A Brief Reflection on Narrative

          Last week a gaming culture and media site did something every agency dreads. It broke narrative. I will not go into the specifics of the event, but I will use it as a way to jump into this commentary. Narrative is the story that news agencies want to tell you, or make you believe. Different news agencies have different narratives depending on which politician their sponsors have bought. Both left, and right wing news agencies do this. The events they choose to report on and filtered down to only those that fit their narrative, then they use dishonest rhetoric to sell it even further. The result being that unless you diversify your media intake between stations representing multiple interests, foreign and domestic, you're only being feed one sided propaganda. 

          Of course, nothing really matters. Huff Po, Fox, and MSNBC are the worst. None of us owes anyone else anything, and we all have to die someday. - Cheers

Read And Run

          Something that is always odd is how the intelligentsia drum up critical reading. Often times, to instruct younger minds on what specific subtext means they will use classic literary works from authors such as Salinger. If Salinger knew about this he would strangle every last one of them. A while ago he wrote a letter of praise to "anybody who reads and runs." He like so many other creators holds the belief that art is entirely subjective. The artist will create a work out of a particular expression or reflection, but the audience will see what speaks to them.
          Teaching children how to read subtext is the same as to teach them what to think. If a writer wants you to think on something specific, it is overtly present. An example is Salinger's Catcher in The Rye. The work has been examined, dissected, and molested in English classes throughout the nation, but only two main points were highlighted for discussion. Firstly, the theme of the book, the confusion, self-realization, and insecurity that comes with growing up slowly overpowering the innocence of childhood. Second, but perhaps most important, the popular people, intelligentsia, and vox populi are more often than not phony. This includes teachers of universal thematic extraction. - Cheers, and if I ever want you to discuss a theme in a work, it's in bold.

Why Changing Your Profile Picture Is Important

          On Friday, the 13th, something horrible happened. Evil men decided to do something that no decent person could even conceive. I, like most people, learned about the events in Paris through social media. The following morning a good number of friends and members of my network had changed their profile pictures to the French Flag to show solidarity; however, just as many were posting about how changing your picture isn't helpful.
          These people have never experienced calamity. These people probably aren't donating to the Friends of Fondation De France. Most of them are just trying to prove how deep, and thoughtful they are by actively campaigning against spreading awareness of the victim's plight.
          The purpose of changing your profile picture is not in itself to raise funds. It's to let others know that something is happening. When a person checks their feed when they wake up in the morning and sees a multitude of French Flags, they ask questions. They might have the funds to donate that some college student, who had changed their profile picture, does not.
          The flags also serve, more importantly, to show solidarity. Donations to organizations are great, yes, but they support only a minority of victims and those affected. Many families lost sons, daughters, mothers, and fathers that day, but they still have a house, food, and, to a non-profit, will be seen as without need. What they do need is support. To know that they are not forgotten, that the world at large cares about their loss. That is what the picture means, that you care.

          If you do want to offer donations to organizations helping those directly affected by the attack, you can do so here: Friends Of Fondation De France, Inc. - Cheers, and be safe.

A Writer's Thoughts on The Mondays

Something that I've noticed in this year of 2015 is a sudden acceptance of Monday by several influential people. Say what you will about the Illuminati, but when people aren't content with the status quo they try their darnedist. Personally, as a writer, Mondays don't matter. They have always not mattered. I'm sorry Monday, I'm not trying to be rude.

Writing is an interesting profession, since you can do it everyday. I usually do a lot of writing on Sunday, because I'm bored, and go skateboarding on Monday. Not dreading any day of the week is pretty awesome. I can just flow from thing to the next, but then again I also loose track of the days, months, years, millennia etc. Spreading out work across several days is super helpful when it comes to stress, in general, so do that.

If some of you still hate the idea of Monday, here is a tip: don't. Also stop procrastinating, clean your house on the weekend, and yes the milk is spoiled, so get some more on Saturday. - Cheers

The Pain of Dyed Hair In Florida

          This one isn't going to be related to writing, but rather a journal of a personal struggle. I am one of those individuals who keeps my hair new and exciting colors. Right now, my hair is gradient of blue, so that's fun. This does come with a multitude of complications. For about the next week, until all the excess rinses out, the tub of my shower will look as if I had been committing ritual sacrifice of Smurfs.
          Another problem comes from my place of residence itself, Florida. Which is always hot, and is most accurately described as sweaty. I do not have my beloved Ford with me so I walk, or ride my skateboard to get around. This process leads to voluminous amounts of sweat. This little beads of despair like to carry dye that still sits on my scalp and transport them all over the freaking place. By the time i get to where I am going I have runoff in my ears, nose, eyes, and covering my face. I look like I was at the center of a blueberry themed frat house hazing, in that teal vomit is commonplace and it gets everywhere. Don't ask.