As usual, not much to report today. Also as usual, that's not gonna stop me from rambling on. For starters, the South Pole page has been updated, with a new poem by one Marta Gray. So check it out, why doncha...
Anyway, I'm still thinking about this Colorado shooting thing. I'm not actually thinking about the shooting, but a lot of the reactions to it are really starting to get on my nerves. On Tuesday night, since I didn't have to be at work till 1 on Wednesday, I was up late watching the TV I so rarely get to see- Conan O'Brien and whatnot- and happened to catch a glimpse of some Senate Hearing on C-Span. William Bennet was speaking on behalf of parents worldwide, or so he presumed, on the subject of movie violence. Now, I've heard him speak before. For some reason I think I've seen him in person, probably at school. Anyway, he always struck me as a pretty intelligent, reasonable guy. No more. He brought with him clips from the movies The Basketball Diaries and Scream and showed particularly graphic scenes from each. Admittedly, the scene where Leonardo DiCaprio is in his black trenchcoat and shooting kids all over was a little disturbing given the recent events. But if you're gonna blame this movie, then I'm sorry, you're a big FUCKING IDIOT. He then showed a clip from Scream, the opening scene actually. He made it a point to state many times that it was released by Disney. Actaully, it was Miramx, but it's parent company is Disney. Anyway, he drove that point into the ground, like he was saying "Oh look how low our nation has sunk... even Disney is getting violent....things sure were better in the good old days when I could go down to the corner drugstore and get my 5 cent licorice shoelaces and stop at the local moviehouse for a matinee of Herbie, the Love Bug." Puh-leeease. He then went on to say how America's parents had had enough...that he was here to tell the nation that America's people had had enough of this sort of violence. First of all, I guarantee that Scream 3 will rake in all sorts of dough this December. Secondly, this is the same movie that was praised two years ago by every major media outlet for being smart, witty, and singlehandedly bringing back not only horror movies but teen flicks as well. Now that it's en vouge to berate the makers of violence, everyone is singing a different tune. Please, read this mock opinion poll by the good folks at The Onion. If you ask me, if there's one major villain responsible for violence it's the mainstream media, whose various agents struggle against each other to bring you the most comprehensive, exciting coverage. At least when you watch movies you know it's stylized and fake. Every TV network and station glamorizes tragic events, pouring on the drama in such a heartless way that pretty soon you're wishing these horrible events never took place just so you wouldn't have to listen to the faux grave tone in the handsome anchorman's voice.
As I've said before, I seriously doubt that you can blame highschool shootings and kids killing their parents on movies and/or TV. At this rate, we're gonna see William Bennet leading a video burning outside the Capitol. People don't give kids enough credit. People forget how smart you can actually be when you're 12. I've known twelve year-olds smarter than your average NRA member. You know, I'm not that far removed from my youth that I can't remember sixth grade. You know what? I watched a lot of wrestling back then, I watched a lot of Arnold Schwarzenegger movies, and yes, there were times when I wanted to shoot some people. But even if I'd had a gun, it's unlikely that I would've. You know why? Cos my mom would been really pissed at me. I'll say it a thousand times: It's the parents' responsibility. If you're gonna bring a life into this world, you gotta know what kinda world you're bringing it into. It's not tv's responsibility to raise your kids, and it's not tv's fault if your kid ends up a no good dirty rotten scoundral. Of course, i watched more hours of tv than I spent reading or writing, but i think i'm smarter for it. Maybe I'm just angry that people are starting to attack tv because it was so integral in my upbringing. But I'm not the person I am because of TV. Sure, I'm the funny, charming, witty guy that I am largely due to sitcoms and cartoons, but let's face it, there's been no drama on tv good enough to instill solid moral vaules and beliefs on me, so I had to rely on my parents for that. And I don't see that trend changing anytime soon. In sum , take care of what you spawn. And if you fucked up already and think they're picking up bad influences from tv, then turn the goddam thing off for god's sake. How tough is that? And go get em a copy of Where the Sidewalk Ends or some passive-behavior enducing shit. Well, that sure was a long rant, wasn't it?
Anyhow, back in the real world, things couldn't be much more boring. I stopped by Rick's after work yesterday to get the skinny on the situation for the weekend. His roommate Brad had some guests over, I assume for Cinco de Mayo. I hate walking in to a room and finding a bunch of people, especially when I don't know any of them. Anyway I guess I'm gonna get Nora from the airport on Friday night and we'll just stay there for the duration of her visit. I'm bummed that i have no one to call from work now. Maybe I'll just call Nora's replacement. The only good thing that I get from Nora's going to Europe is that now I can write about her with impunity.
Wanna know why I hate this job? The dress code. I hate wearing ties. Plus, it's sorta sexist. I mean, girls can at least still dress kinda stylish and even, dare I say, cool. But me? dork. So on the rare, rare occasion that I happen to pass by a pretty girl, I start my normal routine, then after about 3 seconds I look down at myself and think "What the Fuck am I doing.? Look at me!" It's like I've been stripped of all my personality, and all anyone sees is this yound Asian kid in a tie, working his way up the corporate ladder. Too bad Asians have such a reputation for hard work and dilligence. I don't think today's youth identifies with it. When I see someone that looks kinda cool, I almost want to scream "I'm quitting my job soon! This isn't me! No.. Wait!" sigh....
By the way, last time I talked to Rodzilla, she said she felt like we were kinda growing apart. Not our relationship really, but I guess she said we don't talk as much and that there felt like there was more distance than before. That was a bit disturbing. I guess with my move and her new job and her new schedule at school, there's a lot less correspondence. Which really sucks, especially now. Plus, it's gonna be another week till I see her again. I know it's pathetic. But I really don't know what's gonna happen when she goes to France. But however things may be right now, I'm fairly confident that everything will be ok when we start our job for the month of July. Actually, I'm pretty sure things will be their best ever. At least, I hope so. We're also planning to go to Hilton Head in June, I think, and Texas in August. Gonna visit Doug for the first time, I hope. I got a full summer ahead of me. I just hope things with Rodzilla are stable by then. Just in time for her to go to France. sigh.....
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