"My name is Jimmy Burns. I'm a liar, a fake, and a fraud."
That had to be the most powerful statement I read from Shooting War. When I hear someone make an accusation like they lie, are fake, & are a fraud, it makes me not trust their word... So reading the entire graphic novel had me second guess how much was fact & how much was fiction from his end. It reminded me of the adventures of Tom Sawyer & Huckleberry Finn. Huck is an alright kid, but changes his demeanor while around Tom. Sawyer is a bit of a hellraiser. The two, however, lie to their aunt Polly, which says something because they would never lie to her because of how much they love her. So with that being said, if they lied to their family, what makes you believe they won't lie to us, the reader, who they barely know?
Having someone muster up a bold statement makes you wonder is that statement even true? If they are a liar, fake, & fraud, wouldn't they be honest about their dishonesty[all of which makes NO sense]? It is very philisophical & way too annoying to try & comprehend. It just reminds me of Tony Montana saying, "I always tell the truth. Even when I lie," as well as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, "Me? I'm dishonest, and a dishonest man you can always trust to be dishonest. Honestly." All contradicting statements, but well worth looking into because they're awesome movies.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciF2CYn36gA-- Scarface Trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCLN6STYx5M-- PotC Trailer
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
*Insert clever title here*
"Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player that struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more: it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing" Shakespeare, MacBeth [Act V, Sc. V]
Ive been reading some of Billy boy's work as of late because of boredom. This is one of my favorite quotes of his throughout all of his plays & sonnets. When I read it again, it reminded me of the statement Swoff said towards the end of his memior. Im going to paraphrase, but it was something like, "If you weren't in a war, you have no right to talk. This is my time to speak & you're going to listen"[When I have the book on me, I'll get the exact quotation. Promise ^_^] It is a very rough translation, but it got me to thinking; does Swoff's statement mirror Shakespeare?
Is being a soldier basically that? Where you go on 'stage' for a little bit, do your scene then leave? All these warriors go out & fight, yet, the only time they are remembered are if they died or did something climatic... Anthony Swofford is that idiot telling his tale, which is more than filled with sound & fury, despite the fact he never really did anything. In the end, though, what did his memior do? Nothing. It was basically his way of complaining & us listening to it. He forced his way onto another stage & had his hour.
Ive been reading some of Billy boy's work as of late because of boredom. This is one of my favorite quotes of his throughout all of his plays & sonnets. When I read it again, it reminded me of the statement Swoff said towards the end of his memior. Im going to paraphrase, but it was something like, "If you weren't in a war, you have no right to talk. This is my time to speak & you're going to listen"[When I have the book on me, I'll get the exact quotation. Promise ^_^] It is a very rough translation, but it got me to thinking; does Swoff's statement mirror Shakespeare?
Is being a soldier basically that? Where you go on 'stage' for a little bit, do your scene then leave? All these warriors go out & fight, yet, the only time they are remembered are if they died or did something climatic... Anthony Swofford is that idiot telling his tale, which is more than filled with sound & fury, despite the fact he never really did anything. In the end, though, what did his memior do? Nothing. It was basically his way of complaining & us listening to it. He forced his way onto another stage & had his hour.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Jarhead part Deux
"Some shooters might liken the trigger to a clitoris, and the well-placed shot to the female's orgasm, but in STA 2/7 we refrain from anthropomorphizing out weapons. To do so would introduce a human element into an entirely mechanical relationship. To do so might humanize our enemy, a certainly fatal mistake. Trigger pull is trigger pull. Period." [Swofford, pg. 134]
This touched me to a large degree. For one, the sexual references & the choice of words. Every time they fire a weapon & hit their mark, it is rubbing a clit & causing a climax. But, to Swoff, he doesn't do that because it turns them human, so he says at the end of that paragraph "period." Typically when a female is on her menstral cycle, her 'period', the sex comes to a standstill [unless you wanna earn your redwings, but that is a different tale for a different date]. Swoff basically stops all of it with his 'period.'
Another thing that got to me was that dehumanization thing. Say every man who ever went to war went back to their homes... They would never be the same. If they had to be broken down to turn into that "killing machine" that means that they would have to go through ANOTHER bootcamp to turn back into who they are. They are broken down to such an extreme to become these heartless monsters but sent back into society with the same mentality. It kinda sickens me to think how freedom is never free & always comes with a price.
This touched me to a large degree. For one, the sexual references & the choice of words. Every time they fire a weapon & hit their mark, it is rubbing a clit & causing a climax. But, to Swoff, he doesn't do that because it turns them human, so he says at the end of that paragraph "period." Typically when a female is on her menstral cycle, her 'period', the sex comes to a standstill [unless you wanna earn your redwings, but that is a different tale for a different date]. Swoff basically stops all of it with his 'period.'
Another thing that got to me was that dehumanization thing. Say every man who ever went to war went back to their homes... They would never be the same. If they had to be broken down to turn into that "killing machine" that means that they would have to go through ANOTHER bootcamp to turn back into who they are. They are broken down to such an extreme to become these heartless monsters but sent back into society with the same mentality. It kinda sickens me to think how freedom is never free & always comes with a price.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Long Road to Ruin
"If I ever find out one of you goes and kills yourself over pussy, I'll chase you down into hell and kill your ignorant ass a second time." [Swofford, pg. 69]
I was rereading some pages & I find it rather disturbing how they take mortality on such a light note. Swoff mentions several reasons why some men may kill themselves while in the Corps. I personally have had my ups & downs with the opposite sex, but to kill myself? That seems a bit harsh. The manner in which they mention suicide or maybe even euthenasia [if one of the Marines helped] is just so lax.
The fact that the thought of death is just so easily tossed over one's shoulder is really upsetting at least in my opinion. I had my moments earlier in life when I felt like it would be easier dead than alive, but the reactions behind it weren't like theirs. "... And you want to kill yourself? I need to go for a run. You coming?" [Swofford, pg. 71] I never saw anyone toss away a life so simply & just verify his action by going for a jog. I question whether the war has hindered their feelings or if they think being casual like that would lighten the already dark mood. To me, I think different situations make you have different responses. If Swoff was in America without any military training, I could easily see him like his sister in "Serendipity" over an action like that. But does the influence of war & violence overrule something of that magnitude? Is it easier to laugh it off or work out than acknowledge a problem?
I was rereading some pages & I find it rather disturbing how they take mortality on such a light note. Swoff mentions several reasons why some men may kill themselves while in the Corps. I personally have had my ups & downs with the opposite sex, but to kill myself? That seems a bit harsh. The manner in which they mention suicide or maybe even euthenasia [if one of the Marines helped] is just so lax.
The fact that the thought of death is just so easily tossed over one's shoulder is really upsetting at least in my opinion. I had my moments earlier in life when I felt like it would be easier dead than alive, but the reactions behind it weren't like theirs. "... And you want to kill yourself? I need to go for a run. You coming?" [Swofford, pg. 71] I never saw anyone toss away a life so simply & just verify his action by going for a jog. I question whether the war has hindered their feelings or if they think being casual like that would lighten the already dark mood. To me, I think different situations make you have different responses. If Swoff was in America without any military training, I could easily see him like his sister in "Serendipity" over an action like that. But does the influence of war & violence overrule something of that magnitude? Is it easier to laugh it off or work out than acknowledge a problem?
Saturday, September 20, 2008
House Parties=War?
On friday, September 19th, one of the sickest parties occurred & it was all due to poor planning & over inviting people. While it was going on & I was watching what was going on around me, I oddly enough did think of Jarhead [which is kind of odd.. Usually my weekends, or at least the start of them, do not consist of me thinking of school =P].
I was in the midst of people, all bumping & pushing into one another, & it was like guerrilla warfare. Makeshift groups of individuals would pop out of no where & hit you accidentally because they were grinding too hard or they were just too drunk & fell over their own feet. I know Swoff & the STA were scout/snipers, but I could imagine them looking through their scopes at this mayhem thinking "Shit, we have to kill some of these bastards to save our own."
Then whenever people werent attacking you while dancing, there were random people making out & trying to do something horrible. It just reminded me of how all those guys were sleeping with whores & stuff, knowing full well they had girls at home. It made me wonder does a change of scenary merit doing what they do? Like, just because they went off to war, does that give them the right to screw around & hurt their significant others like that? You're at a party with a few beers, does that make it alright to randomly do what you're doing?
Then lastly we did our Heidi, a fun ol' chant of sorts that always caps the night. How everyone acted while doing it made me instantly think of the field fuck. Heidi is meant to be for fun & the field fuck kinda is, too, but deep down it has much more provocative meaning to it... Ours is just for shits & giggles.
All & all, was a Hell of a time. I'd do it again, even if I did think about Jarhead while going there.
I was in the midst of people, all bumping & pushing into one another, & it was like guerrilla warfare. Makeshift groups of individuals would pop out of no where & hit you accidentally because they were grinding too hard or they were just too drunk & fell over their own feet. I know Swoff & the STA were scout/snipers, but I could imagine them looking through their scopes at this mayhem thinking "Shit, we have to kill some of these bastards to save our own."
Then whenever people werent attacking you while dancing, there were random people making out & trying to do something horrible. It just reminded me of how all those guys were sleeping with whores & stuff, knowing full well they had girls at home. It made me wonder does a change of scenary merit doing what they do? Like, just because they went off to war, does that give them the right to screw around & hurt their significant others like that? You're at a party with a few beers, does that make it alright to randomly do what you're doing?
Then lastly we did our Heidi, a fun ol' chant of sorts that always caps the night. How everyone acted while doing it made me instantly think of the field fuck. Heidi is meant to be for fun & the field fuck kinda is, too, but deep down it has much more provocative meaning to it... Ours is just for shits & giggles.
All & all, was a Hell of a time. I'd do it again, even if I did think about Jarhead while going there.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Jarhead
The fun of reading this novel, or at least up to page 150, was how this was supposed to be almost supportive of the war but has so many negative aspects that make you look down on it. Like on page 33, the first paragraph reads "Like most good and great marines, I hated the Corps. I hated being a marine because more than all of the things in the world I wanted to be-- smart, famous, sexy, oversexed, drunk, fucked, high, alone, famous, smart, known, understood, loved, forgiven, oversexed, drunk, high, smart, sexy-- more than all of those things, I was a marine. A jarhead. A grunt."
Living in everyday life now, we see commercials for the Marine Corp. & they hype it up to such an extreme that you truly want to sign your life away. As we see Swofford "field fuck" I believe Keuhn, he comments how he's hitting him from behind for signing his life away & multiple other somewhat horrific things. Why do they glamourize joining the Army & other groups of protection when they know it's all falsified? Why do we, the people, believe it to be what they say? Are we that naive of a people to trust everything at face value when people tell us it? It's really upsetting how we are so easily lured into things just by how someone can manipulate words or situations into their own favor.
Living in everyday life now, we see commercials for the Marine Corp. & they hype it up to such an extreme that you truly want to sign your life away. As we see Swofford "field fuck" I believe Keuhn, he comments how he's hitting him from behind for signing his life away & multiple other somewhat horrific things. Why do they glamourize joining the Army & other groups of protection when they know it's all falsified? Why do we, the people, believe it to be what they say? Are we that naive of a people to trust everything at face value when people tell us it? It's really upsetting how we are so easily lured into things just by how someone can manipulate words or situations into their own favor.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Two Guys, a Girl, & O'Keefes
Today had to be either a very sucky day or a very bad ass one. It started off slow due to sleep deprivation & getting up early for class. I survived my three classes, despite the fact two of the three were kind of fun because they were literature oriented. Then once I was free, I ended up playing football with the brothers. Mind you, having to get second pick when you know the good players are being taken is the lamest thing out there. I was Brett Farve but instead of now being on the Jets, I was bought by the Miami Dolphins... My God did my team mates suck. I tell them to run plays & they'd scramble like chickens without heads. After losing a miserable 3-0 defeat, we got pooped & then headed back to the school to work out. As I got my swell on, I knew that the rest of this day could only get better.
After finding my regime, I headed over to O'Keefes [I know.. Working out then going to a bar is retarded, but I did not drink. I was chilling with friends.] I met up with my homeslices & we just talked until everyone had to bounce for reasons unknown. In the end, Im left with this really hot Irish chick. We're talking one on one getting to know one another & I just call her out on everything, basically being a dick, but a sweet prick to get her all fiesty. After she & I split a beer, I challenged her to a dance off because I get competetive with anyone who is spunky like her. We ended up having a rather sick makeshift date until my friends came back & watched us for like, 20 minutes straight.
Cockblocks.
As Officer Michaels said to Officer Slater in Superbad, "You must guide McLovin's cock, not block it." They obviously didnt see that part of the film...
After finding my regime, I headed over to O'Keefes [I know.. Working out then going to a bar is retarded, but I did not drink. I was chilling with friends.] I met up with my homeslices & we just talked until everyone had to bounce for reasons unknown. In the end, Im left with this really hot Irish chick. We're talking one on one getting to know one another & I just call her out on everything, basically being a dick, but a sweet prick to get her all fiesty. After she & I split a beer, I challenged her to a dance off because I get competetive with anyone who is spunky like her. We ended up having a rather sick makeshift date until my friends came back & watched us for like, 20 minutes straight.
Cockblocks.
As Officer Michaels said to Officer Slater in Superbad, "You must guide McLovin's cock, not block it." They obviously didnt see that part of the film...
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Make Out Club
The saying is true, you know. Life is definitely a bitch because if it was easy, it'd be a slut. I was listening to Tickle Me Pink's "Typical," (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPvoAvmPNMw) & then randomly got contacted by TWO exes & a third was mentioned in conversation. I try to forget them, but constant reminders are a pain in the funbag, hence why it's a bitch =P. It's bad enough my obsession with music constantly has them in my head.
A little FYI for my fans out there reading, any girl I ever felt was somehow special in my life got a song dedicated to them [Hoot was "Lady So Divine" by Shinedown because I truly thought she was 'divine' *gags a little*(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzz1-xQu_g0). Red has "How to Save a Life" by The Fray due to the fact that in the song, he sings 'Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend," something she said she had never done; lose a friend. She tossed me to the corner the second she found someone else who paid MORE attention to her. Skank. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmFi2snLr7o). Caro has "Brown Skin Girl" by Carlos Santana because she was, in fact, my brown skin girl =P (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX39Mg3aAqs). T had "Girl All the Bad Guys Want" by Bowling for Soup because she always had poor taste in guys including me, unfortunately (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LjOrfa2dDQ). Lastly, we had Panic. She was given "Thunder" by Boys Like Girls because she was the soundtrack of my summer *vomits at the lame truth behind that* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXuxRWXisUQ)]
But back on target! I had alittle big tangent for a moment ^_^a. Why is it that when life is on the ups, someone has to bring it down? I try to forget them so they can forget me because it's just easier that way. Living in the past makes you sometimes miss out on the present as well as the future, so I choose to step out of their lives. Why do they insist on coming back to torment me? Ugh... Homer Simpson once stated that, "Alcohol-- The problem AND solution to all of life's little ailments." Shit. I totally believe women are.
Why cant I find a normal chick?
Oxymoronic, eh? Normal & chick in the same sentence... Im so odd.
A little FYI for my fans out there reading, any girl I ever felt was somehow special in my life got a song dedicated to them [Hoot was "Lady So Divine" by Shinedown because I truly thought she was 'divine' *gags a little*(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zzz1-xQu_g0). Red has "How to Save a Life" by The Fray due to the fact that in the song, he sings 'Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend," something she said she had never done; lose a friend. She tossed me to the corner the second she found someone else who paid MORE attention to her. Skank. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmFi2snLr7o). Caro has "Brown Skin Girl" by Carlos Santana because she was, in fact, my brown skin girl =P (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SX39Mg3aAqs). T had "Girl All the Bad Guys Want" by Bowling for Soup because she always had poor taste in guys including me, unfortunately (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LjOrfa2dDQ). Lastly, we had Panic. She was given "Thunder" by Boys Like Girls because she was the soundtrack of my summer *vomits at the lame truth behind that* (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXuxRWXisUQ)]
But back on target! I had a
Why cant I find a normal chick?
Oxymoronic, eh? Normal & chick in the same sentence... Im so odd.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Mercy Seat
This was an interesting read if I must say. For the first couple of pages we just see what seems like a silly fight between a couple evolve & unravel into something much deeper. One thing I like, however, is how the roles almost keep switching. Each novel always has a protagonist, the good guy, or the antagonist, the bad guy. In this, you can't really say that there is 'a good guy' or 'a bad' because Ben & Abby give each other equal pull & pushes which I actually like. It adds a new spin to reading when you don't know who to root for. Typically you want the hero to win, but in this, you could say they're both villians for the decisions they are making. Ben is banging his boss & Abby is letting it all happen, throwing the notion of professionalism out the window. Not only is he screwing around, but due to 9/11, he has a ticket to flee to a brand new life & FORGET about his original family. I personally think it is an amazing concept to a story & interesting to see how people find treasure in trash; turn feces to fertilizer.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Junior Year: The Time of Reform!
I like to think Im a rather odd panda. I always try to be different on an almost everyday basis. I like to think creativity is an amazing way to express oneself. Copying someone else, although supposedly the "highest form of flattery," is just a slap in one's own face. It shows you have little to no brain cells to think up something on your own merit & just follow the crowd. My way of showing my uniqueness & eccentric personality this year is to get into shape.
Freshman year my goal was to be known. High school was a waste of time because I was too damn quiet & wished to be heard. I didn't want to be that face in the class again that everyone whispered about that he was going to Columbine. I like to think I'm fairly known around SFC. Everywhere I walk at least one or two people know who I am so it's a rewarding feeling to know I've come out of my awkward shell & have people to converse with.
Sophmore year was to more or less tone down my 'bad habits'. My vices, or at least a few of them, consisted of being fairly slutty, overdrinking, & smoking cigarettes. I was quite vulgar if you will when saying stuff to the opposite sex. It's a natural reflex of mine to find the filthiness in any statement. I am the guy who usually made the comment "That's what she said" after anything remotely dirty sounding. I improved upon that by a lot of concentration & a crapload of will power. That was one of the tougher aspects of my reformation.. As for drinking & smoking, it was one of those things I limited via cash. I'd only bring enough for one or the other, not both. If I went to the bar, it'd be ten to enter, & another fifteen for either drinks or a pack. This way, I'm partially saving one vital organ while killing another.
This year I thought I'd improve my body in more ways than one. Since I'm working on my piercing license, [which means waiting for my cousin to call me about how much it costs for the class & where it is] I plan on modding myself up a bit further. I'm taking a bit of a break on the tattoos because, lets be serious.. I kinda have no room left right now =/. After I successfully pierced & gauged my earlobes, I got an ecstatic high off of that & knew I could take on the world. Once I get my needle set, I'm probably giving myself a lip ring [for the third time] & maybe a septum if I'm feeling risky. That seems to be the negative aspect of the "improved body." I also am working out so the flab can turn to fab *gags on his own lameness*. But, on a serious note, it feels good to try to get in shape. Once I get all jacked, I might have to do my rounds & show all the chicks who blew me off for being more loveable than most what they missed out on.
As for a link, I can give you one of someone piercing their own lip. Dont try this at home, kids. Dont be stupid like these people... or myself for that matter. I at least know to sterilize my needles as well as wear gloves & NOT do it in a damned open field.. Retards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtDK8uO4xQw
Freshman year my goal was to be known. High school was a waste of time because I was too damn quiet & wished to be heard. I didn't want to be that face in the class again that everyone whispered about that he was going to Columbine. I like to think I'm fairly known around SFC. Everywhere I walk at least one or two people know who I am so it's a rewarding feeling to know I've come out of my awkward shell & have people to converse with.
Sophmore year was to more or less tone down my 'bad habits'. My vices, or at least a few of them, consisted of being fairly slutty, overdrinking, & smoking cigarettes. I was quite vulgar if you will when saying stuff to the opposite sex. It's a natural reflex of mine to find the filthiness in any statement. I am the guy who usually made the comment "That's what she said" after anything remotely dirty sounding. I improved upon that by a lot of concentration & a crapload of will power. That was one of the tougher aspects of my reformation.. As for drinking & smoking, it was one of those things I limited via cash. I'd only bring enough for one or the other, not both. If I went to the bar, it'd be ten to enter, & another fifteen for either drinks or a pack. This way, I'm partially saving one vital organ while killing another.
This year I thought I'd improve my body in more ways than one. Since I'm working on my piercing license, [which means waiting for my cousin to call me about how much it costs for the class & where it is] I plan on modding myself up a bit further. I'm taking a bit of a break on the tattoos because, lets be serious.. I kinda have no room left right now =/. After I successfully pierced & gauged my earlobes, I got an ecstatic high off of that & knew I could take on the world. Once I get my needle set, I'm probably giving myself a lip ring [for the third time] & maybe a septum if I'm feeling risky. That seems to be the negative aspect of the "improved body." I also am working out so the flab can turn to fab *gags on his own lameness*. But, on a serious note, it feels good to try to get in shape. Once I get all jacked, I might have to do my rounds & show all the chicks who blew me off for being more loveable than most what they missed out on.
As for a link, I can give you one of someone piercing their own lip. Dont try this at home, kids. Dont be stupid like these people... or myself for that matter. I at least know to sterilize my needles as well as wear gloves & NOT do it in a damned open field.. Retards
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtDK8uO4xQw
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Starting off the School Year
When entering St. Francis on Terrier Tuesday, it is quite possibly one of the most painful experiences for a freshman. I think back on it now & it reminds me of a scene from the good ol' days of immigration. You basically get off of the boat [which, in this case since it's a commuter college, your train] & get shuffled into a very compact area which smells because some children still do not believe in the wonderful creation of soap & deodorant. We are jammed together, all strangers to this new world, trying to start off fresh. We try our hardest to get our paperwork to be a real citizen [in this instance would be that wonderous ID card we all look like crap in] so we can all possibly leave & begin our life anew. Alas, that is not how it happens. We have to hear trivial things & participate in minute activities before they give us what we need. Then lastly the figure head gives us what should be a motivational speech, but ends up basically being the mantra "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed, to me" which all translates to "WELCOME TO ST. FRANCIS COLLEGE, CLASS OF *insert year of -hopeful- graduation*"
Being an upper classman now, I kinda like the cheesy ceramony. It is a day to come together with your friends & get to meet kids you will probably hang out with in the future. Being part of the fraternity, it's our time to recruit & just have a ball. Since being in, I look forward to it more than ever. Hell. I have more enthusiasm than the freshman. I guess that isnt saying much, but I like to think it does. After surviving this one, I can say to date that this was probably the most fun I had at this school outside of last year's Arabian Night's party when there was that crazy fight. I can only hope that many more ahead will be like this year.
Being an upper classman now, I kinda like the cheesy ceramony. It is a day to come together with your friends & get to meet kids you will probably hang out with in the future. Being part of the fraternity, it's our time to recruit & just have a ball. Since being in, I look forward to it more than ever. Hell. I have more enthusiasm than the freshman. I guess that isnt saying much, but I like to think it does. After surviving this one, I can say to date that this was probably the most fun I had at this school outside of last year's Arabian Night's party when there was that crazy fight. I can only hope that many more ahead will be like this year.
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