For the first 14 years, sports has been a part of my life. I have played various sports for leisure since the age of about 6, playing soccer, basketball and baseball. As of recently however, I would say that sports isn't as major as it once was, especially since I've played competitve soccer since the age of 6. For me, sports is more about a pick up game and having fun than that of grinding time with a team, running many many laps, and trying to "defeat the opponent".
The pressure was also evident, and slowly, I think my connection with competitive sports, more specifically soccer, diminished.
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Cormac McCarthy: A letter to you
Dear Mr. McCarthy,
It seems that the work of literature we refer to as "The Road" portrays mankind after an unfullfilling apocalypse. The world does not come to an end, but rather is placed in a state of destruction and chaos; one that leaves few survivors and many traitors to what we call society in the present. As any realistic fictional novel, your story has it's flaws, but presents itself to be interesting none the less. We could come up with many ideas for how the members of society would react if the base of society were to be anulled; 'The Road' just happens to be one of those that show humans in a terrible light, but also one that sheds good will every now and then.
The only issue I see would be the way the story is told. It may be confusing at times, but nevertheless, the basic ideas behind it are more than adequate for the recognition it's recieved.
Regards,
A fellow reader to your novel
It seems that the work of literature we refer to as "The Road" portrays mankind after an unfullfilling apocalypse. The world does not come to an end, but rather is placed in a state of destruction and chaos; one that leaves few survivors and many traitors to what we call society in the present. As any realistic fictional novel, your story has it's flaws, but presents itself to be interesting none the less. We could come up with many ideas for how the members of society would react if the base of society were to be anulled; 'The Road' just happens to be one of those that show humans in a terrible light, but also one that sheds good will every now and then.
The only issue I see would be the way the story is told. It may be confusing at times, but nevertheless, the basic ideas behind it are more than adequate for the recognition it's recieved.
Regards,
A fellow reader to your novel
Defend the Poet
It seems that because of the ill and harsh perspective Bukowski holds, many people dislike his poems. They show a degree of pessimism and hatred, whereas human nature seems to aim towards positive success in life. I'd say that even though poems by Bukowski represent such, they still provide a perspective of life and society that one could really imagine.
He shows the worst outcomes and possibilities and opens our eyes towards them. When one has seen the worst, he can very easily imagine even the least undesirable, and that's what Bukowski seems to be aiming for. It might not occur to people as easily, but maybe Bukowski aims for something people dislike. A work of literature can be disliked for many reasons, including that of the topic. Dislike that literature, and chances are people will dislike the idea behind it, such as an agonizing future.
He shows the worst outcomes and possibilities and opens our eyes towards them. When one has seen the worst, he can very easily imagine even the least undesirable, and that's what Bukowski seems to be aiming for. It might not occur to people as easily, but maybe Bukowski aims for something people dislike. A work of literature can be disliked for many reasons, including that of the topic. Dislike that literature, and chances are people will dislike the idea behind it, such as an agonizing future.
Friday, November 5, 2010
Father and Son, Mother and Daughter
In human society, father's usually represent the foundation or base of a family. Though there are many different types of fathers, most provide their offspring, in this case more specifically sons, with influence, involvement and at times affection. For children, the typical father often plays the role of the carefree and fun-loving parent who tries to engage their son in all the fun things they did as a kid. Likewise, the son often mimicks the father, seeing him as a role model to live by.
However, we often see that as sons grow older, fathers tend to hold a diminishing level of affection and may or may not be more crtitical of expectations that may have been set in childhood. Fathers often also expect their sons to be their legacy; fullfilling or continuing everything they may or may not have achieved.
However, we often see that as sons grow older, fathers tend to hold a diminishing level of affection and may or may not be more crtitical of expectations that may have been set in childhood. Fathers often also expect their sons to be their legacy; fullfilling or continuing everything they may or may not have achieved.
Sunday, October 24, 2010
How do I know what I know?
Knowledge, by the standards of the American dictionary, is defined as the psychological result of perception and learning and reasoning. As such, it's safe to say that what one knows is subjective, and wholly depends on how much sense they can create from a given idea or result. People tend to question what they do not understand or know, and as such, knowing comes through understanding the answer.
How exactly can one know what they know? The simple answer therefore seems to be that they know a given piece of knowledge when an idea stemming from point 'A' has supporting evidence to prove a point 'B'. When one knows something, they have all the planks necessary construct a complete rope bridge across. However, many times, people tend to mistake assumptions for knowledge; having some only some of the planks, which may seem complete, but provides instability when walked upon.
Even though knowledge may be subjective and assumptions for the most part, such as with cases regarding religion, society fortunately has come upon certain pieces of evidence that appeal to the majority of it's members. As such, subjective ideology becomes a more or less unanimous knowledge, simply because everyone has opted to accept it. It's never impossible to find or create gaps within bridges, thus it can be argued that as humans, true and absolute knowledge might just be assumptions in the end.
How exactly can one know what they know? The simple answer therefore seems to be that they know a given piece of knowledge when an idea stemming from point 'A' has supporting evidence to prove a point 'B'. When one knows something, they have all the planks necessary construct a complete rope bridge across. However, many times, people tend to mistake assumptions for knowledge; having some only some of the planks, which may seem complete, but provides instability when walked upon.
Even though knowledge may be subjective and assumptions for the most part, such as with cases regarding religion, society fortunately has come upon certain pieces of evidence that appeal to the majority of it's members. As such, subjective ideology becomes a more or less unanimous knowledge, simply because everyone has opted to accept it. It's never impossible to find or create gaps within bridges, thus it can be argued that as humans, true and absolute knowledge might just be assumptions in the end.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Our Meaning
It seems to appear that every individual holds their own meanng here in the world. People rarely care for the meaning of others as well, unless it holds a relation to one's own. As such, individual meaning has no value whatsoever, other than the purpose of fullfilling the goals and perceptions set forth by oneself. However, this meaning may be influenced by those surrounding the person in question, along with events or outcomes.
As human beings, we often add a perception of value to our inherently valueless meaning, citing goals and achievements that define us for who we are or want to be. For some, this may be fame and wealth, while for others it may be personal satisfaction through helping others around them and knowing that their presence was necessary to sustain the given accomplishment.
As human beings, we often add a perception of value to our inherently valueless meaning, citing goals and achievements that define us for who we are or want to be. For some, this may be fame and wealth, while for others it may be personal satisfaction through helping others around them and knowing that their presence was necessary to sustain the given accomplishment.
Friday, October 8, 2010
God and modern society
In all honesty, it’s plausible to say that since the beginning of mankind, some humans have never believed in a God while others have worshipped him wholeheartedly. It’s also plausible to say that even in today’s society; we witness a variety of believers and non-believers with a varying image of what they call ‘God’.
You will always see a man on a street corner of downtown attempting his best to preach his form of biblical interpretation, while pedestrians try their best to ignore and not make eye contact. You also have people on a daily basis claim faith to one religion, yet commit the actions unlike of said religion, while according to statistics, the amount of people who actually identify with any given religion in today’s society, never do. (Decline in religion-specific people and an increase in atheism)
In this sense, when compared throughout the past 200 or so years, it’s safe to say that the idea of a ‘God’ has diminished, especially with the advent of higher scientific beliefs and experiments, rather than changed in perspective. However, every single viewpoint of a God still exists today just as it did millenniums ago throughout various religions, societies and specific human beings in general. Attempting to claim a single viewpoint for the entire mass of society would be inaccurate.
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