New Music - Recommends From Friends

Resolution

So, I've decided that I don't have time to do nice, well thought out blog posts this semester. If you could see the "Edit Posts" section of this thing, you'd have a great laugh at how many half-begun posts there are.

I suppose I'm just the type of writer who can only compose when inspiration hits. As much as I hate to say it, inspiration rarely works around my school schedule.

What a drag.

However, I do want to get in the habit of posting in here regularly, so I figure that a bunch of small posts is better than a big one every few months.

I will try to put some kind of quote every time in addition to what song is helping me make it through the day, which I always put at the end of the post. That way I look like I'm trying!

So here's today's quote!

Asking is the beginning of receiving. Make sure you don't go to the ocean with a teaspoon. At least take a bucket so the kids won't laugh at you.
- Jim Rohn

So, in current Mike events, I purchased The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupèry. It's one of those books, much like The Phantom Tollbooth (which, if you haven't read, please do. It'll change your life, guaranteed.) in that it's written for children, but is just as clever for an adult. Like a Disney movie with less publicity and more words. The author makes an argument for children, admitting that even though he, himself, is an adult, he still enjoys childish tendencies. It's written in an interesting way, with a lot of Ferris Bueller-esque narrations. I'll give you a little slice of it:

"Whenever I encountered a grown-up who seemed to me at all enlightened, I would experiment on him with my drawing Number One, which I have always kept. I wanted to see if he really understood anything. But he would always answer, ‘That’s a hat.’ Then I wouldn’t talk about boa constrictors or jungles or stars. I would put myself on his level and talk about bridge and golf and politics and neckties. And my grown-up was glad to know such a reasonable person."

His drawing, by the way, is of a boa constrictor that has eaten an elephant whole. I've put the drawing to the right.

It's a nice little read.


- Mike


At Least I'm Not As Sad As I Used To Be - fun.

Patriot Day

Ten years ago, the United States of America changed forever. Many people think of 9/11 as a tragedy and, in scope of human loss of life and invoked fear, a tragedy it was. But the optimist inside me begs to pay closer attention at this special anniversary to the good that came from an overwhelmingly negative event.

As I’ve watched some of the specials that have been aired today, I’ve noticed something different. The first and most poignant is that when I watch the images of the towers falling, of wives telling the story of lost firefighter husbands or of people leaping from the towers to end their life, it really gets to me. Ever since serving my mission and really getting to know and learning to love people, it’s really emotional to see anyone suffer. I’d be lying to say I haven’t shed tears while watching.

The other thing I noticed was that the story of 9/11 has another side I never was cognitive of before. It's the tale of the selflessness shown that day. There have been countless accounts of people caring more for others' lives than their own. I recently saw, in an interview, a man who said something to the effect of "I knew that if I got out, I wouldn't want to think back and know I didn't try to help someone else." That's bravery.

It’s a story of strangers helping strangers. It's a story of the enduring human spirit. It's a story of ordinary Americans showing extraordinary courage.

So, as we mourn the loss of the 2,977 victims of this tragedy, let us not forget the unconquerable spirit that we, as Americans have shown for nearly 250 years. Let us not forget that in the midst of pain, there was consolation from unknown voices; people thrown into utter vulnerability who had never previously met and who must now rely on those around them for comfort. Let us not forget that in times of crisis, we find out what people are really made of. America earned the red of it's Banner's stripes that day, but also proved the uniting persevering blue.

Ten years ago, two towers fell so that we could stand.

Together.

- Mike