thus gains a bit more authority than the Colbert Report.
There's also the fact that Colbert himself came from the Daily Show and used to work under Jon Stewart that lends more clout to the Daily Show, being the original one and the source for a guy like Stephen Colbert.
Jon Stewart also has a group of younger 'reporters' that parody news teams throughout all the news channels, finding stories in America and abroad that highlight some pretty funny things.
I feel like I can watch the Daily Show with my parents better than I could the Colbert Report, because it's more mellow. It's really informative and it has a brilliant brand of satire all its own, because it was the first show I've ever seen like it.
They are both great shows, if you haven't seen them, you should try them. And if you've been a fan but fell off the routine of watching them, try them again and see if they are worth your time.
I also have two of the Daily Show books, which I can't recommend as highly as I Am America, but that's just a reflection of my taste. There's also the fact that I've only started reading America (the Book): Teacher's Addition, and not his other book Earth (the Book).
I'm excited to read it though, so try it if you've got the time and appetite for this type of satirical humor.
Now this might just be me, but when I watch the Colbert Report, its noticeably more intense in the Daily Show, maybe because Colbert or his writers operate best at that degree. When I say intense, I mean more in character and more outspoken against or for certain things.
So with an intense performance every night, Colbert's fan base is quite large, and pretty hardcore (including me). Fans of Colbert gather to make a organization named the Colbert Nation, which make cool things like the Colbert Super Pac possible.
I'd say I'm a member of the Colbert Nation, I've always liked his jokes more than those on the Daily Show, and I go out of my way to express that enthusiasm.
It's also worth noting that Colbert's particularly popular on the internet for his extremely popular parody of what a Republican might be like. Message boards light up with his quotes and image macros, because he and his show are just abundant sources for humor. So it's not hard to see why internet groups have had a history of being great fans for him.
The Word, Tip of the Hat/Wag of the Finger, The Threat-Down, and so many more bits that are always funny, I'm proud to be a fan of the Colbert Report.
I also own Stephen Colbert's book, I Am America And So Can You, which was just fantastic. I actually reread it a couple times since I've first bought it, it was definitely worth getting if you like his brand of humor.
Now Jon Stewart's show is older, and thus gains a bit more authority than the Colbert Report.
There's also the fact that Colbert himself came from the Daily Show and used to work under Jon Stewart that lends more clout to the Daily Show, being the original one and the source for a guy like Stephen Colbert.
Jon Stewart also has a group of younger 'reporters' that parody news teams throughout all the news channels, finding stories in America and abroad that highlight some pretty funny things.
I feel like I can watch the Daily Show with my parents better than I could the Colbert Report, because it's more mellow. It's really informative and it has a brilliant brand of satire all its own, because it was the first show I've ever seen like it.
They are both great shows, if you haven't seen them, you should try them. And if you've been a fan but fell off the routine of watching them, try them again and see if they are worth your time.
I also have two of the Daily Show books, which I can't recommend as highly as I Am America, but that's just a reflection of my taste. There's also the fact that I've only started reading America (the Book): Teacher's Addition, and not his other book Earth (the Book).
I'm excited to read it though, so try it if you've got the time and appetite for this type of satirical humor.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Learning German
In my last post, I wrote about a program that's helping me learn German (among other things). If you are interested in learning new stuff, you should check it out, it's called Anki.
Anyway, this post is about the trouble I've run into trying to learn German, or Deutsch (woo).
It's a much harder language than I've expected it to be, but to be honest the way I've heard it spoken in movies and by a few friends made me want to speak it, so maybe I've expected this level of difficulty. If I could speak German like a native German kid, I'd be pretty proud of myself, it sounds so cool!
So it's definitely not too difficult to try, and I'm really sure it's totally worth it, but I'm an impatient kind of guy.
Russian always seemed easier since my parents spoke it around me since I can remember, but I guess it's apples and oranges, trying to compare Russian and German together.
A big reason why I wanted to learn German was because of the way I heard it in movies like The Baader Meinhof Complex and especially in Inglorious Basterds.
Plus, Germans are fine people, so I could hope to visit Germany as a vacation, and really hope to speak German with Germans.
All the Germans.
Anyway, this post is about the trouble I've run into trying to learn German, or Deutsch (woo).
It's a much harder language than I've expected it to be, but to be honest the way I've heard it spoken in movies and by a few friends made me want to speak it, so maybe I've expected this level of difficulty. If I could speak German like a native German kid, I'd be pretty proud of myself, it sounds so cool!
So it's definitely not too difficult to try, and I'm really sure it's totally worth it, but I'm an impatient kind of guy.
Russian always seemed easier since my parents spoke it around me since I can remember, but I guess it's apples and oranges, trying to compare Russian and German together.
A big reason why I wanted to learn German was because of the way I heard it in movies like The Baader Meinhof Complex and especially in Inglorious Basterds.
Plus, Germans are fine people, so I could hope to visit Germany as a vacation, and really hope to speak German with Germans.
All the Germans.
Anki, it works
This is an amateur review of the program called Anki.
Using Anki is like using flash-cards to learn about useful things like languages and equations and other stuff a person in college might need help with in school, like me. I'm currently using AnkiDroid, the program for Android devices and I have to say, I like it a lot. It seems Anki and AnkiDroid have literally helped me make my life easier.
And just to say off the bat, Anki is free and totally worth it. I'll explain why:
I've always liked to try to learn languages, and I can actually hold a couple minutes of conversation in a couple languages outside of English, but I found trouble when trying to read and write in those languages. Going online and searching for help is fine, and I've tried to do that plenty. But I often find myself unable to connect to the internet, so I've no way to reach those webpages to practice reading Spanish while I stand in line for something or am waiting for a ride.
Anki is a program that saves the information you want (you get to pick and choose) for you on your computer (I installed it on my laptop, but haven't used it on there yet), or on other devices like on an Android phone. It was the best solution to an annoying problem.
It works pretty well in itself too, I've ever had it crash or disobey me, and as for using it for school help, it's fantastic. It's way easier to memorize equations for a Biology or Math test with this, it is STILL studying but in a version that doesn't feel like I have a leech sucking my mind dry.
As for help with languages, Anki helped solve that problem by introducing me to prepared words and phrases in a setting that's easy to learn, just like the equations.
I've been practicing with German for the past week, and I can actually recall words and their spelling from just what I've learned on Anki.
Anki derives all of it's information from parcels of prepared notes and cards named "decks," and you get to write on the individual cards if you want, maybe to jog your memory if you haven't opened one deck in a while, maybe to help you remember words that are like the word about to be revealed.
To be honest I don't know the program all that well yet, but as far as I've been using it, it works great.
I'm going to be better acquainted with Anki the more I use it, but I had to write something like this in case anyone was deciding whether or not to use it.
Using Anki is like using flash-cards to learn about useful things like languages and equations and other stuff a person in college might need help with in school, like me. I'm currently using AnkiDroid, the program for Android devices and I have to say, I like it a lot. It seems Anki and AnkiDroid have literally helped me make my life easier.
And just to say off the bat, Anki is free and totally worth it. I'll explain why:
I've always liked to try to learn languages, and I can actually hold a couple minutes of conversation in a couple languages outside of English, but I found trouble when trying to read and write in those languages. Going online and searching for help is fine, and I've tried to do that plenty. But I often find myself unable to connect to the internet, so I've no way to reach those webpages to practice reading Spanish while I stand in line for something or am waiting for a ride.
Anki is a program that saves the information you want (you get to pick and choose) for you on your computer (I installed it on my laptop, but haven't used it on there yet), or on other devices like on an Android phone. It was the best solution to an annoying problem.
It works pretty well in itself too, I've ever had it crash or disobey me, and as for using it for school help, it's fantastic. It's way easier to memorize equations for a Biology or Math test with this, it is STILL studying but in a version that doesn't feel like I have a leech sucking my mind dry.
As for help with languages, Anki helped solve that problem by introducing me to prepared words and phrases in a setting that's easy to learn, just like the equations.
I've been practicing with German for the past week, and I can actually recall words and their spelling from just what I've learned on Anki.
Anki derives all of it's information from parcels of prepared notes and cards named "decks," and you get to write on the individual cards if you want, maybe to jog your memory if you haven't opened one deck in a while, maybe to help you remember words that are like the word about to be revealed.
To be honest I don't know the program all that well yet, but as far as I've been using it, it works great.
I'm going to be better acquainted with Anki the more I use it, but I had to write something like this in case anyone was deciding whether or not to use it.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Another Thing About Being A Brony
I guess I can understand why people would assume some sort of sexual or gender issue when I'd tell them I'm a fan of My Little Pony.
I'd make sure to differentiate that I'm a fan of the FiM, not the comparatively sucky, unreasonably-girly 80's version, but since everyone I know (besides my best friends who also lurk the internet as hard as I do) don't know the difference, I just tell them I'm a fan of MLP period.
So with the original My Little Pony series thought to be the object of my brony-ness, some people are quick to guess that I must be gay.
And to be honest, I wouldn't be watching the show without the number of bronies backing me and creating content to actually provide some duality to it (in that, they help make it way more entertaining to men).
Without this huge base of creativity and a motto that I and many others can appreciate, "Everypony equal, Everypony loved," MLP would be just another show in the line up for pushing merchandise.
But with us all involved in making this show great, which is then also reciprocated by the show's producers, there's a level of involvement that I haven't found in many other shows.
That's how I feel personally, at least. Also, the closest I've gotten to this level of fan participation is usually on shows on Adult Swim, which is obviously a large part of what I watch on TV next to Comedy Central, a male college student's hearty breakfast and dinner of programming.
GTA V Trailer - a Reaction
GTA V Trailer, check it out if you haven't yet!
I was blown away by the trailer when it was released about 4 days ago, (well, as blown away as you can be by a trailer). At first, I was unsure of what city they were going to be based in, but I had a good feeling they were going to draw from one of their past games' cities, it's gotten to be a habit of Rockstar's. When I saw the lifeguard's post on the beach, one of my first reactions was the assumption that GTA V was going to be about Vice City once more. When I saw the palm trees, I was especially sure GTA V would be about Vice City, and the golf course was also a sign pointing in the direction of Vice City. But when I saw the mountain hikers, that introduced doubt, and the windmills did too. The house seemed Los Angeles-esque the second time I saw the trailer, but at the first time I've seen it it looked Miami-ish enough to pass. Sure enough, the more scenes that passed, the more I was inclined to believe that GTA V would not be taking place in Vice City, noting in particular, the (presumably) migrant workers getting crop-dusted on in the fields. Then the criminal element was introduced, apparently the main character will be white, and what I noticed with delight was the introduction of an AK-47 with a silencer, and also, a mask on the main character! I loved wearing masks in GTA IV, and to see a hint of more masks to come was a personal win for me. The foreclosed home featured as "For Sale" looked a lot like the homes seen in LA Noire (which I rented for a week and am not too upset over not keeping), which gave me the feeling of a great modernization of the San Andreas map. The cars look beautiful, and after having played GTA IV for the past 4 years, they seem to have really upgraded their graphics, which is of course to be expected, but just the looks of the cars were really motivating to get this game. The freeway system, graffiti markings reading "Los Santos", and the of course, the jet flying over the Vinewood sign, made the Los Santos presumption cemented in fact.
The oil drilling machines in the foreground with the skyline as a background was really notable, at least to me, as I love to see landscapes, such as those, I guess.
The chase segment, at something like 1:05, seemed ordinary until the camera was positioned near the helicopter, when you, the viewer, receive this daunting realistic roof and alley bonanza.
They've saved something great for the end though, you see this Lear jet flying over the Vinewood sign and into the sunset (skyline purposefully put in between), giving me hope that we can see the return of jets and planes in Grand Theft Auto!
I loved flying the planes in San Andreas, and was a bit disheartened to see them go in GTA IV. The GTA IV helicopters are fine, but were nothing like flying a plane at top speed.
So yeah, this was a great trailer and I found it fun to watch it a couple more times (specifically: 3 times).
Oh, and if anyone can relate, I first saw this trailer on memebase and was honestly surprised to see an advertisement that I would actually purchase from.
I was blown away by the trailer when it was released about 4 days ago, (well, as blown away as you can be by a trailer). At first, I was unsure of what city they were going to be based in, but I had a good feeling they were going to draw from one of their past games' cities, it's gotten to be a habit of Rockstar's. When I saw the lifeguard's post on the beach, one of my first reactions was the assumption that GTA V was going to be about Vice City once more. When I saw the palm trees, I was especially sure GTA V would be about Vice City, and the golf course was also a sign pointing in the direction of Vice City. But when I saw the mountain hikers, that introduced doubt, and the windmills did too. The house seemed Los Angeles-esque the second time I saw the trailer, but at the first time I've seen it it looked Miami-ish enough to pass. Sure enough, the more scenes that passed, the more I was inclined to believe that GTA V would not be taking place in Vice City, noting in particular, the (presumably) migrant workers getting crop-dusted on in the fields. Then the criminal element was introduced, apparently the main character will be white, and what I noticed with delight was the introduction of an AK-47 with a silencer, and also, a mask on the main character! I loved wearing masks in GTA IV, and to see a hint of more masks to come was a personal win for me. The foreclosed home featured as "For Sale" looked a lot like the homes seen in LA Noire (which I rented for a week and am not too upset over not keeping), which gave me the feeling of a great modernization of the San Andreas map. The cars look beautiful, and after having played GTA IV for the past 4 years, they seem to have really upgraded their graphics, which is of course to be expected, but just the looks of the cars were really motivating to get this game. The freeway system, graffiti markings reading "Los Santos", and the of course, the jet flying over the Vinewood sign, made the Los Santos presumption cemented in fact.
The oil drilling machines in the foreground with the skyline as a background was really notable, at least to me, as I love to see landscapes, such as those, I guess.
The chase segment, at something like 1:05, seemed ordinary until the camera was positioned near the helicopter, when you, the viewer, receive this daunting realistic roof and alley bonanza.
They've saved something great for the end though, you see this Lear jet flying over the Vinewood sign and into the sunset (skyline purposefully put in between), giving me hope that we can see the return of jets and planes in Grand Theft Auto!
I loved flying the planes in San Andreas, and was a bit disheartened to see them go in GTA IV. The GTA IV helicopters are fine, but were nothing like flying a plane at top speed.
So yeah, this was a great trailer and I found it fun to watch it a couple more times (specifically: 3 times).
Oh, and if anyone can relate, I first saw this trailer on memebase and was honestly surprised to see an advertisement that I would actually purchase from.
My Account of a Brony Lifestyle, (probably part one of a few parts)
A lot of Internet kids and people not immediately familiar with bronies are quick to not like them, and as always accompanied with hate, you can't find much logic in it. Most would probably assume I only like the show itself, which isn't true. I also know a number of fellow bronies who don't value the My Little Pony show itself as high as the fan-made content, which is what made me into a brony in the first place.
Websites like ponychan, memebase, equestriadaily, etc. have their place in my browser's history, but it's the message boards dwelled by anonymous members that have some of the best fan-made art. You know the ones I'm talking about, I just don't want to break the first and second rule of the internet, I never have before.
Some of the content is just so impressively done, it adds depth to watching the show, which is what I went through when I declined to watch the Season 2 opening episodes immediately, and instead opted to read other's interpretation of them through posts and images, and when I did see Season 2, it really added the kind of character development that MLP would not have been able to dedicate on it's own.
I'm still lurking for more and more images and stories that go outside the realm of the show itself, it's quite the hobby to have, all the time it takes.
I have yet to run into another brony IRL, I guess I just have to wait till the brony movement takes a stronger hold with college-aged males everywhere.
Websites like ponychan, memebase, equestriadaily, etc. have their place in my browser's history, but it's the message boards dwelled by anonymous members that have some of the best fan-made art. You know the ones I'm talking about, I just don't want to break the first and second rule of the internet, I never have before.
Some of the content is just so impressively done, it adds depth to watching the show, which is what I went through when I declined to watch the Season 2 opening episodes immediately, and instead opted to read other's interpretation of them through posts and images, and when I did see Season 2, it really added the kind of character development that MLP would not have been able to dedicate on it's own.
I'm still lurking for more and more images and stories that go outside the realm of the show itself, it's quite the hobby to have, all the time it takes.
I have yet to run into another brony IRL, I guess I just have to wait till the brony movement takes a stronger hold with college-aged males everywhere.
11/6/2011
Hello, I'm Aleksandr.
I've finally started a blog, which I will probably be attending to a lot.
A bit about me, I was born in 1992 in Moscow, Russia. Now I live in America, and I'm a bit apprehensive to name what town specifically. I never paid much attention to learning my native Russian, English is my best language to speak in (kind of obvious by now).
I lurk on the internet a lot already, and spend a lot of time at places you probably visit too.
Check back here plenty for interesting updates about stuff I do.
That includes, video games, college life, politics, drawing, internet stuff, geography, books, and being a brony.
I've finally started a blog, which I will probably be attending to a lot.
A bit about me, I was born in 1992 in Moscow, Russia. Now I live in America, and I'm a bit apprehensive to name what town specifically. I never paid much attention to learning my native Russian, English is my best language to speak in (kind of obvious by now).
I lurk on the internet a lot already, and spend a lot of time at places you probably visit too.
Check back here plenty for interesting updates about stuff I do.
That includes, video games, college life, politics, drawing, internet stuff, geography, books, and being a brony.
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