How Horrible It Can Be During Christmas

I wasn't going to post my thoughts on what I heard the other day.

So, on the radio, before christmas, there was a program on how some people are going without on this holiday.  I have to admit some of it was actually sad and depressing.  And, the last lady that was spoken too, was the saddest.  They asked her what she was going to do for christmas.
She replied, "I don't know.  I mean I don't know what the kids are gonna say.  Money is just tight right now.  We don't have internet, cable tv; I can't buy the kids new video games."
I can see how this might be interpreted, but I heard this lady, and my god no cable, no internet.  What will they do?  Maybe go to the library and use the free internet, or maybe, just maybe, check out a book there.  But what will the kids do?  Go outside and play.  How about spend time with your kids in the outdoors?
Maybe I'm thinking this the wrong way, but it just doesn't feel like it.  Maybe I am out of touch with the way the modern person thinks.  Maybe my problems are a thing of the past and I need to begin to worry about what I will not do without a tv, wait...no, I have to jump ahead, buy a tv and worry about why I don't have cable.  Oh Jebus,  I'm going to sleep.

Crummy Crummtastic

Today wasn't such a good day, I was pretty much pissed off for the whole day.  That isn't that much unusual, but it happened today.  Until I get home and check my mail.  What did I find, you may ask.  Well, I found a box and within it were homemade baked cookies from a friend in California!  Hot damn, that made my day!  It is now all washed away.

Interesting Fact 10: You, Good Sir, Are Not Above The Law

In medieval times, cats and dogs could be tried and condemned for crimes, just like us crazy people.  I the late 1730s, a group of printer's apprentices in Paris felt they were being done an injustice by the master's wife's cats, who were constantly begging for scraps and screeching at night.  A trial was staged, complete with guards, a confessor, and a public executioner.  The unfortunate cats were pronounced guilty and strung up on cat-sized gallows.  When the master and his wife got home, the apprentices were laughing hysterically, delirious with happiness.
What a bunch of assholes.

Nicholas D.

Sharing is Caring 5

Imagine the problem is not physical.  Imagine the problem has never been physical, that it is not biodiversity, it is not the ozone layer, it is not the greenhouse effect, the whales, the old-growth forest, the loss of jobs, the crack in the ghetto, the abortions, the tongue in the mouth, the diseases stalking everywhere as love goes on unconcerned.  Imagine the problem is not some syndrome of our society that can be solved by commissions or laws or a redistribution of  what we call wealth.  Imagine that it goes deeper, right to the core of what we call our civilization and that no one outside of ourselves can effect real change, that our civilization, our government are sick and that we are mentally ill and spiritually dead - that all our issues and crisis are symptoms of this deeper sickness.  The problem is that we cannot imagine a future where we possess less but are more.

-Charles Bowden.  Blood Orchid

Sharing is Caring 4

"We constantly live in the same year.  In that year, people and things change."

-Comanche

Andreas Aron

I met this guy from a friend.  He was kind enough to show me around Bucharest and let me sit in on a jam session with his old band, when I was visiting a few years ago.  A pretty damn good artist.


Videoclip Andreas - The Fountain 720p from Tudor Petremarin on Vimeo.

Interesting Fact 9: Oh, Injury

Interesting fact, this is, yes.  According to the Industrial Machinery News, a US company with a five-year record for perfect safety attempted to prolong its winning streak by showing employees an extremely graphic safety film.  The accidents depicted in the film were so horrifying that 25 people suffered minor injuries trying to leave the room, thirteen more fainted and one man required stitches in his head after falling off his chair.

This is very funny, and interesting, yes.

A Few Things

1: People are assholes.
2: What is it with people not being passionate about anything?
3: Damn the heat and humidity.
4: It's amazing how different my apartment looks just by moving one table across the room.

Arsenic

So, I was thinking of that bacteria that lives off of arsenic and all the possibilities of life.  We've found that as long as there is water, no matter how extreme the environment is, life will exist there.  This arsenic thing has made a world of change.  It changes everything.  I mean scientist pretty much have to start from the beginning on where to look for life on other planets.  I mean, lets look at Titan and its massive amount of lakes of methane.  It's extremely harmful for us, but if bacteria can live off of arsenic, then what if there is a world of life in these lakes of methane?  I'm sure others have thought of this and will continue to expand.  I'm just some random person blogging about this because I want to.  I can't help but think of all the possibilities and doors that have been open where life might be.

Interesting Fact 8: Glow, Glow

Japanese scientists found that the human body emits a glow.  The light is faint, but visible.   Sensitive cameras were used in this study to photograph a cross-section of five men in their twenties.  They found that the bodies lowest light levels occur around 10 a.m. and the highest at 4 a.m., and the face glowed more than the rest of the body.

What a Day

I spent the day making pizza from scratch.  Holy crap it takes so much time to make the dough.  I don't usually make pizza for anyone.  In fact it's very rare, and the few people I have made it for seemed to like them.  I have to say, my skills have improved.
Anyway, I went to a writer christmas party thing tonight.  A few weeks ago I opened my big mouth and said I would make the pizza for the party.  Originally, I was going to make 4 pizzas, but realized that would take way too damn long, so, I said no.
I was pretty surprised when the pizza was gone in an instant.  At first no one went to it, until one guy came over and grabbed a slice.  I told him I made it from scratch.  He then said, "You made this from scratch?  This is pretty good."
Then other people came by and took it up fast.  I only had one slice.  It was crazy!  Even at the end of the party people were coming up to me asking about the pizza.  Even the people that didn't get a chance to have any came up to me and asked about it.  Even people that showed up late to the party and didn't see it asked about it!
Damn!  Maybe I should start my own pizza business.
Nah.  I think the joy of making it would be lost if I did that.

Then, during the party, I held conversations with people that are pretty damn smart.  It was kind of weird to be in a house full of writers.  How egotistical we can be.  Then again, some very great conversations about books were running around.  I met a woman from Romania, and brought on memories of my small time spent there.  It's been a long while since I've spoken to people about books.  It felt very good.  Yes, very good.

Cello and Pizza

For the first time in a long time I woke up late on a Saturday!  I fell back into my old routine.  I woke up, fixed pressed coffee and played my cello.  I haven't played in about a month or more, due to my injured middle finger.  I have to say, damn, it felt good to play again.  I wrapped my arms around that beautiful instrument after I finished playing.
Now, I have a glass of scotch, and I begin to make pizza!  Off I go to make the dough.  My tomatoes have been stewing for some time now.  I think they are about ready.

A Maa Viira,

Nicholas D.

I said, "God Damn!"

That's right. I did say, "God Damn!" Why, you may ask. Well, it's 1:13am and I'm in a good mood. Maybe it's the apple juice. Maybe it's the scotch I drank earlier. Maybe, maybe, maybe. A world full of maybes'.

I started editing a story, and damn, I wish it would become a living breathing person. It's not the story, it's just the idea of writing. It's the act itself, and the feeling that follows. I dedicate this song to that feeling. I love you.

Coffee I love and Hate You All At Once

I keep waking up in the middle of the night.  It bugs me so.  I use to think my apartment was haunted.  Then I thought I was being abducted by aliens.  Then I realized it had to do with my diet and sleeping patterns.  To solve this I started smoking crack.  I just need to figure out how to stop waking up in the middle of the night now.  I stopped sleeping on my bed and moved to the floor.  My sleeping problem may be solved by purchasing a new bed.  It's a crazy thought, but it just might work.  I don't really smoke crack.

Ka Kite Ano,

Nicholas D.

Interesting Fact 7: A Bear is a Bear

Smokey the Bear's original name was Hotfoot Teddy.

That is all.

I Just Left the Room

After a seminar today; I shook a few hands and walked out.  I'm nobody, but I tell them my name and make small talk.  I open the door and walk out.  I hear someone say my name, once the door is closed.  So, I turn around and reach for the handle to see who was calling me.  I stop, no one was calling me, but they were talking about me.  I listen.

"That was Nicholas.  Keep an eye on him.  You'll be seeing his work soon.  Did you meet him?" said someone.

"Yeah, he said he's read one of my books," said another person.

That was all I heard.  It was pretty interesting to hear someone talking about me without the words "asshole" in the sentence.  I've been hearing a lot of good things these past few months.  I hope I'm not kidding myself with this writing thing.

TV = Mind Control

I say, let's pick up where we left off and continue the evolution process.  I say, start by turning off your television.  Destroy it and reclaim your life back.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nq9Gg7A-YEE

Sharing is Caring 3

"We are born crippled and stupid, with a vast cavern of mind to fill with memories, conclusions, judgement: a warehouse where we build the store of implements with which we nightly torture ourselves in our dreams."

- Salvatore Scibona, The Woman Who Lived in the House


From "A Public Space": issue 10

Interesting Fact 6: Away We Go

Seamen believe it to be bad luck to travel with a corpse aboard the ship; if they must transport a body, superstition dictates that it should lie afterwards (not lengthwise) with the ship and be removed before any other crew disembark.

-Rue Morgue


Nicholas D.

Critique

So, I've been thinking about the recent critiques I've been getting.  They haven't been that bad at all, but definitely let me know I need work; well, some.  Finally today I've come to the conclusion that most critique is just opinion.  I'll accept some and leave others behind, but the grammar and punctuation I'll really look at.  Then again, I love re-writing!

Interesting Fact 5: Used Car Oil Ain't What it Used to Be

In 1953 it was discovered by Alfred B. Pitchtook, that there were many uses for used car oil.  Besides lubrication in an engine, it isn't widely known that car oil could be used as a face cleanser, under arm deodorant, hair shampoo, and it also helps fight athletes foot, or lawn fertilizer.  However,  in late 1955 when Mr. Pitchfork was just becoming recognized for his many uses with used car oil, he was shut down by the man.  Major corporations stepped in, as they were being put to the test with their meager products against the used car oil; they quickly put a stop to his research.
After Pitchtook's research was stopped, to prevent these findings from happening again by someone else, oil companies re-designed the formula in car oil.  Now days it is extremely harmful to use used car oil in any way.  So don't fucking try anything, stupid.

Nicholas D.

Meetings

I just came home from a writer's meeting today.  It was informative.  I felt weird critiquing someone else's work.  I thought to myself, "who the fuck are you to critique someone else's work?"  Then they critiqued my work, and I didn't feel so bad anymore.  I went out and gave my opinion.  Not that their stories were bad or my story was bad, their stories were great, and I love my story.  It's just weird to say what other people need to work on, when I know I need a lot of work with my stories.

Tukate,

Nicholas D.

Memories in Third Person

He had just walked out into the street in Rome, from the train station.  Right away a man came to him trying to sell something, but he remembered reading a book, and how it suggested to stay away and don't even speak to people like that.  So, he walked right past the man trying to sell whatever bullshit tourist thing he was trying to sell.
The directions he had to the hostel were pretty clear, so he wasn't worried about getting lost on the streets.  Yet as soon as he stepped onto the side walk, what little there was, he seemed to feel a little lost.  The directions had nothing to do with it.  It was an out-of-place feeling.  Then from a near distance he heard a woman laughing.  He looked around to see who it might be and maybe he'd go introduce himself.  Following the laughter was a language he didn't understand.  He smiled inside himself, and kept walking to the hostel with an unfamiliar, yet familiar feeling.
Through out the day of wondering the city, and purposely getting lost, he would hear people in their conversations, and laugh occasionally.
There was something about this simple act that struck him.  What was he expecting?  Did he expect people in Rome to laugh with an accent?  We all sound the same when we laugh.  Such simple acts we all share.  A mother in China, Mexico,  or Africa doesn't love their child any less than someone from back home.
Just to hear people from another part of the world laugh was worth the trip alone.


Egogahan

Nicholas D.

Sharing is Caring 2

Interesting Fact 4: Love is a Mental Problem

(This isn't the first time I've posted this somewhere.)

Donatella Marazziti, professor of psychiatry at the University of Pisa in Italy, compared a lovers' serotonin levels with those of a group of people suffering from OCD and another group who were free from both passion and mental illness.  Levels of serotonin in both the obsessives' blood and the lovers' blood were 40 percent lower than those in her normal subjects.  Translation: Love and obsessive-compulsive disorder could have a similar chemical profile.  Translation: Love and mental illness may be difficult to tell apart.  Translation: Don't be a fool.  Stay away.

Lauren Slater
National Geographic
February 2006

Sickness

Richard Matheson wrote a short story "The Creeping Terror" about how southern california, way of life, or the idea, became a virus and was taking over the country.  The thought crossed my mind this weekend, when I started to think of Texas.  An idea for a story popped into my mind.  It was mixed with a story I had all ready written before.
There's something about Texas.  People from Texas are actually proud to be Texans.  It isn't a bad thing.  I mean they don't say they live in or are from Texas.  They say they are Texans.  It can be pretty creepy, sometimes.

Aliens

I'm not easily scared with movies at all.  I can safely say horror movies are more comedic than scary.  But, shit like this




scares me.  I mean when the whole world is being attacked by a force more advanced than us is pretty scary.

Interesting Fact 3: Match Maker, Match Maker....

Match makers during the 1800s commonly suffered from an ailment known as "phossy jaw."  The condition, which caused their jawbones to prematurely rot and decay.  This crazy result was due to phosphorus poisoning they received from working with the chemical used to make matches.

I'll have Fries and Prayer, Please.

 There are quite a few churches here in Houston, Tx.  I can't drive down a main street without seeing a few people waving signs for a car wash asking for money in the parking lot of a McD's.  That's nothing out of the ordinary.  Actually, it's kind odd to drive down a main street without seeing something like this.
Yesterday I saw something different. Driving home, I was coming up the feeder off 59, when I saw a few people holding signs.  Apparently the church now has drive through prayer windows.  I'm not sure what to think about that.  I have neither negative nor positive thoughts about it.  I'm not a Christian, but it seems that putting a drive through window in a church is a little off.  It's just another act to take it less seriously.  Hmm....I guess that would be a negative thought.

Stories or Scenes?

The worst thing I could have done, and did, was show my stories to family members and people that don't read.  "This is great stuff!"
Actually, looking back at all those stories, I realize they aren't.  In fact, they are far from ok.  Not that my writing now is the greatest ever printed, but they sure are a whole lot better.  The best thing I did was show them to people who actually read.  Now, even better, I'm showing them to people who write!  I'm enjoying the feed back I'm getting.
To think, I almost called it quits many a time.
(I raise my glass of scotch).  Here's to struggling for your passion, the only one that brings you joy, and love.

Quinmoztla

Nicholas D.

Sharing is Caring 1

“Anybody who loves books just knows what it feels like to love a book.  And especially if books are your jam, loving a book is a feeling you can’t get from anything else. To meet someone who has the same feelings about the same book and knows exactly where you’re coming from about that book is not a normal thing.”  - Stephanie Anderson, from WORD bookstore.

Technology? No Thank You....to a Point

It seems as technology is increasing, I'm falling further behind.  This weekend I found some spare time and went to Best Buy to look at the dvds, only to find quite a few blurays.  Then I noticed all the televisions.  I felt like I was traveling into the future.  Then, I moved to the ipod area and remembered a time when I almost bought one.  I can see how handy it can be to have one, but I just can't bring myself to get one.
I mean I still use a hand held can opener, instead of an electronic one.  I grind my own coffee instead of buying it all ready grounded, and I refuse to buy instant!  I use a straight razor instead of all these crazy 3 to 4 blade razors, or electric shavers.
Then, I went car shopping.  I wondered into the Honda lot and test drove a 2010 Civic.  Holy crap!  It felt like it was going to break.  Everything in it felt and looked cheaply made.  I'm not that strong of a guy, but I felt like I could rip the steering wheel off.
I didn't buy it of course.  No.  Instead, I went home, put on a Bob Dylan record, and read some of The Stand for a while until I had to pick up my pen and work on a short story.
I wonder if I should keep moving from most technology (obviously not all, because after all I'm using my Mac to type this blog), or if I should finally move on with technology.
It seems to me that most tech. is making people lazier, though.  Most people I meet, not all, are very reliant on tech. or someone else, instead of doing things their selves, or at least trying to figure out how to do something their selves.  Everyone knows about pop culture, but no one can talk about books, history, or anything interesting!
It's funny when I tell people I haven't owned nor watched T.V. in almost 9 years, and I sure don't miss it one bit.  They say things like, "I wish I could do that?"  I can't help but think, Actually, you can!  You just don't want to, because you like sitting on the couch like a freak'n mindless zombie, allowing corporations to melt your thought process away, and tell you what you should like and think is "cool", all the while laughing while they're playing their flute and you're following, unable to think for yourself anymore!  You tool!  
Wow!  That must have been pent-up for some time.
So, technology...it can be useful if used right, but when it becomes a necessity and rules your life making you think you can't live without it, then I say you should go to some type of help group right next to an AA meeting.


U-hyu'-s-ti

Nicholas D.

Interesting Fact 2: The Mayans....They're so Lame.

Everyone now days knows everything there is to know about the Mayan calendar, or at least they act like they know...or they know the Mayans had a calendar.  Apparently it's quite accurate, but no one talks about the other calendar from a nobel people down south.
That's right, the calendar from the nobel men and women of Titicaca.  It's actually very accurate.  In fact, interesting fact, they were far more advanced when it came mathematics, making the Mayans look like they were counting their fingers and toes to solve problems.
We abruptly come the question, "Why doesn't anyone know about this?"
Seriously think about it.  Would you take anyone serious from Titicaca?  Even then, when it was first established, and their calendar was revealed, people knew not to take it serious.  Their name has and is their downfall.

Parahi

Nicholas D.

A Pen, 3 Cigarettes and 2 bottles of Guinness

Pen
Through sickness and health, I give you my love.  Until you need a new soul, only then will I love you again, after that moment of anger dissipates and you have a new soul.

It takes a lot to frustrate me to the point where I need a cigarette and Guinness.  Job & Texas, you've managed to do it yet again, in only a matter of days.  The crazy thing is I don't like cigarettes that much at all, but when the stress and anger come in, my god you are so sweet, perfect, soothing, calming; you are a sheep in wolves clothing.  You are the incarnation of love.  And Guinness, you are the incarnation of beauty.  If you were a living breathing soul, I would declare my love for you without a moments hesitation (I'd do that any time.  Not due to stress or anger).  Then, I turn on old Rolling Stones, not the crap they only play on the radio.  The stuff that doesn't get played.  I calm down and now that the anger and stress have left, I feel the dirty taste on my tongue of that cigarettes.  My head is light.  I take another sip of Guinness.

Pa

Nicholas D.

Treehouse

Wondering around a bookstore, waiting for someone, I wondered into the architecture section.  Wait!  Let me say I have a love hate relationship with bookstores.  I have to limit myself from going into them once a month, or every two weeks.  The thing is, I won't stop buying books if I go.
So, back to the point, I wondered into the architecture section and found this book, "Treehouses of the World."
My god, how amazing these treehouses are.  Just looking at them made me feel like a kid again.  I felt was remembering a time that doesn't exist.

Onen

Nicholas D.

Interesting Fact 1: Eskimo Man Milk

It is not widely known that Eskimo men lactate, but it is very true.  In fact, interesting fact, if you visit an Eskimo diner or restaurant you can order your coffee, cocoa, a slice of pie, cake, or cereal with either dairy milk, goat, soy, rice, almond, or Eskimo man milk.  
In fact, interesting fact, it isn't widely know, but it decreases and slows down the aging process.  The famous Palin is actually 113 years old, but she began drinking Eskimo milk a the age of 30.  Imagine how youthful she would look if she started at such a younger age.
So, if you visit an Eskimo diner or restaurant, don't be bashful, order a warm tall glass of Eskimo milk.  They will actually go to your table, put the glass out and pump away right in front of you, to show that it's fresh!
So, that is my interesting fact for this week.  Make sure you share it at dinner parties or cocktail parties.  It's a great conversation starter.  "So, did you know Eskimo men lactate?"  You'll be the most interesting person in the room.




Please be patient and stick around for next weeks interesting fact.  You'll be amazed that you didn't know it.

Da Widzenia

Nicholas D.

No, Maybe Not

I was going over past competitions, and seems 2nd and down do not get published on the website.  The grand prize winner and 1st do, I think.  I'm not that concerned about it.  In fact, I am a little disappointed now that my excitement has worn away.  I didn't think I would win anything, so I re-wrote the short story that won 4th place.  I think the story is much better, and it makes me wonder if I had sent this version in, would I have maybe won 2nd or 1st.  There's nothing I can do about that, but submit it somewhere else.  If it does or doesn't get published on the website, I'll still submit it to another magazine or and online magazine.  Something.

Also, I've decided I'm going to begin a search for interesting facts.  I'll try to come up with some interesting facts weekly for my, as of right now, 2 readers.  So, here it goes....

A Letter From the Past

I was digging in my chest for a pouch, which I use to hold pennies.  I save all of my change to do my laundry.  As I was digging through the chest I found a letter.  I had written this letter to myself on October 21, 1999.  I've seen it from time to time, but left it alone in keeping the promise not to open it until the date on the envelope: October 21, 2010.
Today, I found it by accident, and opened it.  Holy crap, was I crazy!  I was expecting things to read something along the lines of: "I hope to have traveled the world."  "I want to be a photographer."   Something along those lines seemed to be far from what I was thinking at the time.
I'm not going to be type what was written in the letter, but it's pretty insane to see how different I am from then.  I see it as a better than worse off.  The letter must be destroyed!

Adieu,

Nicholas D.

?

This isn't that new to me.  This isn't old to me either.  I was blogging on myspace, until I only had one follower.  Now that follower seems to have jumped over on the other side.  I figure this page will hold, when the inevitable happens and the other site is forgotten, joining the ranks of friendster and others.  I hope I gather a following here.

Eventually I'll try to post pieces of my work, as they become published.  I hope I'm not getting too ahead of myself with that comment, but lately things seem somewhat safe to type that.

I'll leave this as my first blog.  Adios.

Nicholas D.