Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
MY FATHER BLEEDS HISTORY
History, or at least historical consciousness,is a terrible gravity. My mind reaches back and sees this thing, this weight called capital H History. Thousands of events, millions of lives. That one crossing of the Rubicon we call important. The founding of countries. The Holocaust and the Trail of Tears. And I hit a blank. I can't really conceive of these. I suffocate under it all.
The millions of things happening right now and the paths we've all taken.
How can I possibly imagine what is what like to be a Tutsi in 1994 Rwanada, to be butchered by my neighbours? How can anyone who was even there truly appreciate the scope of it? I try think of mass graves and 800,000 dead people but I just can't. It's too much, my brain shuts down. The complexity of the lives in front of me is already dizzying enough. Grafting that reality onto everyone? To function in the day to day is to ignore the true implications of our shared experiences.
I can't come to terms with our species. I can't grapple with our history, and I can't stand up to our pasts.
The millions of things happening right now and the paths we've all taken.
How can I possibly imagine what is what like to be a Tutsi in 1994 Rwanada, to be butchered by my neighbours? How can anyone who was even there truly appreciate the scope of it? I try think of mass graves and 800,000 dead people but I just can't. It's too much, my brain shuts down. The complexity of the lives in front of me is already dizzying enough. Grafting that reality onto everyone? To function in the day to day is to ignore the true implications of our shared experiences.
I can't come to terms with our species. I can't grapple with our history, and I can't stand up to our pasts.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
titles are for chumps
This. Go watch this.
It's a movie called The King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters. It's about Steve Wiebe's quest to set the world record for the highest score in the original 1981 Donkey Kong game and his rival, Billy Mitchell's attempts to keep his score on top. It's also about the culture of competitive retro gaming.
The best thing about this movie is Billy Mitchell, the then current record holder. He's ridiculous, and so arrogant. His USA ties are also great.
Secondly, though, is how good these people are. They develop intense strategies and techniques to boost their score, all under the watchful eye of Twin Galaxies, the referee organization of this world. We talk about excellence all the time in the martial arts. Well here's a handful of people who are the absolute best in the world at what they do. They devote countless hours to it, shaping their lives around this passion.
And there is absolutely not practical value to this skill.
That's what makes me respect these two guys all the more. They're playing Donkey Kong because they want to. They're amazing at it because they decided to be. Mario is the original ubermensch.
It's a movie called The King of Kong: a Fistful of Quarters. It's about Steve Wiebe's quest to set the world record for the highest score in the original 1981 Donkey Kong game and his rival, Billy Mitchell's attempts to keep his score on top. It's also about the culture of competitive retro gaming.
The best thing about this movie is Billy Mitchell, the then current record holder. He's ridiculous, and so arrogant. His USA ties are also great.
Secondly, though, is how good these people are. They develop intense strategies and techniques to boost their score, all under the watchful eye of Twin Galaxies, the referee organization of this world. We talk about excellence all the time in the martial arts. Well here's a handful of people who are the absolute best in the world at what they do. They devote countless hours to it, shaping their lives around this passion.
And there is absolutely not practical value to this skill.
That's what makes me respect these two guys all the more. They're playing Donkey Kong because they want to. They're amazing at it because they decided to be. Mario is the original ubermensch.
Sunday, July 25, 2010
nearly made it the whole way
Missed last week, sorry!
So this will be the first year since about 2002 that I'm missing out on the annual kwoon maintenance. I'm disappointed for two reasons. Firstly, this year involves smashing things. I enjoy that.
Secondly is the sense of ownership I get out of helping out. When I'm actually shaping the place I train in it's a nice reminder of the work I've put into it that doesn't show. I've long since realized, especially after moving away, that a school adds a tremendous amount to my training, and silent river especially gives kung fu a home. So I'll miss that reminder this year, but I'll be thinking about what else I'm missing too.
That being said, I hate painting.
So this will be the first year since about 2002 that I'm missing out on the annual kwoon maintenance. I'm disappointed for two reasons. Firstly, this year involves smashing things. I enjoy that.
Secondly is the sense of ownership I get out of helping out. When I'm actually shaping the place I train in it's a nice reminder of the work I've put into it that doesn't show. I've long since realized, especially after moving away, that a school adds a tremendous amount to my training, and silent river especially gives kung fu a home. So I'll miss that reminder this year, but I'll be thinking about what else I'm missing too.
That being said, I hate painting.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
this is not the future
So I like terrible things. Especially on the rare occasions I watch tv, it's Jersey Shore or American Gladiators.
I want to describe it as applied nihilism: staring head on into the headlights. This culture is a truck barreling down on me, so I get a giddy thrill seeing how bad it truly is.
Have you seen Snooki from the Jersey Shore? Seen what kind of person she is, or is at least portrayed to be? And how about the guy who has a nickname for himself and his abs (weirdly, it's the same one: 'the situation'). These are ideals I'm up against, a sort of half cocked vomit of the celebrity industry. Thousands of dollars spent on a dress or a hat to be worn once.
PEOPLE LIKE THIS EXIST, AND THEY ARE ALL AROUND YOU.
I want to describe it as applied nihilism: staring head on into the headlights. This culture is a truck barreling down on me, so I get a giddy thrill seeing how bad it truly is.
Have you seen Snooki from the Jersey Shore? Seen what kind of person she is, or is at least portrayed to be? And how about the guy who has a nickname for himself and his abs (weirdly, it's the same one: 'the situation'). These are ideals I'm up against, a sort of half cocked vomit of the celebrity industry. Thousands of dollars spent on a dress or a hat to be worn once.
PEOPLE LIKE THIS EXIST, AND THEY ARE ALL AROUND YOU.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
internet failures
oh man, i have nothing to talk about this week.
sled island this week. hello calgary.
then hello edmonton. yup!
sled island this week. hello calgary.
then hello edmonton. yup!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
regrettable cooking with graham robertson
Some of the worst decisions are made in broad daylight, simply because you know other people are up to something better.
Take the contents of your fridge. In this case:
half a can of refried beans
some veggie hot dogs
salsa
crackers
Cut up the hot dogs and add them to the beans. Add a little bit too much salsa. Microwave. Garnish with broken up crackers whilst coming the grips with the kind of person you now are.
Take the contents of your fridge. In this case:
half a can of refried beans
some veggie hot dogs
salsa
crackers
Cut up the hot dogs and add them to the beans. Add a little bit too much salsa. Microwave. Garnish with broken up crackers whilst coming the grips with the kind of person you now are.
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