Neil Hester

Smart Words

2009-07-09T11:53:00.004-05:00

Alex Sheremet recently wrote a response to this post which, along with Dan and Jess's response, deserve a place to be read. "The words cheered me, as smart words often do." So sayeth Jess- so be cheered:

~~~

Alex Sheremet:

Neil, I just remembered this e-mail / post (your blog, too, is Banned in Beijing, so I couldn't read it last month) --

You make a comparison w/ video games (I'm a fan, too, but less these days, although Oblivion dominated my sleeping & waking for 2 weeks, in '06, even though I recognized it lacked depth; but, such a pretty drug...), and I've often made a comparison to music, especially rap. My thinking was, why can't people agree on precise artistic standards, then follow them? Every book review I've read mentioned so many different elements ("humanity," "compassion," etc.) that, both then and now, seemed not only non-quantifiable, but irrelevant. To me, it was kinda like arguing over someone's personal aesthetic: should I get a tattoo of a star, or a butterfly? six pack abs, or not? red pants, or blue? That's not in realm of objective standards, merely taste, and should only come up in 1) minor comments, 2) more 'personal' essays, where the author not only touches on a work's artistic merit, but in what way the "compassion,"etc., influenced him, or how it relates to broader, greater things. Merely pointing out "compassion," or whatever, is as silly as emphasizing that a poem is written in blank verse. So what? It must go somewhere.

In rap, however, both in online reviews and face-to-face conversations, no one would have any of that shit. To call a mediocrity like 2Pac "human" or "compassionate" was, besides being a lie, simply embarrassing - you're either good, or you're not; everything else is irrelevant, even though, too often, people worship these artists as icons of some kind of cultural significance beyond art. So, why couldn't people apply the same thinking to art in general, and come away with a precise way to discuss writing?

Dan often gets angry at people's "stupidity" about these things, but I don't think it's stupidity, nor is it malice - it's usually ignorance, although though I'm sure at least a few writers recognize they have no talent. Also, it partly depends on your environment, too. When I was 16, I really had no one around me to discuss literature, etc., with - I was some anomaly that accidentally picked up a life-changing book, and began reading then. The fact that I became interested in literature meant I had to do the usual: read the NY Times reviews, online reviews, comments on Amazon, or books by critics, such as Dale Peck's Hatchet Job. As far as I could tell, everyone was discussing the "humanity," or "post-modern ennui," "cultural centers," etc. -- I thought, is this it? Does this mean "higher arts," such as literature, must be discussed in intangibles?

Well, it was hard to think otherwise if people more educated than me were so casual w/ such nonsensical phrases. Back then, I confused education w/ analytical ability, even though my interest in politics and debate allowed me to argue against most of my high school teachers with great ease. The obvious sometimes takes a while to sink in, and only now, after 3 yrs of college, I fully see how ill-equipped most professors are to discuss literature, educated or not. Some things really cannot be taught, at least not directly - you have to figure them out on your own. This builds self-trust and genuine understanding, without any of the posturing that false self-trust comes with. Regardless, it's hard to get over this garbage, even if you mean well - no matter how intelligent you are, you will be surrounded by frauds w/ lots of charisma, who will try to draw you into their nonsense. The question is, are you lucky and/or discriminating enough to find your way out? Even Dan was, at one time, drawn to violence and Paco (of his memoirs), for similar reasons -- he merely got out in time. I see art in a similar way - how many intelligent people are drawn to faux philosophy, faux standards, and artistic muddles, simply because this is the norm, and forever flounder in it? All of their potential is sapped, and if they realize it eventually, it's often too late. And, how many intelligent kids are forced into violence, and never find their way out, so that, later on, adults say: "My God, how -- he was so intelligent! Didn't he know better?" Maybe he did know better, but only by instinct, not in detached, calculated fact. Intelligence is not really the issue here.

It was probably Nabokov's tangible approach to literature that got me questioning all of the above. Problem was, although I got over mainstream criticism, I later realized that Nabokov, too, for all of his education, and for all of his CORRECT steps in the right direction, was incomplete - he was not a great critic, and often not a great writer, because, in many ways, his vision was just as myopic as a pedant's, albeit in less offensive, less flagrant ways. He took the "practical" aspects of writing to such an extreme that he lost all self-control, larding his books w/ pointless, albeit beautiful, details, and refusing to engage in philosophy, as well as any real direction, thus lacking substance, while attacking writers greater than him. (I want to review his autobiography for Cosmoetica, kinda in the 'personal essay' vein, with two parts: his criticism, and artistic view of things, and how it contributes to but mostly detracts from his fiction.) I think this ability to learn from someone like Nabokov is important, and the fact that I can rationally reject this teacher after learning all that's valuable, is indicative of my growth, with no emotional quibbles over what I see is RIGHT.

This is why I recommend Cosmoetica to friends as well as professors - the criticism is level-headed, and, most of all, correct. The poetry is great. You can't really find this elsewhere, and this is easily provable. No idols, no genuflection, merely discussion of what counts. It might get people out of their own muddles, before a potentially great poet becomes a non-entity. So, thanks, Dan.

And Neil, English classes suck in college. It's good I have a second major, or else I would have lost my mind.

Alex.

~~~~~

Dan Schneider:

I was just consoling Jess the other day about people's stupidity. In some senses, ignorance is the better term, but, as when dealing with really messed up people, forget the Latin, saying they're fucked up covers it.

I mentioned to Jess the fable (some claim Aesop, others not) of the scorpion and the frog, and how, after conning the frog into taking him across a river (after the frog's claim that the scorpion would sting him and they'd both die), the scorpion indeed stings the frog and kills them, adding to the dying frog's final despair that he could not help himself, because it's in my nature.

My nature is to abandon the self and get objective about my or others' art. It's the only way to clarity. Some, like Art Durkee on this list (or Oprah, PoMo elitists, PC idiots, or other devotees of gurus) claim this cannot be done, but offer absolutely no proofs.

There's the old claim that if God made the universe who made God? Well, if one answers God always was, then God is obviated because one can say the cosmos always was and avoid the extra step. Similarly, people will argue that since one can never be anyone but oneself, objectivity is impossible. But this is a clear fallacy, because it presumes that objectivity has to be total. It might be true that one can never be objective about things related to oneself, but, since the self is an infinitesimile fleeting thing, that leave quite a bit of the rest of the cosmos that objectivity can be used upon.

And I won't even go into the silliness of the person who argues for subjectivity, thereby obviating their own argument for, if they really believed all was subjective,m they'd have no incentive to put forth the point.

And, yes, my years at the UPG especially showed me that creativity cannot be taught, and very few people are truly creative. It's a thing folk confuse with being 'special and stems from the same inner vacuity- one may be wholly unique to the 100th % (that's genetic reality), but if 99.5% of you is similar to others, you can hardly be called 'special.'

Specialness is the degree to which one differs, and usually in the positive sense.

The worst thing I'd want for any fan or reader of my writings to think is that I want them to ape me. Anyone claiming that is reading into my stuff their own biases and desires for guruship. I want to show people how to think for themselves, and only by using objective measutres can that be done. If one refuses objectivity one is a zombie- a kid with a pink mohawk who thinks he's special.

Think for oneself, and argue one's points- esp. if they are one's own, not aped replies. What is really depressing is seeing how many lit or film critics say ZERO of any depth or uniquity because they have no ability to think for themselves- critical cribbing is what I call it.

Enough.

DAN

~~~~~

Jessica Schneider:

Alex:

You make great points. Critics will argue the "honesty" and "compassion" in one's works, but then go nowhere as to what exactly works or not. Yet in my own book I can say that I had both those things (though that has nothing to do with quality itself) and when that reader was approached with it, she didn't "like" it because it was not the "honesty" she would imagine for herself. In other words, they wanted a character that would be like them. I'm not like anyone else. Why would I want to be? It is odd that they're chant about the importance of "truth" and "honesty" but no one ever wants to say anything of substance, just take safe stances like "racism is bad."

Most things in life do not carry any meaningful significance. One has to create one's own significance. Or else, all goes unforgotten, "a fart in the windstorm," as my grandma used to say. I agree about Nabokov, as Lolita had some "pretty writing" here and there, but his fans are obsessive. He was pretentious and always playing an act. And he managed to get fans to buy into it. I said it was a good solid book, but by no means great, not to mention the opening line is a terrible cliche and that intro by that fake Academic is just flourish.

Thanks for the discussion, D&A--the words cheered me, as smart words often do. Thank you for spreading the Cosmoetica word.

~~~~~~~

I'm lucky to be in a newsletter with so many intelligent people (this isn't the first time I've quoted one of these e-mail discussions). Anyhow, it's July now; hope everyone had a nice 4th. I played in an orchestra that accompanies the fireworks, which was fun (as always).

Take Care,
~Neil

DSI Update

2009-06-24T14:13:00.002-05:00

Recently, Dan Schneider added a ratings system to his interview series (yes, you can rate interviews, too!). There are a lot of great, in-depth interviews, but there are some duds in there as well, from people who are jerks or give shallow/rushed answers. Personally, I think a ratings system is a good way to direct people to the worthwhile interviews and let them skip the bad ones (unless they're just curious). Jess also talked about this change recently, and there's one point that she makes that I want to single out. Some people blame Dan for the bad interviews, and Jess wrote: "...if you're gonna blame Dan for all of the bad responses then by that logic you have to credit him for all of the good ones too." That's a good point, and there are definitely more quality interviews than there are bad ones.

Additional reader comments were also taken into consideration, but the idea was later dropped because the list of interviews would become too cluttered with a bunch of comments floating around (good call, since quality web design isn't about fancy jazz and cramming in as much content as possible, but about clarity and easy navigation). However, Jess thought I should go ahead and post the comment on the James Emanuel interview that I unwittingly wrote. Hey, if it's not going up on Cosmo, it might as well go up here, right?

~~~

"A real writer is lucky to find enough time to write, and he will not complain when The Muse is out to lunch. Even without a spade, he will dig in."

Young artists should always leave themselves open to the wisdom and works of older artists; doing so is nothing short of a necessity. However, a young artist must be selective in who and what they learn from, lest they are swept up in a current of bad artists, bad art, and bad ideas about art. I can think of few (if any) works I’ve read that offer more wisdom on writing, in and of itself, than Dan’s interview with James Emanuel. Great insights abound. Furthermore, the poems contained in the interview are a must-read for those unfamiliar with Emanuel’s writing, and every answer provided by Emanuel is precise, polite, and insightful. A must-read, especially for young artists.

~~~~~~~

Finally, I think it would really awesome if, sometime in the future, Dan Schneider interviews Jessica Schneider, as a special edition~ Fun stuff!

Take Care,
~Neil

This Blog Receives a 7.3/10

2009-06-11T16:41:00.003-05:00

I've been a fan of video games for most of my life. In fact, I even argued that game design is a form of art in some cases.

I've also enjoyed reading books for most of my life. I don't have to point out that books are a medium of art (though I just did).

However, I'd say that I started reading video game reviews long before I started reading book reviews (if "long before" can even apply to someone my age). Y'know what's great about video game reviews? They reach a numerical verdict for every single video game. Most reviews specifically note the quality of both technical aspects (which you *cannot* overlook in a video game the way you can in a novel) and creative aspects, then give an overall rating with these things in mind. So, you say this game is a 7.8/10? I might play it if it's something I'm interested in specifically; otherwise, it's not quite good enough. 4.5/10? Never touching it. 9.6/10? That's worth playing no matter what it's about. That's still how I use these reviews, and it helps that the reviewers talk about both main aspects of the games (technicality and creativity) and then give a clear verdict.

Then I started reading some book reviews here and there, both to find something interesting and because I was curious because I had heard how, um, bad they can be. Most book reviews don't use numerical ratings. Now, some people can write a perfectly sound and clear review without using numbers; I know that. However, after reading several reviews, most of what I find is mush. Almost every book is "good" or better, and critics often talk about how you will "like" or "love" the book. Look how human this book is! Look at how this book is about abortion/drugs/alcoholism/transsexuals! It must be good! The whole time, I'm thinking, "Okay, fine. But is the book well-written?"

The best reasons I can come up with for why people reviewing paintings and novels don't use numbers are that a) These works often originate from a single person and reviewers don't want to come down on one person (we know whose to blame when there's only one person responsible), b) Many artists function in a circle of sycophants who praise each other ceaselessly, and c) The people working in these fields tend to be more touchy-feely than those working in, say, movies and video games. Reason "a" is especially ridiculous; screw their feelings! Just because they've enter the field of art doesn't mean they should be exempt from receiving just evaluation; adults should be properly criticized for performing poorly in their chosen profession, and that includes artists of all sorts. Reason "b" almost completely invalidates any criticism coming from involved individuals. The main effect of reason "c" is the reign of using "like/dislike" in criticism instead of "good/bad". It's easier to avoid hurting people's feelings by using the former (and hurting people's feelings is a no-no, because of reasons "a" and "b").

But, wait! Exactly how similar are books and video games? In fact, how can you even juxtapose the two? Well, for reviewing purposes, here's a list of similarities between the two:

~~~

~*Both contain technical aspects which can be horrible, great, or anything inbetween (this is what gets overlooked by so many literary reviewers)
~*Both contain creative aspects which can be horrible, great, or anything inbetween (literary reviewers tend to disguise "horrible" as "different" or "unique")
~*Both involve the combination of technical aspects and creative aspects to create a final product; the quality of this product can be horrible, great, or anything inbetween

~~~~~~~

For reviewing purposes, there's enough similarity between the two to approach both with the same basic mindset.

I realize that using number ratings wouldn't make for instantly concise and insightful reviewers (note the majority of movie critics). However, it would help clear up the mush a *little* bit ("good" book #1 may be a 3.5/5, while "good" book #2 may be a 4/5). It would also give reviewers a standing number for each book, so that they can compare future books with ease.

I doubt the shift to numbers will ever occur, for the reasons listed above. However, I can give at least one example of numbers being used for literature: Dan Schneider uses numerical ratings in his This Old Poem series. Scroll down for his rubric, which is sound. If you can give reasons for your judgment, why not assign number ratings to poetry? People are still free to like/dislike all poems as they please, no matter their rating, but good/bad can be accurately determined by objective criticism. The same applies to game design, novels, comic strips, sculptures, tattoos, and any other form of art, high or low.

I'm done. I think I'll go play that 9.6/10 video game now. Good stuff!

Take Care,
~Neil

LAEvaside: It's June. Also, for the record, the title rating is a joke (I hope). [/laevaside]

Almost Done

2009-05-25T14:34:00.003-05:00

I've been gone lately. Why? Wrapping up high school. I've but a few graduation rehearsals, senior checkout, and a couple "finals", and I'll be done. Go me.

Another reason I've been gone is because I performed in a Les Miserables/Seussical mixed concert last Thursday and Friday. Lots of rehearsals. I haven't seen Seussical all the way through, but I have the 10th anniversary concert version of Les Miserables on VHS, and I recommend watching it. Les Miserables is the best musical I've seen in terms of, well, music, even if following the story can be difficult in a few parts. Here's a couple of the songs:

~~~

Bring Him Home

Empty Chairs at Empty Tables

~~~~~~~

I ended up singing Empty Chairs, which I enjoyed; dramatic is fun, since more acting can be mixed in with the singing. Anyhow, I've not read the book Les Miserables, but I will say that the musical (or, at least, the concert version) clocks in at somewhere around two hours, so it's not the time sink that 1200'ish pages is.

The next act consisted of various Seussical songs. I've always been a fan of Seuss (though with Seuss books, it's important to note that without the combination of whimsical words and illustration, the books would not be great children's books; one without the other just wouldn't work). There aren't many good recordings of Seussical online, but I will say that I ended up singing "A Day for the Cat in the Hat", which was great fun, since, well, dressing up and singing as the Cat in the Hat is simply awesome (and I had a large red box I started the song in).

Anyhow, enough about the musical. I just thought I'd do a lighter post as a "coming back" type entry. Hopefully I'll have some more interesting things to say in the near future. Oh, and it's May!

Take Care,
~Neil

Five Cubed

2009-03-16T15:04:00.002-05:00

Well, it's mid-March. Life is happening to me and preventing me from blogging as much as I'd like; but then, I suppose most people don't hold blogs through high school (it's strange to think that I founded this blog when I was 15 years old). Again, thanks for the support lately (especially Anthony, who recently featured one of my poems), and here's to another 25 posts, which will come, however slowly:

~~~

~*C~ See?

~*Too Many Facelifts~ Hollywood isn't the only one suffering from this.

~*Begin at the Beginning/Middle/End~ Do it!

~*A Conversational Sonnet~ There's an interesting conversation in the comments, too.

~*Totoro!~ You still need to watch this one, Jess~

~*Performance vs. Composition~ Different, indeed.

~*Aesop's Fables~ Read them to your children and whatnot.

~*In Love (Features)~ Three poems- one from each of three wonderful writers and supporters~

~~~~~~~

Take Care,
~Neil

Inspirational Poems for Valentine's Day

2009-02-11T15:32:00.004-06:00

Hey, guys! It's February! I've been reading some wonderful poetry lately, and, because Valentine's Day is a day for beautiful words and truly heartfelt writing, I thought I would share with everyone!

If you don't understand what a lover or a friend is, this poem is just for you!

Sometimes, you get into deep conversations with a significant other. This is a great example of that!

It can be hard to find the perfect words to give to your sweetheart at this most romantic time of the year. However, this poem is here to help! What person could resist "fuzzy song logic"?

And, if you're still having trouble, perhaps you can "reference" this poem!

It's perfectly fine to use someone else words to express your sentiments. It's the thought that counts!

Maybe you've had this happen to you before!

Bye, guys!

~Neil

Alexander? Not Good, But...

2009-01-27T16:02:00.003-06:00

It's January, and we have a new president. Rejoice! I watched a good deal of the inauguration at school, and most of it was interesting. But, the poem reeked, as Anthony pointed out. In fact, I think Obama might be a better poet than Elizabeth Alexander, whose poem, "Praise Song for the Day", was a serious drag and a definite low of the proceedings. And yet, worse poetic travesties have taken place before:

~~~

So say the Asian, the Hispanic, the Jew
The African and Native American, the Sioux,
The Catholic, the Muslim, the French, the Greek
The Irish, the Rabbi, the Priest, the Sheikh,
The Gay, the Straight, the Preacher,
The privileged, the homeless, the Teacher.
They hear. They all hear
The speaking of the Tree.

~~~~~~~

Wait. What if I follow Scientology or Pastafarianism? All joking aside, let's look at another excerpt:

~~~

You, who gave me my first name, you
Pawnee, Apache and Seneca, you
Cherokee Nation, who rested with me, then
Forced on bloody feet, left me to the employment of
Other seekers--desperate for gain,
Starving for gold.

You, the Turk, the Swede, the German, the Scot ...
You the Ashanti, the Yoruba, the Kru, bought
Sold, stolen, arriving on a nightmare
Praying for a dream.

~~~~~~~

It's very universal. O you, the Bishopee, the Ham, the Bacteriaman, keep praying for that dream. I wish I knew so many denominations so I could write well like she does.

Oh right, "she". Maya Angelou. That's the one. Y'know, they actually made a book with *just* this poem in it, and sold it for, oh, 6-7 bucks, if I remember correctly. Real sad. So, embrace the Alexander number read at Obama's inauguration, with the knowledge that it could have been far worse.

Take Care,
~Neil

In Love (Features)

2008-12-19T10:32:00.005-06:00

Yes, yes, I've been gone for awhile now. Some combination of schoolwork, music, and social time has prevented me, I suppose. Anyhow, I just finished taking my last final, so I'm more or less free, schoolwise. Anthony and Jess have featured poems lately, and they're both excellent, so I suggest that you jump over and read:

~~~

Her Kansas by Jessica Schneider

~~~~~

Cheetah Conceived in Circuiting Speed by Anthony Zanetti

~~~~~~~

Now, to continue the run of features- I've been writing more love poetry than usual as of late, and it helps to read both classical and modern approaches to the subject. Love is undoubtedly the most worn topic of poetry, so it's easy to write badly or boringly about it, since it possesses no originality in itself; you have to take a unique approach. I posted one entry on love poems almost two years ago, where I highlighted a few of my favorites. Here's another:

~~~

In Love

The only word is Love. It is what binds
things more securely than the o and v,
which are bereft without the l and e
to give them structure, if not grand design.
Nothing is permanent, as Love proves this
so, as well the uselessness of Beauty,
without Love to engage it. Can you see
the parallel? Love is just what it is,
as well is Beauty, which mouths the full o,
which sounds like a u (the short vowel sound),
to become part of the structure that grounds
only what matters to those, in the know,
who see what is loosened by loveless minds
unable to ask: Where did Beauty go?

By Dan Schneider

~~~~~~~

Did I mention something about unique approaches? First, we get a comparison between the binding power of Love and letters of "love". Then the relationship between Love and Beauty is introduced, but it's not the typical "I love you, (because) you're beautiful" relationship; "Beauty is useless without Love" is far more dramatic and unusual. Structurally, it's interesting how well the observations about the nature of Love and the spelling/phonetics of love tie into each other. Combine that with great music (side note on rhyme: the phrase "Love proves" strikes me as interesting, because "love" and "prove" are often used with each other as end rhymes [after all, there are only so many things you can match with "love"], but in this poem the two words are right next to each other), and you've got a highly atypical and wonderful love sonnet.

In other news, I got into Rice University, but I probably won't be going due to money issues. I'll probably attend a public university for my undergrad, then move to some prestigious location for grad school.

I suppose it's December. I really ought to go Christmas shopping.

Take Care,
~Neil

Thinly Veiled Racism

2008-11-16T13:45:00.003-06:00

I know that the election has passed (hooray for Obama! though my prediction was a little too conservative), but I see and hear so much crap on Facebook, on MySpace, and at school that I just have to highlight some items. This will be the last blog entry on the election, promise. Anyhow, this election really pulled out a part of peoples' personalities that they normally keep more well-hidden. Anyhow, let's lead into the Facebook statuses. However, because of the format of Facebook statuses, we need a name to assign these statuses to. Let me go to the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator and type in "Idiot"...

"Idiot, if you were born to Sarah Palin, your name would be:
Froth Moonshine Palin"

Okay, our person is "Froth Moonshine Palin"! Hooray!

~~~

Froth Moonshine Palin:

guesses she'll just have to cling to her guns and religion.

is moving out of the country if we can actually let him be president. Come on.

is this world is going to the dumps. thanx for electing the anti-christ america.

is thrilled about commie lite America.

BOO OBAMA, lets all move to mexico.

is mourning for the death of america...

is we are all doomed. I feel a secession by our great state. Plan B: Australia.

is wanting to secede.

is can't believe that really just happened!

is We The People...

cant wait for next year! I've always wanted to be socialist...Karl Marx is my hero!

is this the beginning of the end.

is it's the beginning of the end..

The world is over! Get out of the United Socialist States of America while you still can!

is its official...I am losing faith in the elections...

if there is a God he will make sure McCain wins. OBAMA=Antichrist.

is ...

is moving to CANADA! we're all gonna die.

~~~~~~~

I think moving to Canada would be pointless if "we're all gonna die" anyhow. Now, regardless of whether or not you're Christian, pretty much all the above comments are from folks who profess the faith. It is very morally and religiously sound to freak out about Obama, apparently.

Here's the kicker, off of MySpace. My personal favorite:

~~~

ok honestly people i hate obama with a burning passion, and i think that he's the worst thing for america right now, but we should def pray for our leaders.

plus, on the brightside....

he'll be assasinated.

rejoice!

~~~~~~~

Let's pray for someone who we hope will be "assasinated"! People are so smart.

~Neil

Election Day

2008-11-04T16:43:00.004-06:00

It's November the 4th- hopefully everyone's gotten out to vote. Voting on election day is not too much of a hassle where I live, so I went out with my family this afternoon and we all put in our votes for Obama within fifteen minutes. While Obama will not be winning Texas, a stronger Democratic showing this year could potentially begin a movement towards a more contested Texas, come future elections. Also, voting feels like a physical representation of my opinion; I know that sounds kinda sappy, but I gained genuine satisfaction voting for someone I believe will lead this country in the right direction. Combined with the novelty of voting (as this was my first time), it was exciting. Simple and pedestrian, but exciting nonetheless.

Jess posted her election prediction, which includes a fantastic map, as well as a link to an interactive map you can use to predict the outcome of the election. Personally, I'm going with a slightly more optimistic outlook than Jess: I think McCain will take NC, IN, MO, ND, and MT, but I think Obama will take FL and OH. I'm fairly confident he'll win PA, too, but he doesn't need it to win. The rest of the swing states (NM, NV, NH, etc.) have been drifting toward Obama for awhile, so I think he'll take most of them.

While my prediction is certainly not the most educated one out there, I thought it would be interesting to give it a go: 338 for Obama is where I'm placing my marker.

Anonymity- The Enabler of Stupidity

2008-10-16T17:55:00.005-05:00

Or, perhaps, merely the exposure of it.

It's a tough call.

Anyhow, I recently read an article on Obama's purchase of air time: 30 minute on both NBC and CBS. I normally don't scroll down and read the comments, but I decided to give the thread below a quick look, and some of the stuff I read was both amusing and somewhat alarming. Hold your cookies:

Notice: None of the below comments are mine. Yes, that should be obvious, but the following comments deserve to be handled carefully.

~~~

BARF! OBAMA NEEDS TO GET OVER HIMSELF! A 30 MINUTE SPOT??? DOES HE THINK HE CAN CONTINUE TO PULL THE WOOL OVER OUR EYES? OBAMA IS AN ARROGANT, CORRUPT, LYING HOMOSEXUAL. HE CAN KEEP HIS SOCIALIST PLAN FOR HIS PRESIDENCY OF ACORN WHEN THEY ARE ALL IN PRISON!

Obama - radical leftist socialist.
McCain - proven leader, war hero.
Does class rank really matter??

It sounds like Obama is worried about the way he's coming across in the debates and wants some unchallenged air time where his inexperience will not be highlighted.

OBAMA: THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE
30 MIN. OF LIES FROM MR. EMPTY AND HIS PRESS HOGS

NOBAMA 08
WHY DOES obama HATE WHITE PEOPLE SO MUCH? 20 YEARS IN A WHITE HATING USA HATING CHURCH, HAVING CROOKS AS FRIENDS, CAUSING STOCK MARKETS TO FALL BECAUSE HE LEADS IN POLLS, BEING A MUSLIM AND BEING BLACK AND THINKING WHITE PEOPLE OWE HIM...I VOTED FOR JIMMY CARTER IN 76 AND TWICE FOR BILL CLINTON IN THE 90'S AND CLINTON IN 08 PRIMARIES.....NO HOW NO WAY NOBAMA 08!!!!!!!!!!DON'T VOTE PARTY IN 08...VOTE WHATS RIGHT FOR YOUR GOD, YOUR COUNTRY, YOUR FAMILY, YOURSELF.......WE MUST VOTE FOR JOHN MCAIN AND A BREATH OF FRESH AIR SARAH PALIN!!!!!!!!!!OHIO OHIO OHIO

I truly believe that Obama is the Anti-Christ and if he gets elected we all better start making peace with our Maker!

Obama supported infanticide, typical arab american terrorist parading as an african american because hes a fraud in every aspect of his life..

Since we are not a communist state, yet, I can refuse to watch Comrad Obama.

Obama is as false as the styrofoam columns in Denver
stadium. Only mentally blind people could follow such
a looser.

You can put it on every television show on the planet for 24/7 until Nov. 4 and hold a loaded gun to my head.... I STILL wouldn't watch this lying SOB. I just wish he would go back to his mosque in Kenya and leave us alone.

What do Obama and Osama have in common?
They both have friends that bombed the the Pentigon!

Well, I'm going to bed... I am a republican and I actually have a job to go to in the morning.. I'm not a left-wing nut that lives off welfare and government checks!!

THE REAL REASON THE STOCK MARKETS AROUND THE WORLD ARE TANKING IS BECAUSE EVERYONE IS SCARRED OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE WORLD ECONOMY IF OBAMA IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

Obama=Ayers=Stalin=Hitler...they are all the same.

I'll be honest. I am not voting for Obama for one reason. It's because he's black. I don't like blacks and I don't trust them. They are dangerous and stupid. They have poor morals. I am a proud Republican, a proud Conservative and a proud American. It is wonderful to know that so many other true Americans agree with me. We must stop the blacks and mongrel races from stealing our country. Think of the founding fathers. Were any blacks there when the Constitution was written? Let us return to the traditions that made America great. Join me and other true Americans in drawing a line in the sand and keeping this mongrel and his Muslim brethren from invading our White House. VOTE MCCAIN/PALIN ON NOVEMBER 4TH.

The end of democracy is when you have 51% parasite voters (dems) and only 49% host voters (repubs)

Obama supporters are homosexuals and losers. Get a job and a life.

~~~~~~~

The stupidity above is both awesome and scary. Sure, I can always use a laugh, but these people will all be voting. It shouldn't affect the actual outcome, but the idea of people whose ideas are so warped voting at all is sad. Anyhow, here are a few random, non-anti-Obama comments from the same thread:

~~~

You all are friggin idiots...cept me.
and except the Palin fans......you da best.
Go Sarah !

I'm a staunch McCain supporter, but even I have to admit it's over.
Hopefully Obama will surprise me.

Every one of these anti Obama comments has underlying racism. I fear for his life.

Sigh... I'm in love with Barack Obama. He's Super Intelligent, he's Suave & Debonaire, he's Truthful & Thoughtful, he's just a Beautiful & Fabulous person. If I could vote for him 100 times I would. I love you Barack Obama!!!

~~~~~~~

And, finally, one apt comment that I will use to sum this entry up:

~~~

The lack of civility in these replies is absolutely astounding.
Thank God for the anonymity of the internet.

~~~~~~~

Take Care,
~Neil

Political Gaffes, Economical Laughs

2008-10-03T21:01:00.002-05:00

Please excuse the dumb title- I simply could not help myself.

~~~

With a presidential election and economic crisis occurring simultaneously, shows have had plenty of fodder for jokes. Today, I'd like to highlight some great skits and productions concerning these events:

Firstly, Jess has posted a few great items on her blog related to politics:

~~~

~*Political Jib Jab
~*SNL Palin-Couric Skit
~*SNL Obama-McCain Debate

~~~~~~~

Now, a couple choices of my own, on the bailout plan:

~~~

~*The Poor House- Bailout Bill Passes
~*Formidable Opponent- The Bailout (my personal favorite- I love The Colbert Report)

~~~~~~~

In other news, this month is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as Pinktober. Our October 1st newspaper was actually printed on pink paper. Funfun. Oh, that's right- it's October. Anyhow, take care 'til next,

~Neil

Aesop's Fables

2008-09-21T01:13:00.003-05:00

I recently began reading a collection of Aesop's Fables, and the idea of rendering the fables as short poems, styled similarly to my Childsongs, came so naturally that I couldn't help but sit down and immediately start a new series. Just as writing for paintings is a great way to give yourself a base to work from, rendering short stories, tales, or fables has its benefits. However, it's important to always stretch beyond the work of art you're basing your own piece on, so that it has some purpose other than mere narration (or, at the very least, provides a very apt and musical narration of its partner). Now, let's read a fable and follow up with a poem:

~~~

The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

A man and his wife had the good fortune to possess a goose which laid a golden egg every day. Lucky though they were, they soon began to think they were not getting rich fast enough, and, imagining the bird must be made of gold inside, they decided to kill it in order to secure the whole store of precious metal at once. But when they cut it open they found it was just like any other goose. Thus, they neither got rich all at once, as they had hoped, nor enjoyed any longer the daily addition to their wealth.

Much wants more and loses all.

(Translated by V.S. Vernon Jones)

~~~~~

The Goose That Laid the Golden Eggs

One a day did not suffice,
Though each great treasure shone.
With giddy haste and one brief slice,
They profited in flesh and bone.

The sick sensation must be bold
When two, once rich, recall
Their own folly and loss in gold:
Much wants more and loses all.

~~~~~~~

Both pieces stand alone, but they benefit from being presented together, especially since both are very concise. In fact, that's why I enjoy Aesop's Fables so much and consider them to be great didactic stories: they are extremely succinct. Rarely does one stretch beyond half a page. When writing is didactic, it has a tendency to be boring and preachy, but the Fables present brief stories with clear lessons, using different types of animals for immediate characterization to achieve further brevity (an obvious example: The Lion and the Mouse). They are also extremely accessible, making them fit for adults and children alike. Definitely a top choice for bedtime reading- Aesop's Fables are quality stories, and teach kids (and adults) morals, to boot!

Take Care,
~Neil

Flooded

2008-09-02T21:04:00.004-05:00

Coincidentally, my house flooded just as major reports on Hurricane Gustav stormed the media (among other things). Firstly, I'm glad that Gustav didn't directly hit New Orleans, which, in its current state, would have taken major damage even though Gustav only possessed high category-two winds. Secondly, even though having a pipe in the bathroom bust while noone is home is not at all life-threatening or outright devastating, I have to say that it's quite a pain replace most of a house's carpeting and wooden floors. Fortunately, the living room and the kitchen are on slightly higher ground, so my family's currently just living out of those two rooms, with all of our stuff kind of crammed into any empty space available. Lastly, I'm aware that every sentence of this paragraph begins with an adverb. Almost. Wait, that's an adverb too.

Bizarre wordplay and minor crises aside, I've also been flooded with schoolwork. Fortunately, everything seems to be calming down now. What a way to start my last year of high school.

This is a poetry blog, and it's been a long time since I've actually posted anything of my own. So...

~~~

A Day of Hunting

Another white! Six butterflies
Flittered in his little cage.
He softly hid to soon surprise
A seventh, on his sunlit stage.

Ten- he ran to fetch his pins.
This time, I’ll really pin them!
To grow by way of little sins,
He stuck the pins within them.

Well, almost. It was too early still
For him to deaden beauty.
Why rush to grow and long to kill
By grown-up sense of duty?

~~~~~~~

Another Childsong. These poems are fun to write because they provide a perspective that is all too often overlooked or used too dramatically. I also feel like I'm a little closer to the age of my nameless little characters than most writers, since I just turned 18, so it's not too hard to construct the children in my poems. I probably still have a little of the naiveté of childhood left in me, but it's fading fast.

It's September. This begins the third cycle of months since I started featuring every month. This blog is getting old.

Hope everyone's well-

Take Care,
~Neil

Another First Day of School

2008-08-25T16:28:00.003-05:00

...is always a little strange. After spending an entire summer completely apart from all the people whose company I do not enjoy, I've been thrown into classrooms with all of them again. Of course, I've also gotten to see some people I *do* like that I didn't spend too much summer time with, and it's a friendly reunion of sorts.

I just entered my senior year of high school, and I have mixed feelings about my final year of high school. Sure, I'm excited about moving on to college, which will undoubtedly be more stimulating intellectually, and leaving for another culture for awhile is a welcome prospect. However, after this year is over, I will be leaving behind my family, as well as most (or even all) of my friends. I will also be exiting the comfort of my home for a cramped little dorm room. However, this is my last year, regardless of the pros and cons of the situation, so best to embrace the situation and not overthink the issue.

Again, this post goes against my early intentions of remaining utterly impersonal in my blog entries. I had a birthday recently, so I'm a legal adult now, which is really exciting, since I will be able to vote. More on that later.

To add something literary to this post, there's a fantastic interview with Mark Rowlands up at Cosmoetica. It's not just interesting; it's refreshing and really just fun to read, so give it a look!

Take care,
~Neil

Igudesman and Joo

2008-08-09T20:05:00.007-05:00

Well, I'm back from a week-long trip I took to California and Colorado. 35'ish hours of driving doesn't sit that well with me, so I'm really happy to be back home.

A friend of mine (thanks Brady) recently exposed me to the musical comedy duet Igudesman and Joo. I enjoy their performances immensely, not only because they're hilarious, but because they also put their musical talents on display in almost every routine. They've been on tour with "A Little Nightmare Music"; here are a few preview numbers from the show:

~~~

Rachmaninov Had Big Hands

I Will Survive

...and, for any Mozart fans out there (I know there's at least one):

Mozart Bond

~~~~~~~

While they've only toured in Europe and Asia (as far as I am aware), apparently a tour in US is under at least some consideration, as they've actually recognized a group/petition on Facebook asking them to come to the US. Even though it's unlikely that I would be able to attend a concert, should they come, I still hope they eventually head over here, because combining classical music and comedy is not only refreshing for those who already love classical music, such as myself, but also carries the potential of drawing people in who wouldn't normally bother listening to anything classical.

In other news, it's August, and a week 'til my birthday. Last year I forgot it was my birthday until someone told me at school. Anyhow, take care 'til next,

~Neil

Zanetti's Façade

2008-07-24T23:38:00.002-05:00

Recently, Anthony Zanetti (y'know, the one I've mentioned about a dozen times) from very nice, very nice has begun featuring poetry by other poets. He is quite the poet himself, and, as I have never enjoyed the privilege of posting his poetry on my blog, I shall now bestow myself with the opportunity to do so (how remarkably convenient is that?). Behold:

~~~

Façade of a Montreal God
photograph of Fascist HQ, Rome

I’ve stabbed a flag into the Fascist
March eye. You make the bullet
cry, you make the nation
sing. A sovereigned head on a coin,
the shallow inks of wings—align
to remind me: I’ve chosen again. In the city,
at the rally, they shout: he is strong,
il est fort. I find myself chanting along;
I can’t abort. Gods trapped
in a head—we are everything except free:
the azurite Italian, the glittering Mussolini—
orating and exhorting—mathematically
operatic—your head suspended
against the word repeating: si si si si

By Anthony Zanetti

~~~~~~~

I regret that his dashes do not retain their original length in Blogger format; however, this is currently my favorite of Anthony's poems, so I had to choose it. Note how cleverly the lines are broken. The first three lines are prime examples of great enjambment (the end words in particular consistently have double meaning, depending on whether you read the line or the phrase). The internal rhyme is also fantastic; it's very prominent, but it doesn't come off as forced. Finally, the connection between the poem and the picture is excellent. I'm in full support of art forms and media merging and feeding off of each other, and this poem is a good example of this (can you make a more direct reference to the picture than the one made in the last line?).

Oh, and I just have to link this recent post by Anthony. It, um, inspires many emotions. Yes, that's it.

(I know I should have done this awhile ago, but it's July.)

Take Care,
~Neil

Performance vs. Composition

2008-07-13T12:28:00.004-05:00

LAEvaside: Before I begin, note this: this essay is not about which form of expression is better, more difficult, deeper, rarer, more synonymous with cookies, etc. It is about the differences between two main types of art. [/laevaside]

~~~

Performance: dancing, playing an instrument, singing, acting, giving a speech, etc.

Composition: writing poetry or prose, painting, choreographing, composing music, designing buildings, etc.

~~~

Having recently spent the majority of my time in these past few weeks focusing on vocal and violin performance, with very little attention to writing, I found that my break from composition was very relieving. In this time, I also starting picking out distinct differences between my two separate artistic pursuits. Certainly, they are both fine and full of joy, but the contrast in the sort of joy provided by each is immense; the comparison is akin to that of, say, pickles and pies. Both are pleasurable if they suit you. They are also quite different, and, when choosing to take up one, the other, or neither at any given moment, the choice largely depends on your current, shall we say, appetite.

Although my main line of work is poetry (having done only a smattering of musical arrangements), I am going to use music composition as the primary example of composition in this piece, as the performances of notes is much more involved than the performance of text. I will, however, try to shape my analogies so that they are applicable to all types of composition.

~~~~~

The composer begins without any particular direction; his progress starts with a seed, an idea. A seed requires various elements if it hopes to flourish; likewise, composing a great piece involves different aspects. All technical excellence is no good, for the music lacks a soul. Similarly, an emotional outpouring is useless without structure. It's as simple as water and sunlight.

Even when a composer is at his best, fleshing out a major work is an arduous task. Whether he is working with assonance and alliteration or melodies and harmonies, the composer's joy is generally at a trickle during his work. Occasionally, a particularly clever turn of phrase or transition might cause a temporary surge of contentment, but composition isn't all smiles, and can be quite frustrating. Trashing entire passages of work is, to put it mildly, not pleasurable.

One of the things composition lacks is pressure. There is no audience scrutinizing your every action. It is hermetic work, generally speaking; when striving to improve, having a mentor definitely helps, but if a composer puts together any defining work, it will be his and his alone (with the exception of lyricist/composer partnerships). The intricacies involved in the creation of a piece are not openly accessible, and having more than one person work on a complex composition usually ends in a dissonant manner, as if the two are trying to play the same piece, but in different key signatures.

The completion of a poem, novel, or musical score breaks a dam open on the inside; all the excitement that has been subdued to maintain concentration floods the body, and a real sense of achievement takes rise. Then your little internal salmon run everywhere, and...

Actually, that's a (salmon?) wrap for composition. Onto performance:

~~~~~

The performer has an immediate sense of direction; her map (I'm going to forego typical gender rules and make the performer a female in the interest of novelty and variety, as our composer was a male) gives her a basic idea of the technical and emotional layout of a piece. However, following the composer's instructions is by no means an easy task. And, even, when this has been accomplished, a great performance requires the performer to inject her own personality into her work- in short, a detour.

Like composition, technique and emotion are both necessary for performance. Personality can sometimes push you a bit further in performance, but again, without a mixture of the two main elements, the results will be mediocre at best.

If composers experience enjoyment in a trickle until the finish line, then performers (with the exception of, perhaps, daredevils) experience a continual flow of joy. There's a certain spontaneity in the happiness performance provides. A performer actually has the action going on around them, indulging the senses, instead of merely writing something abstract that has to be brought to life in some way. Performance is immediately and continually gratifying.

The aspect of pressure accompanies the sensory nature of performance. Performance draws crowds, and the nature of performance makes it possible for those present to pick out every error the performer makes. She carries out her duty with the knowledge that, should she mess up, it will likely be noticed and criticized by someone, either by an audience member or, even worse, by a fellow performer, for, unlike composition, performance is usually cooperative.

There's still a surge of excitement at the end of a musical performance, but it's not quite the same as the satisfaction of finishing a composition. Where the latter is a feeling of deep contentment, the former is more of a joyful giddiness. Both are fantastic, in their own way.

~~~~~~~

As men and women are very little without each other (ah, the female performer *did* come in handy!), composers and performers need each other to give rise to the great art of this world, which tingles the body and soul as nothing else on this earth can. And then, there is the audience- what good is art without an audience? Naught, and, if I may- what good are men and women without children? In every audience, there is a fledgling artist eager to flee the crowd for another place, whether it be the writing desk or the limelit stage.

~Neil

MSS, Take Three

2008-07-02T01:26:00.004-05:00

The above acronym does not take on its typical meaning in this case; it stands for MySpace Survey. Posts that contain these surveys are among the most shallow and aimless this blog contains; however, there is nothing wrong with occasional light-hearted fun (particularly when I am busy/lazy and wish to employ a filler; I was supposed to have a guest feature for this purpose, but alas, a lad very dear to me has failed to provide this material). And now, onward:

~~~

If you could become famous by a single act, what act would it be?
- Playing the main role in a famous Broadway production! ...Wait, most of those have two acts. Rats!

Do you know approximately how long the dashed lines in the road are?
- Well, considering that the dashed lines keep going and going (the lines that make up the dashed lines aren’t dashed themselves), I suppose it depends on the length of the road. Ha- betcha didn’t think I’d catch your error, Mr. or Ms. Survey Person!

If you could choose your birth month, which month would you prefer?
- December, so that my birthday would coincide with Christmas, resulting in less presents for me on a yearly basis, and, by extension, a more humble Neil.

Actually, August is fine.

What is the difference between "going on dates" and "dating"?
- I go on dates with friends, male or female. I date a significant other, female. Mine is an old-fashioned viewpoint, but that’s how I like to look at it.

Do you have a tendency to put your significant other before your friends?
- What significant other? Oh, the one from the last question? She doesn’t actually exist. If I did have one, though, I probably would, without meaning to. Not too much, though.

What types of situations make you nervous?
- Surgeries, seizures, and heart attacks.

What is something that has recently made you laugh so hard you cried?
- Onions are so funny.

That makes very little sense. Oh well.

Do you honestly rank your friends on MySpace by their importance to you?
- Vaguely. Sure, my #1 is more significant than my #18. Actually, my #1 is in my #18 with my #0 (namely, me), so my #18 is more significant than my #1. Bad example. My #2 (a previous poster of this survey) is definitely more significant than my #902, though. I don’t have that many friends, but you get my drift.

Do you personally know a person who can write elegantly; who?
- Neil Hester writes beautifully. (Corinna wrote this, and I agree wholeheartedly. Not halfheartedly, not three-quartersheartedly- wholeheartedly. ‘Cause I’m a narcissist~)

Spell your crush's name with no vowels.
-

Wow, Ai Eau (Love Water in some bizarre Japanese-French cross-language) doesn’t have much presence without her vowels.

Okay, dumb joke. At least I didn’t just do this, though: yr crsh’s nm

Have you ever been purposely hit by someone of the opposite sex?
- Sure. Girls occasionally hit me when I make dumb jokes or say silly puns or something else of the like.

Can you bend backward into a bridge and touch your toes?
- Yes, if there’s a bridge on hand. (In all seriousness, yes, I can).

What is the best (and worst) dare you have ever gone through with?
- I dunno~ I’m more of a truth person.

Do you admit to your mistakes?
- Nver! And I definitely spelt every word in the previous sentence correctly!

How would you make a difference in the world if nothing could stop you?
- First, I’d defeat Godzilla. Then...

Have you ever played the "penis game"?
- That question doesn’t dignify a response. (Good answer, Corinna)

Is your best friend single or taken?
- Now is not an appropriate time to answer this question, on several fronts.

Who is one person who could never gain your trust?
- Ai Eau. That’s partly due to her nonexistence (but who’s keeping score?).

What is a secret you knew when you were younger that you thought was HUGE?
- Godzilla used to live in my backyard (boy, he *was* huge), until I owned him with my “nothing can stop me” powers that made a difference in the world.

Wow, what a convoluted thought.

Have you ever physically hugged a tree?
- Yes, actually. I wouldn’t recommend it. They don’t hug back. Not very affectionate at all. (Another fantastic CMB answer that I will keep)

When was the last time you ate an M&M?
- A couple days ago in Dalhart. (Elaborate, Corinna- not only did you tell everyone *when* you ate it, but you told them *where*! Bravo!)

As for Neil, he ate his last M&M sometime in the last year.

Have you told someone you had a crush on them to make them feel better?
- Nope. Better to maintain honesty, even if doing so crushes them. Get it? “Crushes” them! HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA-

*ahem*

If you could produce your own film, what genre would it be?
- Drama.

Any particular actors/actresses you would choose for scripting?
- Keanu Reeves! With his one emotion and one voice inflection, surely he can display the plethora of emotions my masterpiece would shift seamlessly throughout!

Would you go back in time to relive moments (not change them) if you could?
- Yes. I’d pick some good moments, and some bad moments.

If you got a hold of a celebrity’s phone number, what would you do?
- Ask myself why I took the trouble to get a hold of it in the first place.

Do you have to know people before you become a couple?
- Yes. How awkward it would be to ask someone out otherwise: “Random person, will you go out with me?”

Okay, so I’m exaggerating. But my answer stands.

How long is your longest relationship?
- I’ve no romantic relationships to speak or type of.

How long is your current relationship?
- Again, I’ve... oh, forget it~ Darn you, persistent Mr. or Ms. Survey Person that insists on asking a slanted question that serves to remind people without romantic ties that they are, as a matter of fact (not to mention immense disfortune and potential sadness), without a significant other!

*ahem* Actually, it’s not really bothering me that much. I bet someone out there feels that way, though. *runs away to sob in solitude*

...Wow, I am a bit strange- my friends weren’t lying to me, were they?

What is your favorite board game?
- Scrabble, without a doubt.

If you could get any plastic surgery for free, what would you alter?
- My dignity.

Do you believe in ghosts?
- Yes and no.

If you had your own show about your life, what would the title be?
- Qeqp;a;sdfklj (Stop Watching Now, Nosy Individua... Wait, I’m The One Airing This!)

It would be abbreviated in commercials as (QSWNNIWITOAT). Say that five times fast!

...Heck, say that one time slow.

What holiday would you erase if given the chance?
- Star Wars Day. “May the 4th be with you!” Seriously? Seriously, people?

You stumble upon a wallet with loads of cash; name your next move.
- Donate it to charity (if that person has loads of cash, surely it will help poor people more!)

Actually, I’d try to get it back to its rightful owner.

What has been your most painful experience in your life so far?
- Wow, you caught me at a great moment! I happen to feel like telling everyone about the darkest moment of my being over a MySpace bulletin at this very moment!

...Oh darn, the moment passed.

Do you flirt with people you aren't the least bit attracted to?
- No.

Do you consider yourself tolerant of others?
- Yes.

Who is the last person you tried to impress?
- No. Er, I’m not sure. Probably you, with my silly answers.

Do you use air fresheners; what scent?
- No; sasparella.

Are you envious toward anyone at the moment?
- Mm, not really. I have bouts of envy toward some people sometimes, but no continuing jealously lives in me. (I’ll leave this one; good show, Corinna)

How do you feel about the person you copied this survey from?
- She’s lovely, and gives some answers that I can leave untouched, bless her.

If you could have any three items in the world, what would they be?
- A lion, a witch, and a wardrobe. Or something like that.

What talent would you like to possess?
- Oh, something useful.

Do you have a hobby that is not known by many people; what would that be?
- Filling out surveys!

What is the worst thing you have ever said and to whom?
- I dunno~

That person really hates indecision, so saying that at that precise moment really broiled her turnip.

Are you currently facing a dilemma?
- Sort of, but I’ll live.

Would you ever consider having an open relationship with someone?
- Wow, what an open question. Lessee... I believe in open communication in relationships. Beyond that, I’m going to leave this one alone.

What is one thing you have an obsession for?
- Poetry, Singing, Cute Things/Girls, Uncalled For Capitalization, And Breaking Survey Rules!

What type of surprises are your favorites?
- My favorite type is the kind that doesn’t kill me. Also, your grammar bites.

What two super powers would you choose to have?
- Flight and the ability to shoot spaghetti out of my fingers for indefinite periods of time (with this combination, I could solve world hunger pretty quickly!).

Have you ever been kicked out or banned from Wal*Mart?
- No.

If you could dine with one celebrity once a week for a year, who'd it be?
- Frank Sinatra.

Who is the last person you were in contact with?
- I can’t remember who I physically touched last.

Are you superstitious; name a few examples.
- Nope; if I had a few examples, I’d name them Lucy, Parallelism, Alexanderotus, and Flamingo.

Ah, it’s been awhile since I last filled out a survey! *flexes survey muscle*

~~~~~~~

There you have it, folks! Mostly a waste of time, but if my answers managed to extract a laugh, a chuckle, or even a reluctant grin from any of your simply delightful faces (well, they are full of delight now, right? Right?), then I believe this post was worthwhile. That said, take care 'til next time (which will hopefully be soon),

~Neil

Totoro!

2008-06-11T01:26:00.005-05:00

Totoro!

Without question, my favorite children's movie is "My Neighbor Totoro". The movie was originally released in Japan in 1988 as a double feature with "Grave of the Fireflies" (a contrasting animated film about WWII). Although FOX released a dub of the film in 1993, the movie never reached theaters in America, so it never enjoyed the kind of audience a mainstream Disney film usually attains. Disney released a redubbed version starring Elle and Dakota Fanning. Both are good, supposedly, though most consider the older FOX dub as the better of the two (I can confirm this, so when you set out to get a copy of this movie [something you will undoubtedly do after reading this entry], get the FOX version).

LAEvaside: I am about to delve into eastern animation, known to most as "anime". Before reading any further, note the following: I enjoy anime (it's one of my indulgences), but I'm not blind to the fact that the majority of anime has little to no artistic worth. However, that still leaves the minority to be properly addressed, which is where we will now pick up. [/laevaside]

Although Hayao Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli are often compared to Walt Disney and The Walt Disney Company, respectively, this comparison only brings into consideration the level of success both have attained on a surface level. Having watched many Ghibli films and many Disney films, I can say without a doubt that films from Studio Ghibli (those headed by Miyazaki in particular) are far superior to those from Disney. In fact, if you're only accustomed to western animation, Miyazaki's films (as well as certain other anime films) will likely change your outlook on animation completely; the difference is very pronounced.

This is not to say that earlier Disney films are completely without merit (I say "earlier" because I can't stand the more recent computer-animated films), as the animation is good, there are often some fairly entertaining musical numbers, and they're definitely entertaining from a child's perspective (and, to some extent, from an adult's perspective). A few Disney films are childhood favorites of mine. However, let's look at "My Neighbor Totoro" and see why and how it outstrips every Disney film to date:

First and foremost, there are no evil forces. There are no villains. There are no fight scenes. Conflicts are far more typical; illness is the main problem. Since when do characters get sick in Disney films? The two girls, Mei and Satsuki, are also convincingly normal; there's nothing particularly strange or special about them. In contrast to most western animated films, which often contain family conflict, the family unit is very strong; the girls have a kind, loving mother and a strong, supportive father. As for the magical creatures present, well... I don't want to give away too much, but they're far more enchanting than anything Disney could ever manage to come up with. I'm 17, and I still wish I could meet a Totoro. As for animation, the watercolor backdrops and brief natural interludes are a joy to take in throughout the film.

Finally, the music is very fitting and very good, courtesy of Joe Hisaishi. Here are a couple numbers I particularly like: Tonari no Totoro and Path of the Wind.

A brief aside: Western animation is just about always directed toward children. When you think "animated" in America, you immediately think "for children". As I noted earlier, "Grave of the Fireflies" (directed by Isao Takahata) is an anime film about WWII. It's extremely serious (not to mention depressing). A few other examples of animated films that target an older audience (note that these aren't necessarily good movies by my appraisal): "Princess Mononoke", "Akira", "Ghost in the Shell". Animation *is* capable of encapsuling more mature themes, contrary to popular Western belief. As for other good children's movies from Ghibli, "Kiki's Delivery Serice" is wonderful (almost as good as "My Neighbor Totoro").

Back to the main point of this thread- "My Neighbor Totoro"! I understand that most of my readers are not children; in fact, I'm fairly sure that most of you are adults. However, if you haven't seen "My Neighbor Totoro", do so, especially if you happen to have a rough day; I guarantee that this film is nothing short of fantastic and fit for people of any age, so long as life hasn't completely defeated the child in you. To quote Robert Ebert: "Whenever I watch it, I smile, and smile, and smile."

Take Care,
~Neil

LAEvaside: Jess, you better watch this film! There's one character in particular that you're sure to just love~ [/laevaside]

The PC Manifesto

2008-06-03T21:10:00.002-05:00

In the interest of amusement, I direct you all to The PC Manifesto! A quick excerpt from the beginning, for good measure:

~~~

What is P.C.?

PC stands for Politically Correct. We of the Politically Correct philosophy believe in increasing a tolerance for a diversity of cultures, race, gender, ideology and alternate lifestyles. Politically Correctness is the only social and morally acceptable outlook. Anyone who disagrees with this philosophy is bigoted, biased, sexist, and/or closed-minded.

Why should I be PC?

Being PC is fun. PCism is not just an attitude, it is a way of life! PC offers the satisfaction of knowing that you are undoing the social evils of centuries of oppression.

I am a white male. Can I still be PC?

Sure. As a matter of fact, most people at the forefront of the PC grand destiny are white males. But remember, as a white male, you must constantly feel guilty.

Why?

If you are a white male, your ancestors were responsible for practically every injustice in the world: slavery, war, genocide and plaid sport coats. That means that you are partially responsible for these atrocities. Now it is time to balance the scales of justice for the descendants of those individuals whose ancestors your ancestors pushed down.

~~~~~~~

Enjoy. Oh, and it's June.

Take Care,
~Neil

A Conversational Sonnet

2008-05-29T14:20:00.005-05:00

Lately, I've written a few conversational poems, which are largely made up of scattered dialogue. Since I doubt this poem has much chance of being published in an online magazine/journal due to its nature (I haven't really been doing many submissions lately; the only reply I'm waiting on is one from StorySouth), here you go:

~~~

Answering the Question

“So- do you like him?”          “So- do you like her?”
Well, yes, but not yet-           She can’t know just yet-
Inquiry, out on a whim- How can the two deter
Such a question? Should I say yes, Should I say no,
Then he would know,            She may come to know
And then he- unless               A sad untruth- unless
I could avoid answering altogether... Not so!
Whether or not you answer, they’ll know.
“Well... do you?”                    “Well... do you?”
“Um...” What to do               “Well...” Overdue
To answer! What do I say? What I do say? What...
“You know what? I don’t really care anymore.” “But-”

They both answered clearly by slight hesitation,
Unraveled sincerely by mute adoration.

~~~~~~~

Y'know, this sort of poem is quite the pain to format in HTML. Also, I'm starting to wonder how important online poetry publications are. I'll definitely do some submissions over the summer, but actually getting published seems like a series of longshots (it's a good thing I have some sort of résumé, or it'd seem even more difficult).

Anyhow, I just got back from a school trip a couple days ago (after finishing my last day of school the previous Friday), so hopefully I'll be ready to do some more substantial blog entries after a bit of rest. Until then-

Take Care,
~Neil

So Very Busy...

2008-05-18T14:19:00.004-05:00

...but the blog must move forward, however slowly. Today, I will highlight some of the more interesting posts I've read lately.

To start, An Important Discussion About Poetry Online. While I never have and never will enter into poetry forum participation, I did find the discussion (and Art's comments) fairly interesting.

To The Zoo! Jess and Dan visited the zoo a while back, and Jess was kind enough to share her pictures with us. Cat lovers will be particularly pleased with her photographs. Also- a strange coincidence concerning Sister Carrie.

Jason Sanford recently wrote The Liar's Review of James Frey's Bright Shiny Morning. Funny stuff.

Finally, to conclude this brief list of highlights, Wanderlust Scarlett went Wandering With Bay a few weeks ago. Bay is quite adorable, and Wanderlust certainly showed her a wonderful time.

Next week is my last week of school; I should get a chance to relax and write in the near future, "should" being the key word.

Take Care,
~Neil

Yeats for Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner?

2008-05-04T01:08:00.007-05:00

"The differences in approach that are imperceptible to the audience contribute to the uniqueness of a quality writer's work."

"Every piece I've written is a piece that the rest of you are wholly incapable of writing; the same rule applies to all of us [the poets in the Cosmoetica mailing list], as we all, at the very least, have some semblance of talent (and, by extension, unique voice). While the common goal (to produce worthwhile art) is the same, each of us provides a different viewpoint and style, so every worthwhile poem we write has its own unique value. Where does competition come into play? To quote Jess: 'Good poem. Now that's one less for me to write. I'm jealous.' Hooray for constructive sarcasm. Anyhow, if there's a competition or challenge to be had in art, it's an internal one that involves besting yourself whenever possible. Instead of worrying about what other people think, work for self-satisfaction via self-improvement, and work on a personal scale, not one that has 'Great' plastered at the top of it."

The first is quoted from my previous blog entry. The second is my response to a analogy posited in an exchange over the Cosmoetica newsletter that suggested that writing poetry was a competition of sorts. Now, a quote from Jess:

"...one cannot out Stevens Stevens or out Yeats Yeats just as Hester cannot out Schneider Schneider..."

The point is not to best anyone else's personal voice. Any poet who writes quality poetry has his or her own unique worth. Artists shouldn't compete; they should come together, offering each other support and (honest and accurate) criticsm in order to provide a diverse pool of art for people to dive into and explore. Wait, wait- here it comes, the dumb metaphor! Get ready for this- art is food for the soul. Let's say Yeats is bread ('cause his name anagrams into "yeast"); would you want to eat nothing but bread for your entire life? Maybe if you're obsessed with Yeats/yeast. Any sensible person, however, needs an array of different flavors and textures to keep the meals enjoyable. I'll gladly take a little Shelley and Schneider with my Crane (mm, bird) and Yeats (and, perhaps, a bit of Hester on the side ~_^).

In short- art's not a competition, and every time a new artist graces the world with quality art, it's worthwhile, regardless of whether or not that person has reached an "immortal" status, or ever will. So, to all capable artists (especially poets!) out there- look inward, not outward, if you're looking for someone to best.

Take Care,
~Neil

LAEvaside: It's May! [/laevaside]

Begin at the Beginning/Middle/End

2008-04-27T17:15:00.003-05:00

'Begin at the beginning,' the King said gravely, 'and go on till you come to the end: then stop.'

A mostly irrelevant quote, courtesy of Lewis Carroll- I just can't help it! Anyhow...

I apologize for my extended absence; again, school has taken more than its share of my time. I'm currently preparing to play the Baker in our choir's production of Into The Woods (certainly one of my favorite musicals- I love fairy tales, and Into The Woods is quite the creative fusion of several popular fairy tales, courtesy of Stephen Sondheim). However, though the blog has suffered, I am past my writer's block (thank goodness), having written a few sonnets this past month. Anyhow, enough about me-

A brief first point- Dan Schneider notes two distinctly different types of writers- sculptors and builders. A sculptor writes to excess about an idea, then chips away at their piece, removing or reworking unnecessary or ineffective portions until the final form is reached. A builder writes more carefully from the get-go, often making changes during the creation of the first draft, and is left with very little excess to trim once the piece reaches its completion. Neither is better- the two are simply different. As a point of curiosity, I am a builder.

We've now established that there are two types of writers. Now, a second point- a work of art begins with an idea. What a remarkably dumb and obvious thing to say, Neil! True. But, where do you place the idea? A piece can start from any point- a standard A-B-C progression isn't the only way to go. Let's narrow the scope and look at poetry, for two reasons: firstly, I know more about poetry than I do about other art forms, and secondly, poetry is written (abstract building blocks are easier to shuffle around), and it's also tighter and (generally) shorter than prose.

Just as there are different types of writers, there are different ways to begin a poem. The first fragment of a poem isn't necessarily the first line; a great idea for an ending or middle line or couplet also makes for a fine starting point. A C-A-B or B-C-A progression in the creation of a poem is just as good as an A-B-C progression; our job as writers is, after all, to rearrange letters of the alphabet ~_^ While I certainly can't pick out the original fragment of another person's poem, I posit that different writers have a tendency to start in different places. I tend towards coming up with end lines or couplets, then starting from the top, with the final phrase already in place. Occasionally, the original phrase doesn't even survive; the entire poem at its completion may even have a completely different meaning than initially intended. However, that's where my starting point usually lies, and the most difficult part of writing a poem, at least for me, is beginning. Once I have something to work off of, the task is much less daunting.

The differences in approach that are imperceptible to the audience contribute to the uniqueness of a quality writer's work. I'm going to leave off with that statement, with every intention of elaborating in my next post. Take care 'til next,

~Neil