Bueller?

When i read this, i knew i had to re-post this. Even though it definitely wasn't intended in the original film, you can't help but wonder; especially if its about one of your favorite movies.

"My favorite thought-piece about Ferris Bueller is the “Fight Club” theory, in which Ferris Bueller, the person, is just a figment of Cameron’s imagination, like Tyler Durden, and Sloane is the girl Cameron secretly loves.

One day while he’s lying sick in bed, Cameron lets “Ferris” steal his father’s car and take the day off, and as Cameron wanders around the city, all of his interactions with Ferris and Sloane, and all the impossible hijinks, are all just played out in his head. This is part of the reason why the “three” characters can see so much of Chicago in less than one day — Cameron is alone, just imagining it all.

It isn’t until he destroys the front of the car in a fugue state does he finally get a grip and decide to confront his father, after which he imagines a final, impossible escape for Ferris and a storybook happy ending for Sloane (”He’s gonna marry me!”), the girl that Cameron knows he can never have.

What do you think?"

originally posted by 'Cool Papa Bell' on Metatalk.

The Prediction

So I see a headline: "NASA Scientist Predicts We'll Meet E.T. By 2019"

And I think to myself: at what point does stupidity become credibility?

... just saying

Songs About Nothing.

Songs About Nothing Beat Tape... Download>HERE.

The Expectation

There are several things that seem to be universal phenomenons: love, death, wealth, and quite simply life itself. Yet with all of these things, there seems to be a common trend among all of them; our expectations of them. The euphoria, mediocrity, or petrifying feelings that we expect also seem to be a phenomenon within themselves.
When we delve a little bit deeper, we must ask ourselves two questions:
i) "Why do I expect these things?"
ii) "Do my expectations depend on me, or vice versa?"
The second question may seem very obscure, as the natural thought we have is to ponder how we could possibly depend on expectation. This question has a rather simple answer, it could be theorized that an expectation is nothing more of an anticipatory thought, and since a rational being is a manifest of thought, we could possibly depend on expectation until we reach the climax of anticipating our last act on earth.

To return to the first question of why we expect, we must first realize that each psyche reacts and perceives differently, so we cannot definitively conclude on anything. But by looking at several cliche or extreme instances we can find a certain trend that we can pertain to people. And yet, we have already stumbled on our first expectation of this question, and even furthermore: a piece of theory that could prove to be useful. It is evident that we go through life trying to observe and instinctively try to find answers, or the truth. Sadly though, many answers don't, or can't come to us as easily as we would hope, and since the mind is temporarily left unsatisfied by not knowing, we must look for at least an idea of what possibly the subject could be. Call it a hypothesis, or a simple stab at a question, but really its just an attempt to simplify or satisfy the mind. This is the true nature of an expectation. What separates the idea from an expectation though, is the level of persistence. Ideas change and evolve, but the change in expectation demonstrates the re-structuring of one's mindstate. So perhaps we not only create expectation to put our minds at ease, but also evolve and plot our path out, and in turn our future selves.
A probable second answer to why we expect, is because we have experienced. The experience of seeing, hearing, calculating or committing any action with a subject gives us a sensation or impression that satisfies our unease of the mind, as it replaces or affirms the expectation which we have had. Although we must consider that this is done simply to satisfy the mind, and not really understand the truth that every time we see, hear, etc. is different, and just as Nietzche said: "the truth is an arbitrary distraction from differences." We accept different things as the truth because we are bred to notice trends, and if we associate every individual event as unique, our mind will never be satisfied as it will always trying to be comprehending the significance and details of the moment. If that is our mentality, we would be in a state of euphoric boredom, as we would not be able to appreciate when something truly unique occurs.

Do we depend on our expectations, or do they on us? Even still, it is almost impossible to fathom this concept that we can depend on something that we believe that we ourselves have created. Seemingly, there is no validity to the question, but there is much more depth, if we were to take a second glance we would find that there is much more depth to it than first thought, just like the classic expression of "expect the unexpected." If there was one thing that we expect most it would be life. Our existence is practically guaranteed, as there is no reason to expect it to end at any moment, when in fact there is no reason to expect the opposite. What's funny is that we think so highly and naively about something that is so fragile, that we want to take command of moments and 'live life to the fullest'. Why is it then, that we never ask the question of why we choose to do so? Is it because we expect the best result from that mentality? I believe a more appropriate question to ask would be one that questions what would happen if we chose to expect ourselves not to live at all. Could it be that this state of mind would end us? Scientifically of course not, but theoretically: of course. What I mean by this, is not that we would die, but we would re-define ourselves to look at the accident we call life completely differently. By rejecting the seemingly everlasting certainty we've carried with ourselves all of our lives, the creation of genuine care, as well as true character would be imminent. The genuine care would not come from a sense of paranoia, no. Paranoia arises from the thought of consequence, but what kind of paranoia could you possibly have if you have already removed the ultimate consequence from your expectations, from your existence. Character would develop as the concept of life would exist as a privilege, bringing out the qualities that one would want them to be remembered them by. If the person believes that they are doing everything rightfully, goodness would not only be inspired; goodness would become a self evident reality. This could be the case, just as long as human nature does not reveal itself and make people forget that this expectation even exists.

We can pick apart every single aspect of life (or period before death under the newfound acceptance) and find that there are so many variables that could change. Though the changes may not be revolutionary, they are changes nonetheless, and if they change us in the slightest that means that there exists a load of dependency, therefore that means that we do indeed depend on our expectations.

Expect nothing but the best from yourself.

The Headlights

When we are too foolish to see what we have let go of in life, the headlights hit our back. But when we realize just what it is thats behind us, we see that its too late to do anything about it.

When we see that the light is on the ground, all we can do is look back to the last time we looked at a clear sky.

The Dark

The Tolerant

“When you find peace within yourself, you become the kind of person who can live at peace with others.”

Theory/Long Post Soon, I Promise...

The Obnoxious

20% of people make 80% of the noise, while the other 80% make 20%.

Too bad the same goes for money, idiocy, wisdom, luck, and pretty much everything else...

The Puppeteer

All fears can be rooted back to the fear that many identify as the fear of the unknown.
But since we cannot know that the unknown is to be feared, we truly only fear those unknowns which several known outcomes.
This also makes our fear one of vulnerability, as fears come from moments that we cannot control, which in turn makes them control us.
It is because the puppeteer knows how powerful control can be that makes him fear the string which is attached to him.

The Life Of The Mind

If you haven't seen Synecdoche, New York. Go do it. Now.

On the flip side, if you have i highly suggest you read this essay, and how this writer responded to this movie.

Read The Life of the Mind: On Synecdoche, New York HERE

The Tweet of Life

Last week, The Toronto Star hosted a contest open to everyone in an attempt to find the meaning of life. And of course, there is a catch: finish the following sentence: "the meaning of life is..." oh, and do it in less than 140 characters. The winners were published over the course of this week, and here are my favorites:

The meaning of life is to understand that we are living, and that is possibly the only thing we could ever do.
mattsereda

1. Birth, 2. Survival, 3. Reproduction, 4. Repeat 2 and 3 if necessary, 5. Death ... and nothing more, as more is less.
greg_a_elliott

To live that's why it's called life yo.
TaylorBLANK

Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
Egypt

In 1,000 years will anyone care? Actions matter, but remember this question as you swell with pride or die of embarrassment.
mpaulschmidt

The meaning of life is not to live it in a way that can be compressed into 140 characters or less
noahmintz

The meaning of life is to achieve a state of mind in which you no longer wonder about the meaning of life.
nancycanuck

The meaning of life is to pursue the meaning of life through learning, teaching, searching, losing, success and failure.
AlanWharris

The Simple Mind

The Simple Mind Gone Wrong.

Throughout time the human being has consistently changed it's physical form, spiritual followings, and a countless amount of paradigms. Yet throughout all of these progressions, it seems as though the foundation of our intellectual makeup has remained the same. Of course, what I am referring to is the process of simplification when acquiring new knowledge. Generally, people are bred by either nature, or the educational system to interpret facts from a standpoint that allows them to relate to a set of rudimentary principles. By taking on this mental process, we decline to learn the new knowledge as truly new knowledge, and are there in turn limiting our capacity and understanding before we choose to further delve into the topic at hand. With this, the human mind is unethical. To examine why this is so, it is essential for one to examine the cause, effect, and alternative outcomes of this seemingly self-perpetuating phenomenon. “A good teacher is a master of simplification and an enemy of simplism.” [Berman] and yet, perhaps this is the problem itself.
What would be the cause of mental simplification? Of course, modern day man could not even fathom the root of that, but perhaps it arose from quite literally his first steps. When in infancy, the world is full of complexities and every object seems to have a profound aspect to it. This is the only time one truly tries to understand everything in its raw form, as one has not formed a "database" for simplification. As time progresses, and the brain does not interpret everything as complete insanity anymore, the mind start laying down a basic foundation as to what is beneficial or detrimental to our state, and with this the life-long process of simplification begins. Blanket: soft, good; Dirt: dark, yucky. Of course, we do not have words to do this for us, but we do it anyways through sensations and symbols. This shows that people almost naturally become followers of Ayn Rand, in the way one instinctively create a guideline of which way to act in pursuit of personal benefit and pleasure. Of course, the mind does not stop collecting pieces of data there, or else forty-year-old males would still ponder why Barney's torso is green.
What happens when this cause is struck, is that down the line the mind gets quite literally limited by our imaginations. When one chooses to simplify, they essentially make a connection in their mind with something that it shares similar traits with, first starting with what grasps the general concept. This in turn strengthens the new link; but, when one realize that they are creating a link, there are only so many paths that one can choose to link the information to. With this limitation in place the mind slowly builds a house of understanding, placing a brick of experience on top of another. This then creates one's own standards, and one's senses of egoism and intuition, which are ethical standpoints in themselves. Returning to the house metaphor, we choose to create separate rooms or extensions to the foundation of our knowledge, but by doing so the mind can experience distortion of perception, which gives way for the deconstruction of a mind. When one creates a house as large as all of their life's experiences, the link between one end and the other can definitely exist, but one usually tend to go to the garage for our car, and not the attic; as such should be the case for knowledge. If people were to create a community rather than a household, one could not only create a harmonious space for interdependency of knowledge, but also an adaptive way of thinking.
When one chooses to think or interpret a certain way, it usually fits into the jigsaw that they have been laying down their entire life. If people were to practice the act of creating new puzzle sets for every section of life it would perhaps not be as simple, but rather irrefutably more organized. By rejecting relativism, one can define their own true ethical code and intellectual structure through the process of creating not only one, but many points of view. This will inspire the creation of the truly adaptive human, and potentially destroy the single-minded, radicalist nature of man, which has held down progress throughout history. A perfect example of how this could benefit society is to look at the technological and innovative progress that took place when the societal status quo had fallen from being a mono-cultured religious collection, and evolved into a multi-opinionated and multi-purposeful one. If one would apply this macro-scale example to their micro-scale self, personal evolution will inevitably begin. Einstein theorized about how relativity is the foundation of everything, and this take does not minimize his statements, but rather maximize it, as the relation of raw knowledge could in turn spontaneously create a synergy of ideas, rather than a homogeneous mesh.
The truth is, the mind simplifies because it is not only what others have taught it to do, but also what it has taught itself. It is one's own selfishness which has lead to the creation of the minds fleshed out paradigm, yet it is the same selfishness which has kept both themselves and others from producing and understanding the ideas that could have lead to great progress. In fact, when one simplifies the act of simplification itself by looking at its root, effect, and the alternative path it is evident that this phenomenon is not ethical. Of course it is not to say that simplification is wrong, because it has been somewhat effective for as long as anyone can remember, but rather that the alternative route is right; and by taking the lesser path of the mind, we are unethically compromising what is, and what could have been. To return to the toddler metaphor; if one were to attempt understanding the truth in a raw state, it would be the same as the first release of understanding language when that first word is spoken. If that same euphoric feeling could be expressed in everyday knowledge, the human mind would live in a rightful, and ever-evolving state.

The Lonely People

Artist: The Beatles

Song: Eleanor Rigby

Album: Revolver

Producer: George Martin

This song needs no introduction, as it is one of the greatest songs ever recorded [in my opinion, anyways]. John Lennon once said that music is just like a flower; if you pay attention long enough, you'll find whatever answer you're looking for. This song is no exception to that quote, as every time one listens to it there arise thoughts of the past, future, and of course the present. One of the timeless treasures delivered from The Beatles.

Download HERE.

The Silence

Silence is simple.

Silence is perfect, it is the closest thing we have to nothing. And with nothing, comes no flaw, and no margin for error, as it is after all: nothing.

When silence strikes, it is powerful, as it commands whichever setting it is in; yet, at the same time it is vulnerable in the fact that it can be broken by the slightest "something" like a pin dropping.

And nowadays, silence is a practical impossibility to find.

Yet, it seems like the only time we truly find it is when we lay to rest. And in that still moment, and only in that moment you realize: silence is everything. Silence gives weight to every sound, movement, paranoiac sensation, all while remaining the same, still silence.

Lying in that bed, the brain is not satisfied with simply doing nothing, and seeing as there are no distractions coming from the sounds that simply aren't there. So in turn your thought process begins, and even though there is nothing, there is also everything, seeing as your mind will take you to a digression of your life, and all the experiences that took up your life. And you try to escape it, but you really can't escape the silence, because there is simply too much noise in your mind.

Perhaps it is because of this, that we choose to immerse ourselves with gadgets and iPods to block out the silence, and isolate ourselves in noise. Because of all the noise, we cannot concentrate or think of much, and we are afraid to have unsettling thoughts, and we choose to retreat to simplicity. We are a species that essentially lives alone, and we are afraid of the silence, because the desolation we feel is imminently going to remind us of the very sad truth over and over again.

Of course, silence is not only audio, it is applicable for every other sense. Why is it that when paint first hits a canvas, there is instant beauty in it? Because it is that same stroke, that shows us that from nothing can come something, and all the "somethings" in this world are distractions. We must not fear, nor embrace the silence, but simply recognize that it is there, and its power.

There are two ways silence can truly be silence:

When you are genuinely lost with no sense of direction, and the experience you are going through completely swallows any possible thought

And, when there is no silence at all.

"Silence is the most powerful scream"