Wain's World

Intro or Extro?

amos665 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:30:32 -0400

“Is he/she and introvert or extrovert?” Probably one of your first judgments that you either unconsciously, or consciously make when you first meet someone.

My fiance is a self-described introvert, and I myself would be classified more of an extrovert. But is it really a thing? Hans Eysenck describes it as the degree of which someone is out-going and interactive with another person. Just an observation, but where did this concept of having to be talking all the time start being the measuring tape for interactivity? My fiance is super interactive with people, maybe not vocally, but she carefully considers what someone else is saying, and what her response should be. That is much more interactive than just spouting off the first thing that comes to mind in response to something.

Where did this come from then? And why is being ‘introverted’ frowned upon so much nowadays?

Post-War Period

After WWII, the American Dream was proliferated, and the idea of endless wealth at your finger tips was running rampant. However, you had to grab it for yourself, and the only way to do that was to “sell yourself in order to sell your product”. The 1950s has turned us all into brands. We have to sell our brands, and friends are just those who have bought into your brand. Our words don’t really matter really, just if you say enough of them, someone may like what you say.

Talk is cheap, eh?

I beg to differ

Words are much more powerful than we think. That old phrase “sticks and stones”? Yeah, dead wrong, as we are seeing with the current situations in regards to bullying. If we all were a little more “introverted” maybe we’d actually understand each other more, and friendships wouldn’t be so short or shallow?

Here’s a challenge. For the next week or so, become “introverted”. Listen to what someone else is actually saying, and take time to make a considered response to every conversation point. You will be more genuine, and more likely you will get to know someone more than you had.

I don’t believe there is such a thing as introverted or extroverted.

The past is always remembered as a simpler time because when you...

amos665 — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 12:07:49 -0400

The past is always remembered as a simpler time because when you look back, you can see what was really important and worthwhile. You realize that life wasn’t so bad, and your issues weren’t as dire.

Take some time and reflect on your life today. Maybe the 1pm appointments, or money isn’t as important as you think it is. Enjoy some of nature, the scenery, the people in your life. Simplify your life by prioritizing what we always look back upon, time spent together.

Boston

amos665 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:28:49 -0400

“When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.’”

- Mr. Rogers

As you read and see more about the Boston bombings, look for the helpers and see the good in humanity as the days go by. Focus on the helpers, not on the evil people who created this tragedy, don’t pay them any attention.

"It was a rare, rare moment when the city seemed truly whole; when people came together—for free—to..."

amos665 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:18:51 -0400

“It was a rare, rare moment when the city seemed truly whole; when people came together—for free—to watch an event, and they cheered the back-of-the-pack plodders as enthusiastically as they did the whippets who led the way. I was so moved by it that I was choked up for most of the twenty-six miles, seeing this crazy display of community and generosity… The special thing about big-city marathons, like New York and Boston, is that they are occasions when the clashing and whirring of urban life quiets, and everyone stands together to see a bunch of people trying to do something very simple that is also very hard. It’s marvellous… If the explosions were purposeful, whoever did it knew that it would catch people at an exceptional, joyous moment, when they come together in the sweetest way, helping each other fly.”

- Susan Orlean on her experience running a marathon: http://nyr.kr/ZxGsPX (via newyorker)

This is a very moving piece of text. I am still in shock at what happened in Boston yesterday afternoon. Prayers go to the victims, and humanity in general.

We are all the Great Pretender

amos665 — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 11:13:57 -0400

If you want to read something happy, don’t read this, but if you want to read something raw and real, watch the video, and then read.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pzkszgjkj6Q

Yes, the song is about heart break, and that he is really just pretending to be happy, but there is more truth to the song. How many of us are truly as happy as we let on? I listen to the song, and it hits me, we all fake it. We all live in a land of make believe, where everything is fine.

Why do we do this? Because people are afraid that someone is just going to say that you’re being dramatic, and people don’t want to be around someone who is sad. This cycle of pretending to be happy just increases the amount of unhappiness we feel. We get judged for being unhappy because the expectation is that we are to be happy no matter what the situation. That is not healthy, it will just build up and build up.

Why are we as a society so focused on looking happy, but against showing sorrow? Why must one come at the expense of the other? Why can’t we show sorrow, and be happy? Why is one better than the other? These are the questions I’ve struggled with as I’ve gone through depression. I have been so conflicted in expressing the emotions inside of me that make me feel angry, upset, isolated, and alone. But I feel forced to make up stories or reasons why I am happy. It is almost cruel. How often a day do you get asked how you are doing, and you just respond ‘pretty good’, ‘not bad’, or ‘good’ but not really mean it? Nobody wants to be a ‘downer’, because it just makes other people feel bad. I just want to be able to say to someone what I am really feeling, without feeling judged, or pitied. I want to be able to say, “You know, I’ve been feeling really sad and alone lately, and I can’t really get happy”, without someone saying that I am not looking at the big picture, or that there are people who talk to me (but aren’t really people who want to listen to, or be around me).

I find myself wearing a mask every day. I don’t have anything to say that is really uplifting today, just this raw rant about feeling depressed. All I want are friends that want be around, and actually try and talk with me. I have my fiance, and she is amazing. She brightens my day every time I see her face, and holds my hand. She gets me through every day. But you need community, and that is what I long for.

10 Lessons to take from Hipsters

amos665 — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 21:57:03 -0500

‎10 Lessons to take from Hipsters:

1. It’s okay to be nostalgic about the past, but don’t let it dominate your present.

2. Be thrifty. You don’t always have to have the newest style from the boutique. You’ll save some money buying lightly used clothing, and save the environment a little bit too.

3. Drink Chai, cause it is friggen delicious.

4. Ride a bike. You’ll save on gas, and get some exercise.

5. Take pictures to remember moments, just forget about Instagram.

6. Write in a journal. It doesn’t have to be a Moleskine, but the cathartic nature of it will help you relax and sort life out. Plus you can look back and see where you have grown.

7. By local, organic food. It may cost a little extra, but it is better for you, and it keeps you buying fresh food. More vitamins, and more energy. It is also better for the environment.

8. Create your own style. Wear clothes that you feel comfortable in, and not something to make other people accept what you look like.

9. Be tolerant of other people. Just because they don’t look or act like you doesn’t mean they’re wrong.

AND last but not least,

10. Accept who you are. You were created beautiful, and should be proud of who you are, that includes whatever you are interested in, and want to do. Don’t be ashamed of what you have done. We all have regrets and sin in our lives, but we can’t change the past. All we can do is learn from our mistakes and move on.

Happy Guy Fawkes Day

amos665 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 16:45:04 -0500

“Remember remember the 5th of November

The gunpowder, treason, and plot

I find no better reason, why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.”

The old poem brought to public mind famously by the movie V for Vendetta. But why is it so captivating? Let’s start by analyzing who Guy Fawkes was.

Guy Fawkes

He was a member of the English Catholics who failed to blow up the English parliament buildings in 1605 (the Gunpowder Plot). They began to carry out this plot in 1604 when they purchased a house and began to tunnel under the House of Lords. This tunnel was to house the gunpowder that was going to be used to blow up the government buildings. They were going to blow it up on the opening of parliament, but because of the ever-present threat of the Plague, the opening was postponed to November 5th.

Betrayal

Concerned that other English Catholics would be presenting that day, Lord Monteagle received a letter from an anonymous source warning him to stay away. His suspicions were aroused and the letter was shown to King James himself. This is the sad part. Fawkes had taken up his shift as guard in the tunnels at the precise time that the King had ordered the cellars of parliament be searched in the early morning hours of November the 5th. He was found and arrested shortly after midnight in the cellar.

Trial

He was found guilty of treason, and sentenced to death, and not just any death. He was dragged, had his genitals, heart, and bowels removed, and was then beheaded. Pretty brutal.

Historical Legacy

Guy Fawkes was just a co-conspirator, but he is the most identifiable figure. In response to the king’s “victory” he made November the 5th as a day of deliverance, and it was celebrated as a variable Thanksgiving. Bonfires, and the burning of effigies (usually Catholic figures). Fawkes today has been toasted as “the last man to enter parliament with honest intentions”

SO why is he so popular in today’s society?

Alan Moore created an immensely popular graphic novel series between 1982-1989. The series setting is a dystopian England, where fascism has over run the country. The people’s freedoms are oppressed and a figure arises to start a revolution.

This figure wears a Guy Fawkes mask, and refers to himself as only the letter “V”. He uses Fawkes and associates plans of destruction as a point. The blowing up of parliament is a symbol, but his ideals are what sparks the revolution.

He is a subversive character, and his popularity is due to his stance towards inequality and oppression. He stands by his ideals, and doesn’t compromise to achieve the best option through. His vision is the only vision worth dying for.

Another reason he is so popular is because his identity is so ambiguous. Anyone can place themselves in his shoes and be as idealistic as him.

V may or may not be correct in his viewpoints in tactics but the fact that he is so uncompromising is why people admire the character. This is viewed as uncommon in our society today, as people are more inclined to look out for number one and change whatever their values to better suit the crowd they are in. Also the promotion of oneself is inherent in our society. We must all obtain credit where “credit is due”. V almost single-handedly starts a revolution and frees a nation, but remains anonymous even to his most loyal follower, and successor, Evey Hammond. The cause is what is important, not the identity. V makes himself an idea rather than a subject.

Pop Culture

A movie was released in March 2006 that has found an extremely loyal cult-following. Again this is just a product of the popularity of the character V. However, this is the moment where the series and ideals became more widely known.

That is it for our history lesson, and of course:

“Remember remember the 5th of November

The gunpowder, treason, and plot

I find no better reason, why the gunpowder treason

Should ever be forgot.”

LAST DAY OF CAMPAIGNING!

amos665 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:38:52 -0500

It is the final day of campaigning folks! Americans have a vital choice to make, Obama or Romney. Do they continue the path they’re on for social and systematic change? Or do they revert to their trickle-down policies that have been proven not to work? A little bit of a factoid for y’all:

Since Reagan, the largest redistribution of wealth ever in the course of history has occurred, from the middle-class to the wealthy. The middle-class is weaker than it has been since before the Great Depression. What drives the economy and the nation is the health of this class, not the fabulously wealthy.

Do you choose the leader who promises to fight and defend the middle-class? Or the guy who doesn’t even stand by his own values and changes on a whim. One who’s stated spending policies leave nothing but tax increases on the middle-class?

Romney will continue to milk the cow until it runs dry. This has been observed since his days at Bain capital. He has made a living of ripping people off, and gutting companies and he has the chance to do the grandest larceny, the robbing of the American people. Is that the character of the president? I do not think so.

Obama gained support by offering change and spirit of cooperation. Republicans have done nothing but blindly go against anything the president has done because they lost the last election. This party doesn’t deserve a democratic government because for the past 4 years they have done everything but democracy, which is the act of compromise.

I’m Canadian, so I cannot vote, but if you are American please do so. I may support Barack Obama, but you all have the right to choose whoever you want. But please vote!

"At night, that basically means you don’t see the Earth… not at all. When it’s a moonless night you..."

amos665 — Thu, 18 Oct 2012 14:04:26 -0400

“At night, that basically means you don’t see the Earth… not at all. When it’s a moonless night you don’t see the Earth. In fact, all it might look like to you is the absence of stars.”

- Astronaut Dave Wolf, relating what darkness looks like in space.

This is from the latest Radiolab, “Dark Side of the Earth”, in which Wolf tells the gripping tale of being trapped outside of the Russian space station Mir for days, waiting for a dark death to set in, and how he lived through it. And in the end, he says, if you’re floating just right, space can be a very peaceful place to hang out.

Give it a listen.

Cool stuff

Challenge

amos665 — Mon, 24 Sep 2012 12:27:42 -0400

Expand your mind today. Go to an art gallery, check out a lecture, do something you haven’t done today. Break your habits and ruts. Experience all of life.

amos665: Baking bread old school. #throwback #retro #nostalgia...

amos665 — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 20:30:11 -0400

amos665:

Baking bread old school. #throwback #retro #nostalgia #sustainability #smellsawesome (Taken with Instagram at Westmount (neighbourhood))

jtotheizzoe: discoverynews: Curiosity Flips Powerful Camera’s...

amos665 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 17:34:27 -0400

jtotheizzoe:

discoverynews:

Curiosity Flips Powerful Camera’s Dust Cap

After spending dozens of sol’s (Martian Days) with a transparent cap over the Mars Hand Lens Imager (MAHLI), NASA finally flips open the cover and looks around with full clarity.

Now, the true power of MAHLI has been unleashed, allowing us some of the most beautifully detailed images of NASA’s rover in her natural habitat.

these will make you go, “whoa…”

Who needs NYFW when you’ve got photo shoots like this one?

@MarsCuriousity is so cool!

Democrats vs Republicans

amos665 — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:23:00 -0400

Every 4 years those south of the border go through this, what is more important to the country, what platform is the best option, and what is best for that country. But unfortunately, the following is my biggest pet peeve with politics: religion. I am a Christian, but I hate when I see people choose who to vote for because they say they are a ‘Christian’. For me, that makes no sense. Not because I don’t want a Christian leader, but because I feel that it is irrelevant in terms of government leaders.

I will get into a bit of what I think about common arguments I’ve heard people have during campaign cycles: is equality biblical, should you help a poor person with money or tell them to get a job, and taxes. But first:

Why is it foolish for religion to be your deciding factor?

Because it makes your vote too easy to get. Because 80% or greater amounts of Americans identify with some belief in Jesus Christ, all a politician has to say is that they believe in a Christian nation, and roughly 50% of those people will vote for that candidate. That is a lot of votes, and quite possibly his policies may be very ‘unchristian’ in nature regardless of what he says. George Bush repeatedly stated his belief in God, and quoted the Bible often, but what would you say his actions represent? I’m not accusing the 43rd President of not believing, I am sure he does, but he would not be a Christian example I’d want to use. Two wars, huge gap between the rich and the poor, a financial system built on cheating everyone out of money, and general disregard for the common good are all characteristics of America post-Bush.

You can use religion as a factor in your decision, I’m not saying disregard it entirely, but please look at the larger picture, and have many other factors in there as well.

Is Equality Biblical?

Matthew 7:11-12 states “If you then being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him! In everything, therefore, treat people the same way your want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

That sounds a lot like equality. If you look further in Luke 16:19-31, Jesus tells his disciples of The Rich Man and Lazarus. God has blessed the rich man with vasts amount of wealth, and just outside his gate, there is a poor man named Lazarus who would beg everyday as the rich man ignored him. When poor man dies, he goes up to heaven, and the rich man goes to hell. The rich man doesn’t understand and in anguish and begs Abraham for mercy. Abraham explains to the rich man how he had a great many nice things during his life, and Lazarus had many bad, and Lazarus is now comforted. But because of his selfishness, he is suffering the consequences of his actions.

There was no way Lazarus could have ‘helped’ himself. He was disabled, and diseased. Unfit to work. We as Christians are called to help those in need, and the majority of us in North America are rich in unprecedented levels.

Another form of equality is towards gender. God did not make man to be dominant with no regard over women. He called men to lead, but to also partner with their wives, and cherish them greater than their own lives (Ephesians 5:25-29). In the 21st century, we shouldn’t segregate between men’s and women’s rights, but HUMAN rights. We were all created equal, different roles, but equal in God’s sight.

Equality is biblical, and to be perfectly honest, it is a central theme throughout the Bible, and specifically Jesus’ teachings. And you can’t help the poor with the contingency that they get a job. Someone who is unable to get a job before you help them, is not going to miraculously be able to get a job after you help them. There needs to be programs and support for those to be reintegrated into society, and guess what, that requires government spending.

Why does God hate taxes?

Simple answer, He doesn’t, you do. The Pharisees tried to trap Jesus with this very same question: is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar? (Matthew 22:15-22) Jesus’ response was quite vivid: “‘Why are you testing Me, you hypocrites? Show Me the coin used for the poll-tax.” And they brought Him a denarius. And He said to them ‘Whose likeness and inscription is this?’ They said to Him ‘Caesar’s’. Then He said to them, ‘then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s’”

So why are most Christian groups against taxes? I grew up in a conservative home, and one thing that was most vilified, were taxes. Why shouldn’t the rich pay the same proportion of taxes as the middle and lower class? The way the system is right now, they pay less than a middle-class family annually. Even in a straight equal system it is unfair. For example, there are two men, one with $10, and the other with $10 million. If each were to give 10% of their income it looks equal. However, that $1 is more important to the man with only $10 than the $1 million is to the man with $10 million. So what Obama has been trying to do, cut taxes for the middle-class, and raise them for the rich, in my opinion, is only logical. America gave the rich the chance to accumulate the amount of wealth they have, shouldn’t they as patriots feel obligated to give back to their country? The middle-class is what drives the American economy. A strong middle-class means a stronger America.

What have I tried to say?

I’ve tried to say a few things: politics is too complicated to base your decision on your religion alone, Christ calls us to pursue equality, and taxes are not evil. In November, please make an informed decision. I am not calling anyone to vote Democrat, or Republican, but rather vote for the candidate and party that best matches your convictions and beliefs the best. Neither party is the perfect party, and there is good in each, so rather than listening to rhetoric, critically assess each platform.

Thanks for reading my rant, and until next time,

Evan

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amos665 — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 15:07:53 -0400

dcu: I am loving Snyder’s run on Batman. It’s like a Morrison...

amos665 — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 15:32:44 -0400

dcu:

I am loving Snyder’s run on Batman. It’s like a Morrison Batman book that actually makes sense…

KNOW what you are supporting

amos665 — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 02:08:00 -0500

I am going to start off that I think that it is ‘good’ that so much awareness has been spread about Joseph Kony. The fact is though, ‘good’ doesn’t mean effective. I do wish that he would be brought to justice for all the lives he has robbed and destroyed. I would enjoy nothing better than see him rot in jail for the rest of his life. But the fact is, and this may offend you, but sharing a video or status, or tweet about what Joseph Kony has done, is doing practically nothing. In my humble opinion, these Facebook/Twitter/YouTube movements are just fooling mass amounts of our society into thinking they are aware and standing up for injustice. It is LAZINESS people! It enables you to feel good about yourself, without the inconvenience of getting off of your couch.

Don’t get me wrong. I am not against these sorts of campaigns. We are connected like no other time in history. Messages and information can span the globe in seconds. It is a very powerful tool. But what we have to do is jump from ‘good’ campaigns, to ‘EFFECTIVE’ campaigns. The Arab Spring used social media as a catalyst, but the difference between that and the protests against SOPA, which used the same site, is that people got off of their collective posteriors and started doing something about it. This means, if you are really passionate, and really care about stopping Joseph Kony, do something other than buying a wristband to feel good about yourself. Get up and DO something.

What do you do? Find a charity that deals with the issue you are passionate about. Donate REGULARLY, or volunteer for said charity. When you are choosing a charity, do homework on it. Most charities post their financial reports on their websites. Invisible Children in particular spent a total $8,676,614. ONLY 32% went to direct support. They kept 68% of all donations. What the heck? There are more effective charities to be involved in. I want Joseph Kony stopped don’t get me wrong. But be wise with what you support. The charity should use most of their funds in direct support, that’s a minimum of 51% going towards the cause, rather than to the organization itself. Anytime you post a link, you are supporting that organizations beliefs, and order of business. Would you support a charity that of the $8,676,614, spent $5,900,097.92 on promoting itself, and only gave $2,776,548.48? I wouldn’t. As much as I agree that Joseph Kony should be stopped, I think there are better options than Invisible Children to go through.

After you’re involved then what? Get other people involved as well. Recruit friends, and family to supporting the cause. Organize events in your community that not only raise awareness, but get people actively involved in the charity as well. Funds is not the only key, the organization must be active. What does it do in your community? You could even volunteer to go on a team overseas to help in the communities that it reaches. If you are truly passionate that is.

Caring is more than sharing a link. Our generation is so used to having everything handed to us. We want the euphoria of accomplishment without the hard work and determination that it requires. Don’t waste the awareness that KONY 2012 has raised, it is good. Do something truly good with it. Or go ahead, just keep posting Facebook statuses or Tweets. But if you really want to see the change you wish for, be the change that causes it.

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amos665 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:54:21 -0500

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amos665 — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 01:48:58 -0500

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amos665 — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:49:13 -0500

comicbookartwork: Venom and Spider-Man Is it just me or does...

amos665 — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:46:32 -0500

comicbookartwork:

Venom and Spider-Man

Is it just me or does this Spiderman picture look like Deadpool ??