The truth isn’t always warm and inspiring; however, it is always empowering.  There are fundamental flaws in your thinking and in my thinking.  We perpetuate limitations, false boundaries, and perverted interpretations of reality through artificial social constructs called culture.  You believe something, not because it’s true (and I’ll guarantee you that it is never true), but because it has been programmed into your very DNA through centuries of indoctrination as if we were living some demented scene from The Matrix. 

We can break the ties that bind us and transcend the illusion that the human empire is founded in righteousness, but first we must hear the truth.  and the truth is often expressed best by poets, philosophers and musicians.  With that in mind, I present John Lennon’s “Working Class Hero” for your consideration.  Don’t just listen to this as another tune; rather, let Lennon’s insightful words and cutting instrumentation burn like acid into your soul:

It’s worth hearing another version of this powerful song.  Many gifted artists have attempted to remake a Beatles song and they almost always fail.  Here is an exception:  Green Day creates an amazing version of Lennon’s cultural depiction:

You are being watched.

The dollar is not real currency.  It’s used to monitor your movements by an agency that doesn’t exist!

Invisible cookies cannot be detected by any computer technology that we know.  Their real purpose is related to engrams planted in your neural tissue by messages concealed in television transmissions!

Cartoons provide cover for dangerous clues.  Certain sunglasses can enhance vision to reveal underground sanctuaries!

Payroll forms don’t just record paycheck elections.  Members of a new order are working with your employer and the forms are stored in a remote warehouse until gas station attendants collect them for a diabolical event!

Online blogs posted by lunatics are shielded from investigations.  The truth can be protected in jars containing strawberry jam!

Years ago, they experimented on an obscure writer named Kafka.  The cryptic details are hidden in the pages of his book called The Trial!  Note:  read page 100 with the special sunglasses.

The planned mission to Mars is a subterfuge.  This insidious operation is connected to unusual molecular bonds found in a popular candy bar!  Consumption of this confection should be considered hazardous.

It’s true that Kafka never wore sunglasses.  However, his dangerous visions are associated with a web of secrets, and the blueprints were hidden in the Shadows Of a dugout, during a neighborhood little League game!

On May 25, 1961 President Kennedy challenged our Nation to land on the Moon and safely return before the end of the decade.  Eight years later, on July 20, 1969 we did just that.  The Lunar Module touched down on the Moon as Neil Armstrong spoke the words:  “Tranquility Base Here, The Eagle Has Landed.”  At that breath-taking moment, and as the Columbia Command Module orbited the Moon, the Earth changed. 

America was spell-bound as we waited for the next daring move…from the ladder of the Lunar Landing Module, Neil Armstrong reached human foot toward the unearthly surface of the Moon.  As Armstrong made first contact with a celestial body, his voice reverberated through time:  “That’s One Small Step For A Man, One Giant Leap For Mankind.”

For those of us who witnessed these Epic events unfold, there simply are no words that can express the tranformation that our collective minds experienced.  This is a true heroic tale of astronomical proportions.  The faith in our country and our future, in a single moment, took a quantum leap.  Everything was possible and nothing could stop us.  The Astronauts confirmed in our souls that our potential was unlimited.

What happened?  That was forty years ago.  Yes, there have been vast innovations and technological progess.  But where is the faith and the spirit?  Where are the Heroic Leaders who will push the boundaries of our perceived limitations and take us on the next Epic Journey beyond imagination?  Are they to be found on Capital Hill or Pennsylvannia Avenue?  I know; we can only frown, grimmace or laugh at the thought.  Then I ask:  “what’s up with you and me?”  Why do we settle for mediocrity in this country?  Will the Eagle ever fly again?

Let’s use this moment to reflect and reawaken our unstoppable spirit, and let’s make that collective transformation once again.

Just Imagine…

Recently, Bono of U2, while accepting a Grammy award, said that they are only playing in the country that the Beatles discovered.  Others, to include classical music conductor Leonard Bernstein, have rightly referred to the Beatles as the Forth B of Music. 

So what if the Beatles continued to evolve.  What would they sound like today?  We can be sure that it would be something unexpected and something ground breaking.  I think you will discover the answer in the latest release from “The Fireman.”  This band has created a sound that echos the Beatles with layers of evolution added for good measure.  Here is a song from their album, Electric Arguments, called The Travelling Light:

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Not convinced yet, well then here’s another clue for you all, the walrus was Paul:

Yes, The Fireman is Paul McCartney.  That’s him playing bass and singing all of the vocals.  Of course, he wrote every song on Electric Arguments and naturally he plays every instrument.  This is another brilliant landmark and about as close to The Beatles today as one can imagine.  Many of the other tracks are more experimental with a few great pop moments mixed in.  I highly recommend you give this work of art a spin.

Israel Kamakawiwo’ole (IZ) was such a person.  He left us at the young age of 38 in 1997.  Yet he left behind a rare artistic vision to inspire us to dream again.  His art was his voice and his unique style of Hawaiian folk and jazz. Sometimes IZ would take a simple pop tune, work it with his vocal and ukulele magic, and transform the arrangement into an unforgettable moment. 

IZ Lives!  Watch and Listen closely and you just might perceive the spark of his amazing dream: 

You’ve been taking your time

And you’ve been living on solid air
You’ve been walking the line
And you’ve been living on solid air

Don’t know what’s going ’round inside
And I can tell you that it’s hard to hide
When you’re living on solid air

You’ve been painting the blues
And you’ve been looking through solid air
You’ve been seeing it through
And you’ve been looking through solid air

Don’t know what’s going ’round in your mind
And I can tell you don’t like what you find
When you’re moving through solid air

I know you, I love you
And I can be your friend, I can follow you anywhere
Even through solid air

Ice Blue Solid Air

Nice Blue Solid Air

Have a coffee or tea, sit back, relax and have a listen:

Rest easy, big brother is watching over you.

Then enters Agent Smith. 

Imagine:  He or she can take on any form, but don’t fooled by these evil imbeciles.  They can be spotted just in front of you at the airport’s security line.  They’re the ones riffling through countless bags, apparently looking for the standard accouterments of a common gate crashing peasant, possibly preventing your heroic journey to the aid another distressed client.  You will find them sitting next to you at the crowded gate, alternately blowing snot into a fowl rag and then biting into some nasty smelling goo disguised in a sandwich wrapper.  Now you board the plane.  Every seat is packed, turning your aircraft into the proverbial flying sardine can.  Perhaps half of the plane is occupied with noble warriors.  Another thirty percent or so are the traveling rookies and innocent civilians who mean no harm and try their best – yet they still slow you down and often thwart your best moves while navigating the backroads to Zion.  What you didn’t expect is that sitting next to you on this unholy machine is Agent Smith.  This time he has chosen not to bath in the last year (clever strategy) – a clear dark ninja move aimed at spoiling some rare moments of rest on your righteous quest.  Then he deploys a secret weapon.  It turns out that five potent bean burritos were hidden in the goo of the sandwich wrapper.

The journey is not over.  Having made due hast to escape the onslaught of repeated chemical attacks, you find yourself a nice resting spot at the connecting gate, right in front of the suspended television in order to enjoy a brief, but well-earned, entertaining diversion.  Soon Agent Smiths are everywhere and indeed you are sandwiched between two of them.  With nowhere to escape, you hunker down and prepare for the worst.  Simultaneously, they both draw their wireless weapons and begin to fire piercing, obnoxious conversations, effectively drowning out any hopes of enjoying an amusing interlude.  Hope fades into a seemingly non-ending onslaught of irritating, inane and moronic hyperbole.

Amidst the confusion and meaningless noise, you surreptitiously reach your hand into the trusty SwissGear urban survival bag and flip the switch on a portable, hightech, low drag, multiple frequency, cell phone jammer.  The din stops, you crack a subtle smile as the Agent Smiths spiral into a tirade of frustrating defeat.  Finally a blanket of relative quite envelopes your space and you settle into a glorious ten-minute oasis.

For those of you who are new Road Warriors, supporting civilians, or simply can’t handle the hightech fire power of a portable cell phone jammer, give these a try.  At the least, these will confuse Agent Smith:

shhhcards

Rourke IS going to be one of the favorites for Best Actor for this role. This is one of those once in a lifetime roles where everything comes together for an actor. I was exhausted at the end of watching this movie. You literally feel every hit and fall the character goes through and most of the pain is from his life outside of the ring. Rourke’s relationship with his estranged daughter is also very hard to watch at times.

Marisa Tomei is also good in the movie as the closest thing Rourke has to a love interest. She plays a stripper and is virtually naked a lot throughout, but also has some emotional moments with Rourke.

Rourke has had so much plastic surgery that he looks “off”, but it is perfect for this role. He looks permanently beat up and used up and again, it is perfect for this role.

This movie has already won awards and is really getting a lot of quality good reviews. It feels real. It feels dirty, and it will really make you hurt with the character.

I finished the movie over an hour ago and still feel bad for the character to the point it is almost upsetting.

IMDB link – http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1125849/

Virtually EVERY review says Rourke is not only great, but incredible. This is kind of his comeback movie roll, but really he already had that in Sin City, which he was excellent in also. Even Rotten Tomatoes, which hates most movies, gives The Wrestler an incredible 98% rating, one of the highest I have ever seen on that site.
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_wrestler/

A MUST see.

The facial expressions and changing camera angles are perfectly done. If you have ever seen one of Olbermann’s exhaustive rants then you will love this. Enjoy!