I know that all of you are and have probably been doing a cataloging of the past 10 years of your own lives, and the interactions, adventures, ordeals, milestones, celebrations and anything else that you can think of to not only move forward in the oncoming years, but also because we all seem to be doomed to remember and reminisce about the past. Cool. We survived, so far.
I cannot deny that this decade has probably been the most important, influential, eye-opening, mind blowing and altogether most important decade of my life. Granted, I do have to take into consideration that this decade was also the decade that I entered adulthood, and is still leaving me while I am still within my 20's. This was the first decade that I had to do on my own. Sweet Baby Jesus. I survived tot this point, and even I question sometimes how.
This decade has seen some tremendous change in society. Yup, I just said it. You really think that there's a decade in history that was labeled as "a completely unchanging, plateau of growth as a culture" or "a decade in which we reverted, and un-evolved as a culture, and as humans"? I mean, we sure as hell tried it seemed; 8 years with President Bush? What was that? Oh. Yeah... Whoops, I voted for him too. For the record, I was 18 the 1st time, and had been raised and never really outside of Denver. The second time, I literally was living on a remote island, with no electricity or running water.
This decade we saw paranoia take on a whole new level. Yes, 9/11 did bring the country together quite a bit more than just the pride of being American. I fell that especially the separation of "what is your family heritage?" became a moot point. Just as "where are you from?". Generally speaking, people are no longer looking exclusively within their religion, or within their heritage for their significant others, friends, co-workers, partners in crime and everything that you could ever want in a companion of any sort.
However, back to the paranoia, the fact that we've been on Alert Level Orange, meaning imminent attack. I'm not saying that I don't care, and that I don't think that it'll ever happen again. But, I think that our constant fear of it isn't helping either. Like I said in the "Traveling for Idiots" post, I'm pretty sure that little air-blaster thing isn't going to scare off anyone really trying to do something.
We also are so fearful of everything and everyone around us. We wash our hands constantly. We carry hand sanitizer everywhere. And then we wonder why we're always fighting the next Farm Animal Super-Flu. I don't know how old you are reading this, but if you're anywhere around my age, you remember the shit you used to pull (maybe literally in the right parts of the country) as a kid. You probably ate bugs, while locked outside in the summers, to pull stunts that could have fully killed you, if not at least broken bones and property. We played in the sewer water, or the open fields, gullies, forests, etc. Yeah, we got sick, but not near as much as kids do now. The way I see it, our parents were just weeding out the gene pool back then. You had to survive to make it.
I have had a great time watching the difference in generations this decade. I know that I'm not part of the Baby Boomers, but I'm not sure if I'm really part of Generation X either. I know that the new Generation, that is becoming prominent amongst society is Generation Y. We can thank this generation for Bottle Service, $250 jeans, frivolous spending and living lavish, whether or not it's true. This generation are also the kids that brought you that phone in your pocket, that you may be reading this blog from. Hell, they brought you blogs, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace (sorry it didn't work out Tom). This generation are the ones that made accessibility a mandate, not an option. Those of us on the cusp of the generation gap, or fully generations before it, do enjoy our alone time, free from the umbilical cord that never lets us feel alone.
Granted, I get it. Our parent's parents never left them alone. There was always mom (grandma) at home, for the most part. So, when our parents grew up, they wanted to be "free". Hello Hippy revolution.
Our parents let us do our thing. Most of us had a parent around, but also saw that they may have been working from home, or started the onset of Nannies and regular babysitters. So, we started rebelling in our own way. "Damn The Man!". Yay for Punk/grunge/rock movements! You're not my mom! I do what I want!
Then there's these kids. Their parents want to have everything, so they work all the time, thus leaving little Robert to wonder "parents?". These kids are familiar with the word, and what it's supposed to mean, but they do feel alone, and don't want to. Welcome to the mix Emo's.
Yes, the stereotype "Emo means suicidal" is a good joke and all, and maybe I'm playing into it with the whole "lonesome" theory, but these are the kids that have a phone in their hand at all times, that have blown up the social networking media as a super-beast, leaving everyone always in contact with one another, and no matter how hard you try, you will never be inaccessible. If you don't conform to the "right now" mentality, you can't survive anymore professionally either. It's a blessing and a curse.
To think that 100 years ago, phones were a luxury item. Most business and personal messages were either directly spoken face to face, or mailed via postal service. What ever business deal that now takes you 10 minutes to achieve, used to take almost 2 weeks.
This decade has seen things grown leaps and bounds like that. Our phones aren't just phones anymore. In the 90s families were starting to get a home computer. The Internet was kind of a luxury. Now, an iPhone does more than what any computer in the 90s ever did, and it does it faster. I maybe actually get on my computer a couple times a month now, and do everything else from my iPhone. In 10 years, I can't wait to see what's next. I joke about telepathy, but that's really the next advancement.
Still, WHERE THE FUCK IS MY FLYING CAR!!!
All in all, this decade has most certainly been an entertaining one, for all of us. You can't deny it. It may not be a classic inspired, or producing decade for entertainment purposes, but you have to laugh at so many of the things we produced, bore witness to, created and destroyed.
I'm not really going to go into the "Best of" lists for the decade. They're out there, you're going to have you opinion on them, as am I. I will list off things that I feel may have defined our decade the best, and have shown so in their ability to be in public the whole decade through.
The Song to best represent the 00s:
"Right Now" by SR71.
Honestly, it's still played in bars all over the country, and plays off the instant gratification mentality. Also, I feel, it kind of launched, or at least accepted the "crazy bitch" movement.
The TV show to best represent the 00s:
American Idol.
Not because it was on for most of the decade. Not because it's produced such amazing performers and promoted undeniable talent, because let's be honest, who from that show is the new Cher/Madonna/Frank Sinatra? But no, it's because it played and it preyed on people, and it played and preyed on people better than any scripted show ever could.
The Movie to best represent the 00s:
The Lord of the Rings (Trilogy)
These 3 movies set new standards for the movies. Length, adaptation, characters, nouns, adjectives. These damn movies are everywhere, and people reference them whether or not you were a fan. Have you called anyone a Hobbit lately?
I won't deny that this has been an incredible decade. I just can't wait to see what comes next.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
A Quick Note
I will be posting a couple new things here in the oncoming week. Though, I also know that posting these will be hard to actually follow through with, seeing as how I am still in Denver today, and trying to get a good deal accomplished while I'm here, including but not limited to: getting to my bank that is based here, seeing my eye-brow artist, meeting up with friends, and getting back to the gym. Also, tomorrow I will be hitting the slopes with a couple friends and family members. Finally, driving back to LA on Weds, a 15 hour drive. So, don't hold me to having my postings by the new year; though I'll try my damnedest.
That being said, I have received a great deal of emails, twitters, commentary on here and other various forms of contact expressing either concern, displeasure or inquisition as to various things that are being discussed. I will assure you all that I have never lied about anything regarding myself and or my stance on certain subjects.
I will always be honest with all of you, and will always answer any questions that you may have, to the best of my ability (yes, I now how political that sounds, and I scoff at it as well, but if you ask me about quantum physics, I couldn't answer a damn thing about it). I will also always leave up your commentary (even if you hide behind an "anonymous" moniker, because that is your voice that you want to be heard). I will remove commentary that is degrading, disrespectful, hateful towards anyone, especially other commentators.
That being said, I'll now return you to my "All Seriousness Aside" style.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
The Deal Breaker
Not that I'm assuming that anyone reading this has seen or read my Facebook Status or Tweets in the previous days, but regardless of that I'm going to elaborate, and lay out there the "Deal Breakers". We all have them. We all sometimes live by them. Of course, there's always exceptions, so these "Deal Beakers" typically fall under the "guideline" category, rather than "rules".
Sometimes our "Deal Breakers" have a tendency to be some of the things that have no rhyme nor reason. Others err on the side of obvious preservations. Either way you dice it, they are always the things, that no matter how Hott that person is, you can't get over the fact that this person falls into the category.
My "deal breakers" typically are some of the common sense listing.
I won't date a family member of a good friend.
I won't date an ex of a family member or a good friend.
I won't date an ex, again.
I try to steer clear of anyone that is under 5'6"... but that's really just for my mom, she says I need taller people.
I won't date a co-worker. Fortunately for me, I don't have a day job; and formalities of dating in my line of work are heresay. Come on now, I get the good 1st!
I won't date a salesman. I do clump marketing into the salesman category.
I won't date anyone under the age of 25.
But, these are hard to say that they're a "deal breaker". Have I ever dated anyone from any of these categories? Of course I have. Were some of these made up and listed because of a personal experience? Absolutely. Hell, I even had one ex of mine that exhibited all of the "deal breaker" rules. You can't stop yourself from what your heart desires, right? What's the saying, "some rules were made to be broken"? Go for it, it'll probably be good while it lasts.
That being said, there are a few things that are totally illogical, even to me, as to why I can't stand people that exhibit the following characteristics. No, I correct myself. It's not that I cannot stand these people, so much so that it is I have a hard time taking these people seriously enough to begin a relationship, especially a trusting relationship, when I have to doubt their taste, sanity, decision making skills and idea of acceptable social integration and behavior.
One of these illogical (to most) "deal breakers", are Mini Coopers. Yes, the little car. You may think of it as the sporty little car from The Italian Job. You may think of it in terms of one of the vehicles that characteristically defined the particular spy movie that you're watching. Do I hit you, Matt Damon, for your portrayal, or the director, or the writer? Or, perhaps, you're like me, and whenever you see this small, subsidiary of BMW, you hear the "Entrance of the Gladiators" (sometimes it's referred to as "entrance of the clowns").
I can't explain in. For some reason, the sight of these cars, with all of their qualities, that usually drive me more crazy than inspired, ignites a mild despise for the owner, and anyone fawning over the automobile. There's no logic to it. I won't own one. I don't hate the owner of the car. I don't particularly care for the company, preying on the public, and suckering them into purchasing and owning, or leasing, one of these ridiculous vehicles. However, for some reason, despite how attractive you may be, no matter how compatible I initially think that we may be, as soon as I see you open up the door to the car, or as soon as I realize that you're driving one of the Clownmobiles, I instantly see you as nothing more than a plutonic relationship at best. Though, I will never let you drive us anywhere, nor will I probably allow you to drive my car, because I now question your ability to make driving decisions in general. But, no, you have exhibited a characteristic, in which I can't really have you in my life.
My other "deal breaker", the one that semi incited this whole tirade, are Lady Gaga fanatics. I understand that people have their opinions of music. I know that Country music, while I cannot tolerate for more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds, also happens to be the most popular genre of music in the world. Lady Gaga, the most popular searched person in 2009, has infiltrated our society with her music, and is heard, and played, literally at all minutes of the day. I know that I personally cannot walk down the street without hearing a Gaga song playing either in a car, in a store, at a restaurant or anywhere else. Some how, she is playing at all moments of the day. I do admire this achievement. She has accomplished a feat that very few can.
That being said, I don't dislike Gaga as a person. I don't dislike Gaga fans. I am tired of her music, and I would like to hear other artists, options and have more variety in my day to day life. I respect that people have their opinions towards what they want to experience artistically, and how they want to express themselves through the ambiance that surrounds them. However, I cannot stand the Gaga fans that NEED Gaga to fulfill their lives. I do not want to listen to Gaga right now. I do not love that song. I did love that song, the first 40 times I heard it, the first 3 days that it was being played in this city. But, it's been playing on cycle for the past 5 months, at a repetition of 40 times a day, and now I want to slap a small blonde child every time I hear her. Do not turn it up in my car. Do not tell me to go back to the station. Do not tell me that I will love it. I don't. Not right now I don't. Now back off. You sound just as bad as the priests a zealots that are denouncing the gay lifestyle, and are Pro Prop 8.
I am a fan of certain things myself. I love Nature's natural beauty, such as a sunset, sunrise, the sun coming down on a dark-clouded rain storm. I am a fan of specific songs, bands, performers and celebrities, just as anyone else. I absolutely would love to see Robin Williams live, but I would never miss a family event because I had tickets to see him. I know that I'll have a future opportunity to watch his performance. Maybe not live per-se, but at some point I may. My sister's wedding, my grandmother's funeral, those I should never miss for a performance by someone that is more than likely not aware of my first name.
Of course there's the obvious "Deal Breakers" out there. Nobody likes to be around an Asshole. Not the funny guy, that mocks and pokes fun at everything around, but the genuine Asshole that you just want to punch in the throat because they've now expired their right to a voice, and your air at the time. Those Bitches, similar to the asshole, only a bit more vindictive and vicious, with a tact to it that the victim may never know who their attacker was, yeah, they're not allowed around me. Cowboy up, if you're going to be mean, own it, don't cower behind some facade that you're ok to be around.
Racists, Bigots, Idiots... hmmm, I just noticed a trend there... yeah, same point. Steer clear, or pack tissues around me. You will not be tolerated. You will not be shown remorse. You had your second chance before you showed up around me.
I'd make exceptions for serial killers. I mean, they're out here, fully involved in some other people business, but not particularly any more than anyone else. Usually a serial killer will be quite the neat freak, slightly OCD in their habitual cleaning patterns. Serial Killers know what they want, are quite thoughtful and organized. Let's be honest too, while some of you see that your next Manson or Dahmer may be a bit on the excessively bad side, they are just weeding out the gene pool, and are usually described as "the nicest person/neighbor. [you would have] never thought that they could have been a killer in a million years". Even better, you know what their biggest quirk is. As long as I don't fit the description of their typical victim, I'm cool with that. But I'll draw the line at assisting. N. O.
So, what are your Deal Breakers?
Sometimes our "Deal Breakers" have a tendency to be some of the things that have no rhyme nor reason. Others err on the side of obvious preservations. Either way you dice it, they are always the things, that no matter how Hott that person is, you can't get over the fact that this person falls into the category.
My "deal breakers" typically are some of the common sense listing.
I won't date a family member of a good friend.
I won't date an ex of a family member or a good friend.
I won't date an ex, again.
I try to steer clear of anyone that is under 5'6"... but that's really just for my mom, she says I need taller people.
I won't date a co-worker. Fortunately for me, I don't have a day job; and formalities of dating in my line of work are heresay. Come on now, I get the good 1st!
I won't date a salesman. I do clump marketing into the salesman category.
I won't date anyone under the age of 25.
But, these are hard to say that they're a "deal breaker". Have I ever dated anyone from any of these categories? Of course I have. Were some of these made up and listed because of a personal experience? Absolutely. Hell, I even had one ex of mine that exhibited all of the "deal breaker" rules. You can't stop yourself from what your heart desires, right? What's the saying, "some rules were made to be broken"? Go for it, it'll probably be good while it lasts.
That being said, there are a few things that are totally illogical, even to me, as to why I can't stand people that exhibit the following characteristics. No, I correct myself. It's not that I cannot stand these people, so much so that it is I have a hard time taking these people seriously enough to begin a relationship, especially a trusting relationship, when I have to doubt their taste, sanity, decision making skills and idea of acceptable social integration and behavior.
One of these illogical (to most) "deal breakers", are Mini Coopers. Yes, the little car. You may think of it as the sporty little car from The Italian Job. You may think of it in terms of one of the vehicles that characteristically defined the particular spy movie that you're watching. Do I hit you, Matt Damon, for your portrayal, or the director, or the writer? Or, perhaps, you're like me, and whenever you see this small, subsidiary of BMW, you hear the "Entrance of the Gladiators" (sometimes it's referred to as "entrance of the clowns").
I can't explain in. For some reason, the sight of these cars, with all of their qualities, that usually drive me more crazy than inspired, ignites a mild despise for the owner, and anyone fawning over the automobile. There's no logic to it. I won't own one. I don't hate the owner of the car. I don't particularly care for the company, preying on the public, and suckering them into purchasing and owning, or leasing, one of these ridiculous vehicles. However, for some reason, despite how attractive you may be, no matter how compatible I initially think that we may be, as soon as I see you open up the door to the car, or as soon as I realize that you're driving one of the Clownmobiles, I instantly see you as nothing more than a plutonic relationship at best. Though, I will never let you drive us anywhere, nor will I probably allow you to drive my car, because I now question your ability to make driving decisions in general. But, no, you have exhibited a characteristic, in which I can't really have you in my life.
My other "deal breaker", the one that semi incited this whole tirade, are Lady Gaga fanatics. I understand that people have their opinions of music. I know that Country music, while I cannot tolerate for more than 2 minutes and 30 seconds, also happens to be the most popular genre of music in the world. Lady Gaga, the most popular searched person in 2009, has infiltrated our society with her music, and is heard, and played, literally at all minutes of the day. I know that I personally cannot walk down the street without hearing a Gaga song playing either in a car, in a store, at a restaurant or anywhere else. Some how, she is playing at all moments of the day. I do admire this achievement. She has accomplished a feat that very few can.
That being said, I don't dislike Gaga as a person. I don't dislike Gaga fans. I am tired of her music, and I would like to hear other artists, options and have more variety in my day to day life. I respect that people have their opinions towards what they want to experience artistically, and how they want to express themselves through the ambiance that surrounds them. However, I cannot stand the Gaga fans that NEED Gaga to fulfill their lives. I do not want to listen to Gaga right now. I do not love that song. I did love that song, the first 40 times I heard it, the first 3 days that it was being played in this city. But, it's been playing on cycle for the past 5 months, at a repetition of 40 times a day, and now I want to slap a small blonde child every time I hear her. Do not turn it up in my car. Do not tell me to go back to the station. Do not tell me that I will love it. I don't. Not right now I don't. Now back off. You sound just as bad as the priests a zealots that are denouncing the gay lifestyle, and are Pro Prop 8.
I am a fan of certain things myself. I love Nature's natural beauty, such as a sunset, sunrise, the sun coming down on a dark-clouded rain storm. I am a fan of specific songs, bands, performers and celebrities, just as anyone else. I absolutely would love to see Robin Williams live, but I would never miss a family event because I had tickets to see him. I know that I'll have a future opportunity to watch his performance. Maybe not live per-se, but at some point I may. My sister's wedding, my grandmother's funeral, those I should never miss for a performance by someone that is more than likely not aware of my first name.
Of course there's the obvious "Deal Breakers" out there. Nobody likes to be around an Asshole. Not the funny guy, that mocks and pokes fun at everything around, but the genuine Asshole that you just want to punch in the throat because they've now expired their right to a voice, and your air at the time. Those Bitches, similar to the asshole, only a bit more vindictive and vicious, with a tact to it that the victim may never know who their attacker was, yeah, they're not allowed around me. Cowboy up, if you're going to be mean, own it, don't cower behind some facade that you're ok to be around.
Racists, Bigots, Idiots... hmmm, I just noticed a trend there... yeah, same point. Steer clear, or pack tissues around me. You will not be tolerated. You will not be shown remorse. You had your second chance before you showed up around me.
I'd make exceptions for serial killers. I mean, they're out here, fully involved in some other people business, but not particularly any more than anyone else. Usually a serial killer will be quite the neat freak, slightly OCD in their habitual cleaning patterns. Serial Killers know what they want, are quite thoughtful and organized. Let's be honest too, while some of you see that your next Manson or Dahmer may be a bit on the excessively bad side, they are just weeding out the gene pool, and are usually described as "the nicest person/neighbor. [you would have] never thought that they could have been a killer in a million years". Even better, you know what their biggest quirk is. As long as I don't fit the description of their typical victim, I'm cool with that. But I'll draw the line at assisting. N. O.
So, what are your Deal Breakers?
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Introducing: The Jeremy Bilding Airplane Rant Traveling Club
In light of my apparent ever so popular "Air Travel Rants", typically on Twitter, and the fact that several people have not only joined in my aggravation, but have tagged me upon sight of others frustrated with their travels, I propose that we band together, and return the “friendly skies” to anyone that should decide to travel around the globe. Our movement: the Jeremy Bilding Airplane Rant Traveling Club, or JB-ART.
Our ART will be heard for all to see, hopefully laugh at, but namely return the industry to the enjoyable experience that we all expect. Hopefully this will help turn around the airlines belief that because they’re sucking at life, we must loathe our entire time with them. This is really a mutually beneficial; we get an outlet for all to enjoy, and hopefully tame our bitterness before we become detained by airport security, and hopefully airlines will read them too and start changing their ways towards a more hospitable conduct.
Enrollment is quite simple:
- Vote for me (Jeremy Bilding) for Cybersocket’s Best Porn Star of 2009 at www.cybersocketwebawards.com/vote.php
- Enjoy one (1) Cinnabun pastry of your choice per month that your travel, while traveling.
- Tweet, Facebook, Myspace, Blog, Skywrite, Smoke Signal, Billboard, Draw in the Sand your airline’s failure to accommodate the task of delivering you from point A to point B without any sort of Epic-Fail.
- Tag both the Airline and #ART.
Spread the word! Gather one and all! Let us not just sit Stand-by while we’re abused. Let us all vent, sympathize, laugh at and with, and try to make the best of all that is Travel.
See you out there
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)