08.01.07 
Culture 9 comments
The other day I was thinking how symbolism is just silly. With the obvious exception being symbolism related to matters of faith, where things that are not tangible must be believed. I wonder how can something that is symbolic have an emotional connection or be so important to someone? Our culture has too many meaningless symbols. Take for instance the Christmas tree, what the current meaning is behind this symbol is not universally clear. And yet we all must have one in our homes at Christmas time because it’s part of “getting into the Christmas spirit,” which is some emotional whimsical feeling I guess. “Your just a grinch,” I hear you saying. Well, how about the NAACP having a symbolic burial for “the n word.” Tell me that isn’t silly. Somehow this symbolic act for a word will mean so much to people and establish the end of racism… does this symbolism really DO anything? I think not. In the wise words of Garth Algar, from Wayne’s World, “LIVE IN THE NOW!”
In ancient times symbols had more meaning, now a days it just seems our culture’s “important” symbols relate to some feeling as apposed to any deep meaning. We even have post-modern thought where meaning is given to something by any individual’s interpretation. Symbolism without meaning is just worthless.
07.22.07 Observations no comments
After his “glory days” are behind him the jock must find an outlet for his desire to be in the lime-light, brag, be the champ, brag, win against odds, brag, and crush his opponent. So along comes fantasy football, a role playing game equivalent to Dungeons and Dragons, where jocks can live their wild sport fantasies in a virtual world made of whimsical teams that they role play as the manager. These were the same jocks who looked down on the nerds who played their silly fantasy-world video games. Oh the irony! Still the jock was always prone to wasting time instead of furthering himself intellectually, I guess one can’t be too surprised how he chooses to relive those “glory days.”
07.18.07 Facts no comments
Deltiology is the study and collection of postcards. Yes, postcards. Remarkably, this hobby ranks as the third most popular in the world today.
Can you imagine these people? Stop into a local Sheetz or Highs Dairy tomorrow and you might see a deltiologist perusing the postcard rack, just looking for that perfect addition to his collection. My guess is that he’ll probably be wearing a multi-colored canvass fanny pack situated over his right-hip. He’s also likely wearing denim shorts, 6-inches above the knee, with white crew socks to complement. His t-shirt is probably off-white portraying “The Great Outdoors” with a deer on it to boot. The crazy part about all of this is that, may I remind you, this is the third most popular hobby in the world.
I must depart. I heard there’s a $0.99 postcard sale at Wal-Mart.
07.12.07 Observations 8 comments
Could there be a more meaningless form of communication that the internet has brought about then emoticons? O.k. if I think about that too long I start to think of some others, such as abbreviations for meaningless sayings like “LOL”. Who in their right mind is actually laughing out loud when the type that? Nobody. I find these both to be a regressive form of communication that in turn actually communicate the user is a mongoloid. I recently received an email from a friend who ended the first sentence with a smiley-face emoticon at which point I stopped reading and hit the delete key.
07.01.07 Culture 22 comments
Recently I discovered that I know grown adults using the colossal waste of time called Facebook. After this discovery I am evaluating whether or not I can still call them my friends. In fact since the crowning achievement with these social networking sites is to obtain as many “friends” as you can, I am contemplating starting a “no longer friends” list that contains all the guys I know that use Facebook. “Why?” you say, would I consider disowning them as comrades. Well for starters using Facebook as a grown man is far from masculine. Facebook is equivalent to scrap-booking, a hobby enjoyed by teenage girls and housewives. If I ever went over to a friends house and found him pasting pictures, notes from others, and newspaper clippings into a scrapbook I would quickly snatch the book run for some type of flammable liquid, a match, and set the thing ablaze. That is the kind of faithful friend I am. However, since I can’t do this with Facebook I will instead post their names as “Friends no more.” I just can’t be associated with such pansies.
06.28.07 Facts no comments
These facts will range from the mundane to the boorishly insignificant, aiding our readers and writers in their plight to waste even more time and read even more feckless information.
Philately is simply the study of stamps. Here I pose a question: Why? and another: Who are these people? My source for this fact (Wikipedia) makes sure to state that this is a “distinct activity” from stamp collecting. The sheer impracticability of this hobby is not what’s most striking. Taken with [let's get technical] the “collection” of stamps, philately is the most popular hobby in the world today.
Question from Bill: “if I go to the dump, will I see ‘philatelists’ rummaging the garbage looking for stamps?” I don’t know. But I wouldn’t be surprised.
Next Week: “The third most popular hobby in the world”
06.26.07 Observations 2 comments
How did the cake come to be a shoe-in for birthday desert and who made this to be? Man, I wish I could have been around when this decision was made. Of course, I would like to have been there as I am now, not in my youth. Since I was deceived and duped into the whole you-will-like-birthday-cake as a child. Now, of course, I have a commanding taste for what is truly good, having eaten a plethora of deserts in my life thus far. In my obviously humble opinion, pie should be the birthday treat served at every party. For one thing there are so many more types of pies then there are cakes… the choices and possibilities are endless. With a cake you are stuck with a dry, bland or spongy center with the same old vanilla or chocolate icing, which typically tastes like sugar-chalk. So please don’t offer me birthday cake I wont eat it, it offends my taste buds.
The other day I was thinking how symbolism is just silly. With the obvious exception being symbolism related to matters of faith, where things that are not tangible must be believed. I wonder how can something that is symbolic have an emotional connection or be so important to someone? Our culture has too many meaningless symbols. Take for instance the Christmas tree, what the current meaning is behind this symbol is not universally clear. And yet we all must have one in our homes at Christmas time because it’s part of “getting into the Christmas spirit,” which is some emotional whimsical feeling I guess. “Your just a grinch,” I hear you saying. Well, how about the NAACP having a symbolic burial for “the n word.” Tell me that isn’t silly. Somehow this symbolic act for a word will mean so much to people and establish the end of racism… does this symbolism really DO anything? I think not. In the wise words of Garth Algar, from Wayne’s World, “LIVE IN THE NOW!”
