Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Twitter Got Me

Well that's just an excuse. But really, soon as I opened a Twitter account I forgot all about this blog.

And I found a local magazine. Finally to incorporate scenary, interaction, persons, etc. into writing. It's the kind of stuff I've wanted to do.

And I'm looking at local lit mags. Better for personal essays. Feels like those things can be put to better use there.

Will still be doing interviews for a few web sites. Maybe a little commentary or something approaching an essay.

Will post up whatever is published. Otherwise, on hiatus for now.

Friday, November 16, 2012

Red Eye

I'm doing some research for pitches to a local magazine, and started looking for topics akin to the kind of nature and science stuff Orion and National Geographic would cover, but in New Jersey and the east coast. In light of Hurricane Sandy, a few articles I stumbled across both surprised and disheartened me.

It seems scientists were strongly and specifically giving warnings about current and future increases in environmental warming, storms, and sea levels (all related to the global warming concept, with localized and worldwide factors considered) for some time now. More specifically, they were as geographically specific as New York and the East Coast since 2007, as far as I can tell. I haven't read in depth, but a few quotes caught my eye:

Thursday, November 15, 2012

Finally

Finally got a local outlet. It's been a long time since I've been able to incorporate place, person, and theme into a long-form article. This will be fun.

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Clarity

(609)-759-1126. It's a Google Voice number so it will ask for your name and such before it transfers. If it does not pick up leave a message. That goes for anyone looking to reach me. I don't automatically put my full faith in what I see on the internet, so i think its only fair that you don't have to.

Set...

Will be a good holiday....

For Peace Sake: You Might Need To Call Me

I happened to visit a page I hadn't seen in a while and came across a post that looked like it directly (and not so happily) addressed one of my posts. I'm mostly surprised because, if I'm right, I contacted you directly when I had an issue (albeit, it was years ago). There was obviously a misconception here, so if you need to contact me directly at nknightwriter@gmail.com. I might even do a phone call.
 
I'll address what was said but I'm not going on an angry rant here, because I don't believe in Internet wars. They take a lot of time and energy and build a lot of blind anger that can be fixed in a five minute phone conversation (which I am more than open to participate in). If anything here makes you upset, just email to clarify. It may very well be a misinterpretation. But it's good in its own way because you can learn a lot when things like these happen.

Monday, November 12, 2012

Joke's On Me

Just saw a few clips of this comedian. Makes me feel like I put a tad too much effort into being politically correct. His gift is my dumb face.

Flashback

Just digging through my old stuff. The most interesting things come through interviews. And a lot of times you don't use all if the quotes from articles. I've posted a couple transcripts on this blog before. But I think there's a lot of recorded stuff I didn't get to use all of. Will find some to repost shortly. Maybe even get the audio up.

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Teach Yourself: Math For Slow People Like Me

I am by no means and never have been a math head. But I took interest in the topic by happenstance. And, as someone who does not have a stratospheric IQ, found it to be a bit more digestible than I remembered from high school.  If you are an Average Joe like me, the hope is, for those who are no genius, but are truly interested in learning the material for its own sake (that's key), this can get you started and help you move a little faster than I was able to:

Friday, November 9, 2012

Twitter

@nknightwriter

It was strongly suggested. Will see how this works.

Ugh

Getting sucked back into the social media void. Let's see how this works out....

Face Time

I've learned long ago. Unless the reason or person is important, you need to take the time to consider whether you ought to put your efforts into trying to convince those who have long ago convinced themselves. Do it if it's worth it. But know it will never be easy.

They have to step outside of their own world, their own motives and sense of reasoning, first. They have to be willing to see, and they have to see it. But it's hardest when their biggest concern is not understanding, but saving face.

Logic isn't the problem. They'll never say it, but they want a parachute too. And they want you to take the time to prove to them that it has no holes. And only if they are certain the rest of the world will never catch them looking.

Socio-Cultural Inward Ramble

Dad: My father attended three Ivy League schools: two in undergrad and an MBA. He also was accepted for, but declined enrollment into, an Ivy-league PhD economics program.  He never emphasized these things, rarely spoke of them, so I had no inkling of all this until I was almost finished with college. And he never seemed to judge people - for better or worse - who defined themselves by those merits. He never seemed to judge those who lacked them either. On the surface, he seemed indifferent.

In the same token, when someone lives and breathes their credentials, I become far more interested in their personal experience at said school, institution, slice of society, etc. than their place in life. At a fundamental, one on one level, I have no personal interest in the credentials of their own right. I'm interested in the experience, the person, behind them.

Sean Cackles Universe

"How you got baby mama drama? You ain't even got you no baby."

Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Barry

A lot quicker than I expected. Let's make these next four count.

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Projected Wins

So how are projected wins in a state decided when only 2-8% of the votes are in?

Eh

Watching the election coverage lets me know I still have a lot to learn about politics in general. Started going over some diagrams that show how generators work. Let's see if I can wrap my head around it.

Vote

Tall
On your small change
Greater
Than your ego
Large and wide
As the country
One
In and of all

Monday, November 5, 2012

House of Mirrors

Don't work so hard to become accepted that you neglect to accept yourself.

The Way I Figure

If I mostly or completely agree or disagree with everyone in my circle, I'm probably not learning much, and I need to expand my circle (and if agree or disagree are the only two reactions I can think of, I'm reallly not learning much). And, as odd as it sounds, I'd probably learn more spending time with people I disagree with on some things than I would in circles in which I completely agree with everyone all the time.

I like... No, I love, room for doubt. I like to think things through. Wrinkles in my brain and brow are my badges of honor.

If I can simply and confidently nod my head yes or no all the time without thinking about it at least a little, it just feels wrong to me. Not because it's forced, and not simply for sake of argument or confrontation or for show. But because it gives me a better grasp of whether I'm involved in something worth thinking about.

In any case, I just prefer that everyday be an education, not just a confirmation. That's my thing.

It doesn't hold for everybody. But, at least in aggregate, everyone's life ought to have more meaning, and broader perspective, than a checklist.

Gather

Did not completely finish the book. It's a dense 440 pages. Got about three-fourths through. But it gave me some more to learn.

1) The history of conquerors gets pretty ugly at times. 2) Apparently, mobsters were more brutal in real life than in the movies. 3) And it sounds like the 1960's are to cultural revolution as the internet was (and is) to modern media. It was a game changer. If that's the case, was there any other time period in America during the last 20 or 30 years that has had as much cultural significance?

Going to find out about this $10,000 natural gas-powered, privately-owned generator concept. I almost don't believe it. Well, if and when I get to it. Got a handful of other books sitting at home to get through.

My Mind Is Hungry, Restless

I'm going hunting.

Sandy U Ramblings

I learned a few things from this storm. Some I already knew. Some that were reiterated. An extremely unedited post off the top of my head:

Local Infrastructure Contributes Perspective: My cousin down south says people down there don't understand the big deal about Sandy because they have gone through these kind of storms frequently enough. Shortly after he talks about how a mutual acquaintances in Brooklyn sees neighborhood locals scrapping to board on a row of 20 buses, and sends me a picture of a scuba diver swimming through the subway tunnels (the main, if not only, means of transportation for many in New York City).

I think, when you get into locations that are as condensed as the Northeast, the whole concept of self-sufficiency takes on a different meaning. It's not a bunch of open space and land to roam and make your way on. It reminds me of when I found myself wandering the back roads outside of a Michigan college town.  I was surprised at how many people in what obviously was not a high-income area had so much space in their backyards, and how many had horses in the backyards with nothing but one or two strings of barbed wire separating the horses from the roads. If I sat down and had a discussion with any heads of the households there, and we planned on switching places taking care of each other's families for a month or so, I'm sure there would be plenty of room for disconnect regarding what skill sets and priorities matter most. 

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Shades

There is plenty of space, time, and variance between hate and love. But if you ask around you'd swear the world was 2-D.

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Clergy, Celibacy, & Economic Incentive: Teach Yourself


Found something else that caught my interest. Again, there’s no real point to it. But it’s interesting. 

Mistresses: The History of the Other Woman is an interesting read. It mainly covers largely committed affairs (as opposed to fly-by-night relationships) between men of influence and women seeking to maintain or gain ground in class structure in Western and Asian superpower societies.  The book is almost unbelievably non-judgmental, always considering class structure, socioeconomic mobility, and shared or conflicting human motivations. The author, an academic research associate who has written various books on the history of sugar, celibacy, and Haiti, remains very aware of the larger picture throughout.


At one point, the book provides some perspective regarding celibacy and marriage in church leadership. The original intent behind encouraging abstinence and vilifying intimacy, says the author, was more a matter of controlling, conserving, and growing the economic wealth of the church, and maintaining an image that would allow it to do so. Actual religion or Christian doctrine had little to do with the practice.

Friday, November 2, 2012

So.. Someone Spammed With My E-mail Address??


I received four spam emails in my junk mail today that were supposedly from my e-mail address. Of course I didn't send them. I still have the time stamps for the date sent and I suppose I can tell what time someone logged into my account by that (if that's the way it's done).

For my IT savvy friends, I'll keep these and show it to you. I'd like to know how one might trace these e-mails. It isn't the first time I've seen something like this. But I'm thinking maybe a few hardcopies might lead me somewhere.

The various e-mails said it was sent "via" "amx.com," "bernina.co.il ," and "clickz.com" (I don't know how that works or what that means) and were supposedly sent to a  the same other email addresses (repeated e-mails included in the sent to), but still has my e-mail address under "sent from."

If anyone knows how this works let me know. It should be a learning experience, in the least.

Walk

Slim Diva
I can see it
In her Any
She owns her Only
Any other couldn't own me
The same

Thursday, November 1, 2012

New Old Club Nostalgia

"Fire a-way, fire a-way-ay...."

Riding The Wave

The night Sandy came, I barely noticed. I slept through what sounded like a light storm.

The next morning felt a bit surreal. The things you saw on TV happened. It looks like the set of a disaster movie.  It seems every few miles, a tree was uprooted or the base of a telephone pole was cracked.

Anything tall, heavy, and made of wood is a potential hazard. Giant beams lay on top of houses, garages, and in the middle of roads.  Some of the uprooted trees have uprooted big mounds of grass or entire chunks of concrete sidewalk.  And you really have to watch out for stray live wires.

Monday, October 29, 2012

Come Again?

I was in my mid 20's before the terms Democrat and Republican meant anything to me, let alone liberal or conservative. I had heard those terms plenty times before, but really didn't associate them with anything in particular. Retrospectively, I feel like not knowing made me more naive about how things work in some cases, but perhaps more informed with the details of actual issues.

The concept of a political spectrum doesn't make me cringe in itself, so much as how people associate so closely to either end without really educating themselves on the matters at hand. Too often, it feels like fanatical commitment to being a member of group or reciting bumper sticker cliches, perhaps without knowing what you are really saying. I am sure my view will prove wrong in a number of instances. But it's a feeling I haven't been able to shake.

Saturday, October 27, 2012

The Loop

Reading old post. Love this quote:


"Structure is not a template. It's not cookie cutter. It's something that arises organically from the material once you have it."

Know Your Only

Formulaic. Formulaic.
Why are you
Standing in my improv?
You interfere
The Feeling.
You have your time
And place.

Friday, October 26, 2012

Truth Be Told

Two articles I found interesting.


"The key is you don’t want to copy the blues; you want to capture the mood."

When Hate + Respect = Love

I think the people that amaze me most are the ones I don't think I may like much, but still get my respect. I remember that teacher from middle school who was direct, and who some other kids considered harsh. But to me she had purpose. She was never abusive, never about blind control.

She listened when it mattered, was flexible, but mostly focused on doing the job right. And if you took her aside and asked, she would explain things to you. I'm not sure if the kids ever saw behind her no-nonsense responses. She ended up being one of my favorite teachers. She cared about what she was doing and the kids she was doing it for, first and foremost. She never really made it about her.

There's this politician I like that everyone else I know seems to hate (not running for president). I don't agree with a lot of his ideology. But he addresses the issues and speaks clearly behind them. And he has admitted to fault and, much more importantly, committed to fixing his errors when he has instead of just talking about them. I feel like if I were sitting across the table from him we could disagree all day and still get things done (that is, if I were a politician. never will be).

I dunno where it came from. But it's those kind of people that have something I can't put my finger on.

Spread Knowledge

I learned so much in the past couple months, from only a handful of people who know more than I ever will learn in a lifetime. I hope there's questions. There are more than enough experts to refer people to. A whole lot of knowledge I just didn't expect to get.

I'll be very willing to pass on the curious who want to know more to people more knowledegable. And I hope it does not come across as pointing fingers. To find something that can be bettered or explored  when an issue is systemic, not due to a particular person or group, feels so much less personal, less so the burden of a person, and much more so..... Individually Available? A Choice? Collaborative? Empowering? Possible? Contextual?

I dunno.

Whatever it is, I'm hoping it's less abrasive. Hoping knowledge and direction can be productive. Less angry. I really like the possibilities. Potential effort or exploration and the intent behind them is just as important as the results, if not more so.

I am an overoptimistic nerd for real, lol.

Speak Up In Life, In Person

I don't so much doubt, as much as I become an insatiable skeptic, when I hear "all X are Y," outside of hard sciences and pure math. It's so rare that it actually holds true. It's usually more of a practicality when giving advice or trying to convince someone of something. Often times, there is nothing wrong with that. It is what it is. But sometimes it can lead to dangerous assumptions.

I especially have doubts when the phrase refers to people. I want to know what you really mean, what you are really trying to say, what your intent and your assumptions really are, or what real life context it is said in. Because, when you say "all X is Y" or "all X are Y," all that stuff really matters. For real, for real.

It's a phrase that draws enough personal scrutiny from me to be pretty sure I struck it from my vocabulary long ago. Probably since I got into reasoning, analysis, and writing (which has made up for the bulk of my academia and career). Whenever I hear it in the real world, I assume it's a practicality to get things done or get a viewpoint across far more often than I assume it is a truth or near-truth. I need something near proof or reason for me to think of it as the latter.

Thursday, October 25, 2012

Nose Up, Smile Wide

If I see a bit of arrogance sitting on top of substance and a place earned in life, I might very well tip my hat to it. That's not ignorance. It's a celebration.

Multitudes

"Do I contradict myself? Very well then, I contradict myself, I am large, I contain multitudes."

-Walt Whitman
Song of Myself

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

Work, Work, Work

Very close to getting something much more engaging and polished. Just have to work on two sections for people interviewed, clear up the intro, and get one more interview done.

Everyone's An Einstein

I do my best to not assume that the way I succeed or fail dictates what another should do. Different strokes, different folks. Maybe they are in fact related. But I'll work to find out. Real, unadulterated self-motivation can close lots of gaps, real or imagined. 

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

In All Honesty

There's this thing, I don't know if it's a trend, for just kind of deciding what you think of someone and doing your best to fit everything else around that opinion. What actually is, or clarifying what we don't know, takes a back seat to ego.

Just Because: The Sequel

Never quite saw a theme or point in the movie 5th Element. A lot of action, explosions, and space aliens. Doesn't exactly speak to smarts or good taste or substantive story line. But it's one of my favorite movies anyway.

Must have watched it half a dozen times, at least. Never thought to question why. The only reason for me to think of why, to figure it out, would be if someone were to ask. But, until then, I'm content just knowing I like it.

I don't think I'm the only one. I do my best to consider that dynamic, contradiction, or whatever you may call it in others.

It often doesn't hurt to ask. You get to know, or at least clarify, everything you once had to assume.

Monday, October 22, 2012

Just Because

Aside from books assigned to me in school, the last fiction book I remember reading was third and final novel of the Bourne Trilogy. Yes, of Jason Bourne fame, the book series was turned into the movie franchise starring Matt Dillon. I was in my early teens.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

Yum

Fried fish and plantains. Rice and seasoned beans. Belly full of joy. Smiling like a clam.

Mother Goose

Everybody swears they know
The person that they don't
That person makes me curious
I ask what psychics won't

Universal

"I work them long nights, long nights to get a payday."

Saturday, October 20, 2012

Excercise

Man, if you want to work on, rework, or fine tune your writing muscles just get a blog without any type of expectations. It just makes it easier when you have to go back and do it for real.

You can kind of write at will, get ideas down, experiment. Short or long as you want when it comes. Take as little or much time as you want to. Not so demanding as a Twitter or Facebook. Public practice for your rawest thought and form.

When Wrong Leads Right

This project will eventually come together.

Friday, October 19, 2012

Avoiding Binary

Agreeing with and being inspired by an argument are two different things. They can be shared but they don't have to be. In my case, they are two separate things.

Pets R' Us

Has the world really gotten to the point where looking the part is more important than being it? Maybe my inkling is just off the mark.

Bad Religion

I don't like listening to or reading the writings of Warren Buffet just because he is rich and successful. I like to do so because when he speaks he makes so much goddamn sense. He doesn't have to rely on his name or personal brand for proof. The logic of his arguments, as plain and simple as they are, speak for themselves.

Spotlight

I don't watch TV or go to the movies often. But when I watch them, I fall into them, even lose myself sometimes.

My favorite actor as a kid was Harrison Ford. I think it's because I loved Indiana Jones.

As an adolescent, I favored Denzel Washington. I didn't see a whole lot of his movies. But I could never get over how he could create entire characters, whole personas, out of mere subtleties. He owned those subtleties, as if he had grown into them over a lifetime of habit.

My favorite actor of this generation might be James Franco. I only have a limited palette to work with, since I only watch movies and TV so much. But the man just seems so versatile as an actor. I love that I can't pin him down in his characters.

I'd like to see how he grows into the rest of his career.

Context is My Credo

I'm just recalling some of my posts and a previous conversation today. Poor does not equal pious and rich does not mean unholy. There's a lot of human between the two to consider. I don't know if that needed clarification.

Thursday, October 18, 2012

Reading

The train station can serve of as a poverty barometer of sorts. I've never seen as many homeless persons in Penn Station as I have over the last two years.

Job Theory

You'll get various input on the state of jobs and hiring from recruiters. In my experience, two have been fairly common over the last few years.

Keep On Walking

But I'm learning from all this. Working a mental muscle I haven't had the opportunity to use in some time. Its the kind of situation where you don't necessarily know what to expect from yourself, but you expect to progress along the way. Whether I'll be merely adequate or exceed my expectations I can't tell. But I'm both interested in and have enough respect for the product and it's intended recipients to make it the best it can be.

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Humbled

This has become quite the humbling task.

Monday, October 15, 2012

People's Choice



Blue State
Red State

Swim                                      in                 purple                                    waters

Walk                          through                     shades     of         grey

Recipe for Anything

Feelings and data. Information and inuition. Qualitative and quantitative. New and old. Left brain, right brain. Destruction and creation. Rules and improvisation or innovation. Numbers and art.

In my mind's eyes these things are complementary, not mutually exclusive or divided. They can do things together that neither could do fully or partially alone. The most important thing is to know what you are looking at and why. Then you know how best to apply any of the tools at your disposal.

Sunday, October 14, 2012

Absolutely Not

I sometimes find myself in situations in which the other party wants a response in absolute or binary terms. A lot of times I don't have an answer for them. Not without more context. (And especially if I don't know who they are... I know, I know. I know what you're thinking. It's complicated. At least I think so. Wild times, my friend.)

I don't knock the approach. Things move faster that way I guess. But for me, it just doesn't apply to most of my life. Or at least I need to know how it does before I give an answer I can believe.

Sager Says

As Mike Sager once said:

"Heart is everything.  Stay true, work hard.  Don't compete, be yourself."

Once you know the feeling, you'll recognize it (or lack thereof) in others. It comes from inside and shows in your approach to life. The things you see, hear, or read in front of you are less than secondary. 

Saturday, October 13, 2012

Dusky

Full moon
Blue Moon
Neck all
Under water

Definition or Reaction?

When you label something "ironic," consider that it may have more to do with the accuracy of your original assumptions than the actual thing itself. Just a random thought.

Friday, October 12, 2012

Kendra Goes "Pow"

Man, I really like this girl Kendra. New video for her single "Pow."

Just start at 0:12 or 0:20. Then let it go to 0:24. That "stir me in the guts" is right on beat, just in it like she feels what she is doing, without sounding like she's trying. It just sounds like hmph. It's those little things that get me.

I'm not sure she's a lot of people's taste. But it's my flavor. Love when I can feel the music.

Looks in Context

"Context matters." That's my credo.

Appearance matters too. But in context.

Thursday, October 11, 2012

Seriously, Knicks?

Wallace was good in his day. But the man is coming on 40. I hope you guys know what you are doing.

Raiiiiid Lol

Question world. If you feel like another man in stalking you would you feel flattered or creeped out. I certainly don't feel flattered. I don't know why you would want to come across as so creepy. It looks ridiculous, like you have no life of your own to attend to. I need to find the Raid equivalent for human beings.

People

The shyest, most solitude person, when met face-to-face, is more interesting than anything they can put on a Facebook profile.

The Mind Is Mightier

I get why people say good writing is a certain way. But if all writers actually wrote that way - the same way - people would get bored with it all. As with many things, diversity matters. It makes things more dynamic.

I'd hate to think that all writers would take a particular subject and do more or less the same thing with it.

Women and Sexuality


Nothing is more attractive than a woman with an "it" factor.

One Time Only

I've said my peace. It's not worth a second effort.

Candy Funk Actor

The stranger smelt like dung baked in cologne. He moved in forethought subtleties. He sat in his neighbor's purpose, on command, staring at his smart phone for direction. He was no more convincing than the old man who sat before him.

His person lay buried in guts he hadn't searched. The lack thereof was as visible as the ensemble he wore. I pitied him, gave thanks the world never turned me so weak, and asked higher powers to give him the courage to know his self.

But he was convinced his identity was the world's duty.  So he played a part he never contemplated. Despite his efforts, his audience was the wiser. They thought little of the man who owned so little of himself. Actors were more common than chairs.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

Feeling Easy

Trees. Breeze. Tunes. Skyline. Blessed.

Mannequin Town

Lol, aw man. If you are a man who decides to try and dress like Andre 3000, the quality of your person better be at least that of your clothes and more. Otherwise you end up looking like your clothes are bigger than your personality. And makes the whole thing look so forced, and an expensive ensemble look cheap. The weird thing is I've been seeing more of this since the recession hit. Guys have confidence in YOURSELF first and foremost. Otherwise the rest won't matter. You'll always look like you are trying too hard to be someone else.

Tuesday, October 9, 2012

Beat Line

Boogie woodie, cha cha, dollar whine, akey breaky, shuffle.

Morning

Slim Goodie talk. Coffee French Roast. Drive. Destination. Get it done.

Monday, October 8, 2012

Well Off Either Way

I can't remember a time I envied another man. But, overtime I have become annoyed with men who insist I should want something just because it's widely desired. A luxury car is all fine and well. But unless I can afford it after maintenance, insurance, a mostly paid off home, little to no debt, daily expenses covered, great health, quality living, social life, extra cushion in case I am no longer working in the future, affordable education, and all the other little things I forgot to mention - and all of this with plenty room to spare - then that fancy car feels like nothing more than a hefty burden. If I were rich man, I could take or leave it either way.

I will never knock the next man. If he's happier having that when he's next to me, he makes for better company. But I can't pretend I want or don't want something based upon what the rest of the world is doing. It would be lying to myself for the sake of show. Another weight. I cherish freedom more than anything. And placing myself under financial duress for the privalege of being locked into other people's fantasies and expectations does not feel free.

Thank You, Apple

Earphones are great for music. Better for blocking out  public conversations I do not care about :). Cellphones and Facebook have turned personal affairs into PSA's. It's the hip thing to do, I guess. I prefer to stay in my lane.

Taking A Break From Reading Online Media

I have some regulars. But for the most part, I find I get what I need offline. I saw an article about a tech journalist who did this and said it was all for the better. I'm going to give it a go for a month. There's stuff online I like, but I'm pretty sure I can do without. Will try and see.

Sunday, October 7, 2012

10,000 Pages Of Popular Culture

I browsed through every issue of Esquire since 1971, every issue of Ebony since 2000, and every issue of GQ since 1986 (except for 2005-2009, but I'll get to it). The most striking thing you'll notice if you read the articles, is how different each magazine is under different editors.

You don't even have to read the mastheads to know they changed. And the style and layout of the magazine tends not to change all at once right away. It'll have a transition period of say, six months to three years, and will have a new style, new subtleties, new perks and faults altogether. Same brand and general audience. Different priorities.

Saturday, October 6, 2012

Number 6


When you discuss social, policy, and economic issue can you speak coherently to the issue at hand, do you balance what you know with what you don't and are learning, or is your immediate reaction to speak to which political party is at fault? If the latter, you may very well be:

Tuesday, October 2, 2012

My Eyeballs Hurt

So I'm working on this opinion piece. Research included going through the last two years of Esquire's and GQ's printed magazines. Being the all too curious and absorbed guy I am, I ended up trying to browse through every issue of Esquire since 1975 (they have them at the library). I only have 2009 and 2010 left.

Of course this means I have to do the same for GQ for balance. But I'm learning a lot. I think, in the very least, this piece will turn out to be interesting and grounded in some sense of what is, rather than wishful thinking. At least that's the hope.

That Guy

Some people work so hard to be overheard. The dude whose cell phone conversation you can hear from the other side of the room. Same with two people having a conversation a few steps away way louder than they have to. Everyone knows you want attention. It's the easiest way to prove you probably aren't worth listening to in the first place. Just start with hello. They're far more likely to listen.

Monday, October 1, 2012

Miles 2

Oh man, this is like adultery for the ears.

Miles

I stand corrected. Everyone who insisted on Miles Davis and John Coltrane knew what they were talking about.

I am not a jazz fan. But I like their music for more reasons I can feel - no, experience - than explain. And whenever I get that kind of feeling, I know I am listening to something special.

Saturday, September 29, 2012

See and Summate

Social Media: Twitter is high maintenance. Facebook really isn't that private, and is addictive enough to trade the internet for your life. Old school blogs run at just my pace.

Friday, September 28, 2012

36th Amendment

Say you're the only person at a 20-stool horseshoe-style bar. Uno. Solo. Dolo. Another guy walks towards the bar, skips the first 18 stools and sits down next to you. It's like watching a man walk past eight empty urinals to stand next to the guy at number 10. There's an unwritten rule for that somewhere. Maybe the guy thought I owed him money.

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

Kendra


  Feeling Kendra Morris.

Friday, September 21, 2012

Add Them To The Playlist

From The Rake playlist:
"Home" - LCD Soundsystem

"Spooky" - Dusty Springfield

"How You Like Me Now" - The Heavy

"Beach in Hawaii" - Ziggy Marley

Still Stands

Things I believed when I wrote these posts that still stand now:


Stuff is low on my list of priorities. So is other people's business.

Context matters.
 
Comfy bars are great for reading.

Subtleties are telling, manipulative, admirable, and seductive all at the same time.

Unplanned exposure to the unfamiliar gives me odd comfort.

Thursday, September 20, 2012

I Don't Use Social Networks

I could list all the reasons. But bottom line, just e-mail me. Or if you have my phone number call. This message is really for those that Google me and don't have my personal info, but try to reach out.  Nokware.knight@gmail.com if you want to reach me.

I tend to close my Facebook page for months at a time, so it's not worth trying to find me there. My LinkedIn account is up, but I don't use it at all. Will shut it down soon enough. I'm hoping that, eventually, a random Google search will lead you here.

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Sometimes, Honest Is Easier

This culture fosters such a temptation to speak in absolutes and dualities, right now, about things we in no way can be certain about. I get the need for presentation. Really do. On the flip side, you have to respect your audience enough to know that they have enough common sense (and access to Google) to tell the difference.

Monday, September 17, 2012

Champion Sun

Good morning, Life.
Every day I
Wake up to the
Champion Sound.

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Lira Sings

 
Lira, home grown. At National Geographic.

Random Reflections


Ehhh.... Just because.

Reading: The bookstore has become a day center for suburbanites who live in cars. This recession is still very real. 

Music: Tried out Giant Steps. It's my introduction to what all these musicians call "real" jazz. Coltrane's music feels different than I expected. It's like wearing a tailored suit, casually, just because you want to, for the very first time; my new blue jeans. I expected the experience to feel awkward and pretentious. I expected to feel like I was trying too hard to look grown up. Instead, it just feels comfortable. Like I've matured enough to be ready. I don't think I would have appreciated this as a teenager.

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

Because I Need to

Re-realizing the need to write for no reason.