Planet of the Apes Revisited

I was watching the original Planet of the Apes movie series today and realized there are some oddly similar ties to America's race and labor relations and our history of slavery. Even the recent revamp/prequel of the series made me feel an alliance to the apes but with the original I see no way in which I'm not firmly on that side.

In the 1973 film Conquest of the Planet of the Apes people have apes work as slaves in every possible area. The people of North America basically create a whole society that rests on ape slave labor. We find out in the movie that many of the apes are being brought over in a ship from some other country. These slaves are mistreated and the law does nothing about it unless they try to escape or "turn on their masters".

Then as always, the people who were put out of work by this labor force blame the apes instead of the people who deserve the blame, causing further abuse to the animals. To make the similarity worst the only good people seem to be Armando,circus leader who wants to protect and MacDonald, seemingly the lone black government working in the government who both tries to defend the main character (Caesar) and apes as a whole.

I'm wondering if the makers thought out what ideas they were promoting with this film. It basically divides the people into two camps; White people who like slavery and the Mexican and Black guys who don't like slavery. I was already ready for the humans to be killed when in the previous film in the series people tried to kill the ape babies. Now I couldn't help thinking 15 minutes in the film, 'isn't this a b*tch' and how much better the world would be if they just killed the white people.

What! that's actually true

Wow, it's amazing the things you don't notice. A friend recently mentioned "It's weird how no one on The Jetsons ever addresses the apocalyptic events that left only white Americans behind, living in the sky."

Really though that's true. I remember watching the show when I was younger, laughing at the treadmill scene. Everyone was either white or a robot. They didn't even have a token African or Asian or... well token anything. It's like there was a great purge of everyone else. Also considering what the population should be in the future the sky seemed sparsely populated. It took a while for them to drive their air cars to each others houses- and these are cars that I'm sure were going faster than 70 miles per hour. Where are all the homes?

One can only hope everyone else was living below. If not then that show is really depressing instead of funny. Actually that's still depressing- like the rich Brazilians riding their helicopters everyday over the masses of poor underneath. So instead I have to hope everyone else is in some other region of the sky. I know it's just a TV show but what does it say about us that this is an ideal of the future?

Random Though

How does friends making accomplishments make you feel?

I found out what a friend has been up to recently. I'm not posting what it is because I know she would prefer me not to right now but let me tell you it's something. I'm a bit jealous of her success because it makes me think I haven't done enough but I'm also inspired. It really makes me want to do something. Don't misunderstand this as me saying I haven't done anything, but seeing this does re-inspire and invigorate me.

Question of the Day

For the saying "a problem shared is a problem halved." can you keep telling people about a problem until it eventually was of no importance?

Question of the Day

When an atheist says "Oh my god!" who are they talking about?

Random Thoughts

1.How did they know Superman could jump tall buildings in a single bound? The man could fly-
there was no reason to even try playing hopscotch over the city.
I always did think that Superman had a low IQ compared to most other heroes.

2.After all is said and done, a lot more has been "said" than "done".

3.I need to rebuild a callus on my finger- or switch to nylon strings for my guitar. Practicing hurt.

Question of the Day

Does anyone really believe there are no such things as dumb questions?

To me there are dumb questions. They are what people ask after you have already answered their question. I'm not talking about you answered the question and they don't understand it. I mean when you answer and they would have understood if they were paying attention or too busy asking the question to just listen.

An Example to Others

About two days ago I did something that surprised me somewhat. I refused an award I believe I didn't earn. Why did I make that decision though? I see it as part of my moral make-up and my own honesty. I hope this is a sign of having my moral compass set in the right direction.

Humans see themselves as different from other animals because we have morals. Personally, I think most of our morals are really about keeping things peaceful and orderly above all else however there is no doubt that our societies need them. The question is how do people use their morals in everyday life as they all are vague ideas and opinions. This requires a moral compass. Most people's compass relies on churches or guilt. Even if I followed the line I can't say these have worked well for me. Even with years of going to church and attending a baptist school things like W.W.J.D.?(What would Jesus Do?) didn't really motivate me. Instead I have really relied on what I felt was right in my gut and the old mantra about onto others as you would want done to you. These have not always worked however.

I take my decision as evidence that I have possibly found the compass that works for me. A recent conversation led me to realize that I will have people who look up to me in the future. From my own children to a stranger who might admire my work. Even now (by some odd freak of nature occurrence if you ask me) there are those who look up to me. My every act should show and protect this fact.

The More things change....

Living in America I can not help but to notice the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. The daily news coverage and conversations continually bring it up. In truth I'm not angry at the company, though I know their mistake will mess up the environment. I'm merely reminded of the mantra that the more things change, the more they stay the same. People get complacent and mess up. It's a pattern of our lives. It happens on all levels; companies, regions, even the workers who are at risk. I have seen it in others and even in myself as I don't back up a computer or don't make sure I keep in touch with a friend.

The news coverage of the oil spill is also a laugh though. When it first happened there was less coverage. While I understand that as the number of gallons grows it becomes more interesting this is also unique because the solutions are getting more desperate. By desperate I really mean random and seemingly pulled out a very worn hat. We have gone from robots to chemicals to a big box and finally to throwing garbage at it! This would be hilarious if it wasn't true. It reminds me of a child who throws their project on the floor believing that it will somehow make things easier. I guess no matter how advanced we get we can't help but to just throw our hands up when things get rough.

Thinking

I have a friend who keeps telling me to think less. As I find myself worrying more and more I can see her point. I also know that it's unhealthy too at a certain degree. Problem is I'm not sure I can stop thinking. It's in my nature to think over and rethink situations.

My experiences growing have also directed me to this point. The people I most want to emulate and care for have been the same. It's those whom I've seen constantly thinking about the future that truly care for others and actually get stuff done.

There are ways to decrease worry though. Planning early for instance. One other thing I have recently realized that it's okay to fail. I'm not saying don't try to succeed but I can't really live my life to its fullest if I'm scared of failure. I have actually known this for a while but its hard to put into practice. I have given advice to several friends through the years telling them, "There's no need to worry about death if you have no regrets." I am starting to take those steps to make sure I live without regrets. I hope any readers are doing the same.

Census

I have been unable to avoid advertisements for the 2010 census. On billboards, on television and radio commercials, pointless letters to say it's on it's way, and even on e-mails from my county library. I understand ads are not made to be ignored but, at this point I really am tired of them. The ads were out at least a month before the forms were sent out and haven't seemed to slow down. Unfortunately, I have heard that the jobs given to part time workers has been somewhat pointless as well. Is this really a good way to spend funds?

During a time of low state and federal budgets I also wonder what this all costs. I wonder if a decade will be long enough to recoup the losses. As they continue to tell us that filling out the forms will bring money to your community I can't help but note how expensive a 20 second commercial is. I have bad news for the census office. I doubt these efforts are convincing many (if anyone) to fill out the form. If people want to fill them out, they will. If they don't, then well...

Song

I was working on a poem yesterday and it has become a song in my head. This raises a question on what is the difference between the two. Poems have had musical accompaniment in many parts of the world: Africa, Joseon-Korea, Shakespeare's plays, etc. My argument is that other than the physical sound compared to the mental tune there is no difference. If I play music or write poetry and have someone else read it, I am doing the exact same thing.
This matters because songs have been seen as crass or part of the underclasses' entertainment while the upper-class enjoyed more "intellectual" activities like poetry. If what stimulates the different groups is really the same it also shows that the social classes are not so different. If groups are the same it turns the idea of one class versus another on it's head. Perhaps I am getting carried away though. Tell me your thoughts.

Thought it was cool

I saw this on facebook, thought it was cool and wondered if it would show up here:

ǝƃɐd ɹnoʎ oʇuo sIɥʇ ǝʇsɐd puɐ ʎdoɔ 'sʎɐs sɥʇ ʇɐɥʍ ʇno ǝɹnƃIɟ oʇ ɥƃnouǝ ʇɹɐɯs ǝɹɐ noʎ ɟI

Outer Limits

I have been more of a Twilight Zone fan throughout the years so may be I just missed something. I watched a The Outer Limits episode today and found something strange in their intro. I know this is hypothetical and there are few reasons for the creators to make an answer for it but it still bugs me... If the Outer Limits takes control of your television; why give it back?

Do they just not have enough stories to fill a day?
Is it like an emergency warning system and they are just giving you bit of information before returning to regular broadcast?
When there were only a handful of channels did that mean a lot more than it does now with 1,000s?

So there is no real purpose for this post except to list some of the thoughts that went through my head while I watched television(I know thoughts while watching television is miracle enough!)

Which came first?

Which came first the chicken or the egg? Whenever I hear this famous quandary I always think how much I don’t care. However when then someone explains how this is a deep metaphysical question. To which I must answer it is actually very simple. The way I see it is like a lot of things in life. People made it more complicated than it needed to be.

Simply put the answer is chicken.

My evidence?

1. The Bible: In the beginning of Genesis(New American Standard) god created swarms of living creatures and birds in the heaven. It also mentions that these animals will bring "after its kind". A term I take as to give birth to its own species. I suppose it could have been an egg first but I would think the good book would have said something about “seeds” or the “beginnings of life” coming first. I know some will not find the bible a credible source but I like to examine all available evidence so include it.


2. Evolution: Personally I’m not too sure about evolution but I can see the argument for theistic evolution. The theory of a bunch of random events and mutated species creating the biosphere that exists today that includes millions of diverse animals and plants and must be carefully balanced seems unlikely to me.

For the sake of argument (and to prove my point) we will take it as a fact. That means we are also left with the fact that an egg is always considered the same species as whatever laid the egg- fish, bird, etc. So it is not until the creature inside the egg hatches and matures can it be differentiated and defined as another animal. No matter what its parents were there had to be a first chicken.

3. My last piece of evidence the life of chickens and all birds. Just looking at hatchlings you can see how useless and pathetic they are. While chickens are some of the more independent with mother hens that do not directly feed chicks, instead leading them to food sources, the chicks are still dependent on the mother. Without the adult nesting and clucking it is unlikely chicks will hatch must less live. If it was up to a few solitary eggs there would not be any chickens today.

Luckily, since I enjoy many chicken dishes there are chickens today. Like I said at the beginning I really don’t care which came first. All that really matters to me is that I can eat both the egg and the chicken on the same day.

I wonder about Wonder Woman

So I just watched a Wonder Woman movie. I haven't really been a Wonder Woman fan as a comic book reader, only reading about her when her stories involved heroes I was interested in like Batman or the JLA and when she killed that guy with the crisis stroyline. However I was given the movie (which was actually really good)and can't help but think, was the thing to wonder about Wonder-Woman not that she was a female hero but that she was able to wear a bathing suit was she fought crime and never had some type of embarrassing costume malfunction occur.

Music and People

Does anyone ever find they associate songs with people? I do. I already know some others do because you always hear of people who were in a relationship having a song that makes them think of the person. However I am referring to those aside from the deep romantically emotional relationship connects for the most part here.
I think it must be natural to have a mental connection between a song and person for is not music emotional. The same way a picture can make people think of an event or a smell; music works in a similar pattern. Music can remind people of an event that is connected to it like a obon song to an obon or gongs to a festival or performance that featured them.
I am curious about mental connections that are not tied to a specific memory though. For instance I always think of an elementary school friend when I hear Santana's "Maria Maria" or how I think of a certain teacher I had when I hear No Doubt's "Spiderwebs" however I have no idea why. Maybe there is a memory at the core of these connects that I don't really remember now yet I still wonder how many others have these seemingly arbitrary connections.

Online Radio Shows

I used to love radio shows. I would listen to the Adventures in Odyssey radio shows and later recordings of old radio shows like the Jack Benny Program,Gunsmoke,Bostan Blackie,The Twilight Zone, orSuspense. Actually I guess I still listen to old-time radio shows when I can find them at the places like the library.

However it's been a while since I listened to any. I had read a part of Romance of three Three Kingdoms earlier the other day and thinking about it my mind switched to thinking about Water Margin,since I've never read Water Margin/Outlaws of the Marsh and only read about parts of the story and characters. I did a search for the Water Margin story and the game Suikoden and found out about Konami Station (http://573st.i-revo.jp/) They apparently have a GenoSuikoden 「幻想水滸伝」 radio drama based on the RPG game.

By the way if anyone hears of a good translation of the Water Margin book please tell me about it.

ADS

Do advertisements really work? I wonder. I think most advertisements only drive me away from them. A commercial comes on tv-I want to change the channel. Some ad pops up on the computer screen-I want to close it to make sure my program doesn't run slow. Junk mail-only gets in the way until I eventually throw it away. The only advertisements that may work are those that blend in with the background. With no sounds, no lights,nothing that could bother anyone. Yes, that also means that they will also be easier to ignore but if businesses want customers like me I guess it's a chance they have to take.

I guess In theory build-boards could work but there are generally too many and they are too large. Which just means my eyes try to look past them.The best advertising I've seen is Nascar. There are so many sponsor names attached to cars, clothes and stuff that it looks like some type of decoration. After that it's just a question of good angling by the driver when they are out of the car and tv cameras on the cars.I wonder what the next great marketing tactic will be

I was looking at my previous entry with the Oreskaband and decided that from now on I will try to write my entries in English and Japanese. So maybe I'll copy my translation of what I wrote into my lang-8 journal to help check it afterward