perspective.

I was reading National Geographic, or as the popular people call it "nat geo", about seven years ago. In the back they had a question and answer section. I would flip through the magazine, look at the pictures, avoid the words, and then read this half a page Q&A section. The following is a Nat Geo fact:

At the horizon line the human eye can see for 7 miles with good conditions. 

My mom calls me to either A.) rant about politics and then hang up so I cannot share my viewpoint or B.) tell me about a metaphor she recently read. Clearly our conversations are extremely insightful. But here I am after all these years of metaphor conversation, I am using one. Quite a familial milestone I am crossing. 

For a human to see 7 miles, conditions must be good, for a human to reach success, and thusly see a full 7 miles it takes insight and perspective. Some of the most creative and intelligent people have this dose of this perspective. 

In my world politics book there was a map of the early colonization of the world. It adequately illustrates the necessity of perspective.

Its kind of hard to see from this map, but while other countries were scrambling for territory in the formidable years of empire, Denmark had some real perspective. They grabbed up Greenland and Iceland and put them in its little Danish pocket. 

Am I being sarcastic? Maybe a little, with relation to the industry that Denmark gained from this acquisition. But today I am sure that Denmark is hurting. Look at the remarkable people that come from the fair nation of Iceland. 

This is Jonsi, lead singer of Sigur Ros.

Yes, he wears 1.) body/ face glitter 2.) feathers behind his ears and 3.) ribbons off his arms.

He also happens to produce some swell music.

Secondly: Bjork

She has some curious taste. The unforgettable swan dress. Her music is, well, different. 

Thirdly and lastly, Magnús Scheving, who is an author, actor, athlete, and creator of the show Lazy Town.

Everything about this makes me very nervous.

Conclusion: yes perspective is good

no, Denmark may not have had that much in years past

yes, Icelanders have too much "indoors" time during winter

no, do not let your children watch Icelandic TV.

equations.

Statistics. I've never been particularly skilled at the subject. In fact I remember my classes pretty well. 8 AM, crazy professor who couldn't quite explain what statistics was without a book definition, lots of broken chalk due to a crazy hand grip and writing method. Great memories. Statistics however takes the least mathematic of subjects, humans, and crams them into formulas.

Bell curves and histograms and bar graphs and deviations. Simple representations of grandiose complex beings. How does it work? How can we reduce creatures into formulas?

Life isn't that simple. Actions and behaviors can't always translate into finite equations. Its not bad to make simple models, to try to predict behaviors, but we cannot boil down the experience of a lifetime into a standard formula.  There's too many variables. Slowly culture is standardizing variables to make one correct answer.

There is not one correct answer. We are not a collective whole. Everybody has a different conclusion, and experience is all about finding them.

I'm looking for mine. And I don't need a calculator.

ladder.

I walk by these stairs everyday. If I have to climb a ladder or stairs of success I pray this is my flight.

anticipation.

This Xmas tree is pretty swell.
And you could leave it up all
year and tell people its a
rocket ship.

For me, the best part of the holidays is anticipation. Actually for the most part of all holidays, except lent, anticipation is my favorite part. And I'm not Catholic or Lutheran so I don't really know why I celebrate lent. I usually give up something I'm allergic to, so I guess you know where my heart really lies. Right now I am anticipating Thanksgiving and Christmas. I love Christmas music. Charlie Brown is the bomb, Rudolph is all over that diversity thing, and McCauley Culkin, based on his weirdness factor, will probably always be Home Alone at Christmas.

Why is anticipation the best part? We get to imagine. We imagine situations, food, colors, and feelings. And at Christmas all of these senses are magnified to crazy awesome levels. I think that anticipation is really one of the only ways that Americans really dream and use imagination. Thats why we love it. But Christmas is coming soon. So you best get your imagination fired up.

The song "Christmas is Coming" by Blitzen Trapper is perfect for this imagination/anticipation phase. They really have a unique Christmas experience, including, but not limited to Donkey Kong, making love in stolen cars, and stained slacks. I couldn't find a video. But I found a free legal download for you, of a song I legally purchased the other day. Fantastic lyrics. Fantastic song. Fantastic its almost Christmas, but I still have a ton of work to do sentiment. Enjoy.

compromise.

I'm a political science major and I've been trying really hard to keep my inner geek reigned in so I don't write about something that bores you into a mind numbing oblivion. But its true. I am nerdy cool. I've been reading a lot of political theory of late, and everybody is rather extreme. I however find that extremities, aren't healthy for politics, (and largely should only be attached to the body).

Aristotle once said "Virtue is found in the middle." I agree. Based on the early writings and system of American government, we are a nation of compromise. Somehow, today each party has decided, we are right, everybody else is wrong. I will not even listen to, let alone consider what you think because you are either a donkey/elephant.  Compromise has vanished from the political sphere. And I guess that makes for better c-span.

Nobody is interminably correct. And not listening to others is not going to solve any of the current situations our nation finds itself in. We must find virtue through compromise.

Moderation is healthy. An individual cannot go to extremes and continue to be healthy. Moderation in eating and exercise is necessary, and it desperately needs to be applied to political thought. (And if you think about it, the moderate stance is in the middle of red and blue. Our color would be purple. Purple typically represents royalty. Moderates have a head start, historically we would be royalty. Just sayin') Ready, set, listen to other people and compromise. (This may not be the best use of the phrase, but I think its catchy.)

Smart dude with good style. I hear the Grecian trend is really blowing up next spring.

explosive.

Isn't it kind of fascinating that anything can take on a characteristic. This idea is kind of abstract, but hang with me for at least one more minute. Like a person can choose to be a style or genre or personality. And we can choose. While I know genre is usually used for music or literature, I think a human can be a genre too. While we, to a certain extent, really have no control on exactly who we are, we are born that way, I think its the coolest thing that we can choose. You can reinvent who you are, or clothe yourself with a different style. And at the end of the day, we're all basically the same. We're flesh, blood, and skeleton.

Look at music. Music can embody so many different feelings. Recently, much to the chagrin of my ear drums,  explosive music has been resonating with me. I don't know if you listen to Sleigh Bells, but you should. And you should also love it and dream about it when you sleep. This song is loud. So if you're in church or something don't click on this.



Do you know what is crazy awesome about this? The vocals and music are written by a school teacher. Can you imagine a parent teacher conference. "Well in my free time I write explosive rock music, and make sexually suggestive noises in most songs, and I also teach your children how to read." I love it.

 I love the fact that we can change, can you imagine how horrible life would be if we were forced to only be and live as one entity? There are 6 billion of us on the earth right now. And I am so thankful that I have the liberty and freedom to choose to do what I want. Maybe I will be explosive today. Or not.

lines.

We don't realize it, but our entire world is completely made up of lines. As any good art student would know, lines make up the pictures we see, the rooms in which we live, and everything that surrounds us. In fact they keep us from inappropriate traffic behavior, help us write efficiently on a page, and make up a significant amount of American frustration- lines at the DMV. While they do a lot, lines also make up some pretty useful "learning tools," if you will. Don't believe me? I copied down several that one of my professors uses. Get ready for your mind to be blown.

 

Explanation: "Relationship commitments break barriers of space and time.”

I thought: French bread with ants on it.

 

 Explanation: "The river ends."

I thought: math notation I am definitely not familiar with.

Explanation: "Community leads to greater fulfillment of self"

I thought: messed up symbol for male. Austin Powers would have a heart attack.

Explanation: "Let the inner light shine through."

I thought: if your fruit looks like this, either a 3 year old drew on it with sharpie, or you should definitely throw it out.

 Explanation: “Original intent v. organic and modern translation.”

I thought: out of control pound signs.

Explanation: "This is a treaty."

I thought: how in this world, or in any other does that represent a treaty?

Explanation: I think it says understandings. Too bad I don’t understand that handwriting.

I thought: I cannot believe this class is 3 hours long. I feel like I’m in prison with an older gentleman that stares at me making a fake laughing/ wheezing sound until I laugh at a joke he just made.

Who knew a simple line drawing could mean so much?