Towards Valuation of the Arts
Posted by Rey
The Arts aren’t important. They’re the cherry on top; the second layer of frosting; a pretty, yet ultimately unnecessary, addition. Really they’re nice, look really well on your living room wall, or playing from your stereo system—they might even make you think pretty things; but really, they’re not necessary.
After all, they’re the first thing to go on any budget. If a person has to choose to invest in food or the Arts, food will almost always win. Even if it’s the option between an extravagant (unnecessary) dinner and a night at the opera—the arts can just go. It’s not like we need the Arts to live.
Oh sure, when we can afford it, we should do something about the Arts because they make us feel better about ourselves, elevate our self-estimation, reveal our intelligence, sophistication and culture. But really, beyond those incidental perks they are ultimately unimportant. So…
State of The Union 2010
Posted by Rey
The other day was the President’s State of the Union address. Some folk have questioned why I’m uneasy after hearing it and I wanted to put up some of my reasoning. Don’t get me wrong, I think President Obama said some good things, and he did a great job of keying in on the heat the propelled him into office by sounding on those chords of change, hope, and bipartisanship. He reiterated worthy goals that should be in place.
Article Tags>> obama | state of the unionIt’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Tax Time
Posted by Rey
Sang to the well known tune after the jump. Read the rest of this entry »
Article Tags>> christmas | taxesBrands, Halos, and Life
Posted by Rey
It takes a while, maybe even a few years, but eventually—after the destruction of the second death star, after the death of the Emperor and after Nien Nunb and Lando are cackling—you start wondering about who you were rooting for. These insurgents not only bucked under the authority of Government but they joined hands with criminals as they slaughter thousands of innocent lives. It didn’t matter though since we knew these were The Good Guys. They were the Rebel Alliance, and with their brand firmly in place (and the standard production that goes into setting up the protagonist of any given movie) the audience happily stands and applauds. But I remember also applauding at the end of the Phantom Menace…
Article Tags>> brand | identity | logic‘Twas The Night Before Printing
Posted by Rey
An original poem inspired by ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore.
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Story: Landfall
Posted by Rey
A little bit of a story which I’m reserving rights to. Continues from here:
Article Tags>> 1ne | story | writing1500
Posted by Rey
While randomly musing about life and all of its material costs, I thought I would do a list of things that add up to $1500. Just interesting once you consider the ridiculousness of the equal dollar amounts.
Article Tags>> expensive | moneyTop 9 Stand-Up-And-Applaud Movie Scenes
Posted by Rey
There are times in a movie theater, or on a dvd, that I’ll actually applaud; be it with the characters on screen, with the people next to me, or just for my own one man audience. Scenes that are so good that not only are they eternally etched in my mind—I will (well, except for one) still stick around just to see that scene whenever it’s on. Here are my Top 10 bloody awesome and crazy memorable actiony movie scenes in no particular order.
Article Tags>> jurassic park | matrix | movies | saving private ryan | serenity | star wars | yodaNo Book For You
Posted by Rey
Well, Governor Rendell approved the new state budget where our property taxes remain the same, more money is put into the public schools and the money for the public library gets cut. Yesterday I was told that in the near future they’d be charging for inter-library loans. An elderly lady on the line started stammering that it’s fair, it’s fair.
Anonymous Survey on Race Bleg
Posted by Rey
Would you do me the kindness of filling out this anonymous survey on race? Thanks kindly.