Do you ever watch a movie or TV show and think that the lives of the people on the screen or the events happening in that world are vastly more interesting than your reality? I'm not talking SciFi or fantasy or intense action thrillers, but the regular lives of people in a movie always seem so much more interesting and important than my own life. However, for me it is the little things that happen that make me wish my life was a movie; for example, the sounds and attention that is paid to small actions like opening a door or getting into bed. These acts are seemingly trivial, but often are done with great intention in a movie, either because it has something to do with the plot or because it causes a desired effect on the watcher. Now these are things that most people do on a daily basis, but no one is paying attention to them or alots them any special degree of importance because they are so normal. So why are they so effective in the movies? Why does the creaking of a wood floor during a night scene in a romance movie give the audience a sense of nostalgia for old homes, but when the floors creak at our own houses we get mad at the ratty architecture? When a character in a film rides a bus or goes to a movie, why does it seem like those are such intriguing and desirable things to do, but when we ride the T or sit in a movie we hardly pay attention to what we are doing?
From now on I am going to experiment with this and try and change my own perception of the world around me. I am going to pretend I am in a movie and that everything I do is done intentionally and has a degree of importance to it. While I sit at this cafe typing on my laptop, I am imagining that there is an audience out there watching and they are feeling a sense of curiosity for coffee shops, wishing they were sitting at a street-side table right now just like I am, doing something so incredibly important like it seems I am doing writing this post. When I ride my bike home I am going to ride with an air of quaintness, because that is what a person riding a bike looks like in the movies and I am going to watch my surroundings like they are something brand new to me, that I am not used to, because the audience will have never seen it before; thus giving me a novel experience in a place that I am quite accustomed to. I am very excited for this little experiment and I hope I keep it up, however it may not work all the time. We shall see!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Thursday, August 25, 2011
If you can't beat'em, join'em.
As I grow up and become a working adult in society, complete with responsibilities, a job, and future plans, I begin to reflect on my role in this society. Taking everything I was brought up with and everything else that I learned in and since college, I have learned to look at my world critically and not just take things as they are presented to me (about time, right!). However, I am caught in a spot where I do not want to be overly analytical and turn into a cynic just for the sake of it, but I also don't want to go through life naive just doing what I am told. So where do I go from here?
Currently, I am in a phase of my life where I find more at fault with society than positive. I may be old-fashioned or maybe this is just because of the environment I am in right now, but I do not like where my society is headed. There is so much emphasis on looks, money, clothing, stuff, and so much is done through computers; it just seems like we get more and more superficial and less natural, less human as time goes on. Don't get me wrong, there are many great triumphs we have made in the last few decades, but at what cost? When I watch TV and see the sorts of things everyone calls entertainment and all the advertising that is telling us all these things we need when we don't really need them at all and when there are websites to help us find our soul mates because we are incapable of doing that on our own, it just bothers me. As a teacher I am not sure how to present all this to my students because they can't just fight it, they need to know how to succeed in it, as do I. More importantly they need to develop their own opinions on it, which I am also working out.
But then here is the question: should I put my energy into fighting back against society, should I flee society because I do not agree with it and it is not going to change, or do I somehow find a way to integrate myself into it because I can't live without out it? Here is the catch, it is my life dream to help the people at the bottom of this society who are most taken advantage of and who really need someone their as their advocate; I am not willing to give up on the children because they had no choice in the life they were brought into and I want to give them some choice. But when I do that, do I give away my own choice? How can I create a lifestyle for myself that adheres to my own morals enough to keep me happy, at the same time coexisting enough with societies morals so that I can still function and work within society and maybe change it? Being a young adult these are the things I am going to be facing soon and it is scary as hell. I want to be the kind of person I feel right being and I will not be forced into any lifestyle I am not just because society is telling me I should; but I also want to stay in the US and cannot become a hermit who lives in the woods because that does not do a damn thing and does not help anyone. Any advice would be welcomed. Maybe I just need a new perspective, because again, who am I to think society needs changing? Maybe I am the one that is just stuck in the past and needs an update.
Currently, I am in a phase of my life where I find more at fault with society than positive. I may be old-fashioned or maybe this is just because of the environment I am in right now, but I do not like where my society is headed. There is so much emphasis on looks, money, clothing, stuff, and so much is done through computers; it just seems like we get more and more superficial and less natural, less human as time goes on. Don't get me wrong, there are many great triumphs we have made in the last few decades, but at what cost? When I watch TV and see the sorts of things everyone calls entertainment and all the advertising that is telling us all these things we need when we don't really need them at all and when there are websites to help us find our soul mates because we are incapable of doing that on our own, it just bothers me. As a teacher I am not sure how to present all this to my students because they can't just fight it, they need to know how to succeed in it, as do I. More importantly they need to develop their own opinions on it, which I am also working out.
But then here is the question: should I put my energy into fighting back against society, should I flee society because I do not agree with it and it is not going to change, or do I somehow find a way to integrate myself into it because I can't live without out it? Here is the catch, it is my life dream to help the people at the bottom of this society who are most taken advantage of and who really need someone their as their advocate; I am not willing to give up on the children because they had no choice in the life they were brought into and I want to give them some choice. But when I do that, do I give away my own choice? How can I create a lifestyle for myself that adheres to my own morals enough to keep me happy, at the same time coexisting enough with societies morals so that I can still function and work within society and maybe change it? Being a young adult these are the things I am going to be facing soon and it is scary as hell. I want to be the kind of person I feel right being and I will not be forced into any lifestyle I am not just because society is telling me I should; but I also want to stay in the US and cannot become a hermit who lives in the woods because that does not do a damn thing and does not help anyone. Any advice would be welcomed. Maybe I just need a new perspective, because again, who am I to think society needs changing? Maybe I am the one that is just stuck in the past and needs an update.
What is out there?
I was caught off guard last week while I was home in NY when I looked up at the sky and for the first time in months saw a brilliant starry night. Living in the city, it is one of those things that I have missed without even realizing it, but boy did I miss it. Growing up, I used to spend hours just gazing at the night sky during the summer. One time, an experience I will never forget as long as I live, I was down in the Bahamas and I witnessed the most intense night sky of my life; there were more bright spots in the sky than dark patches and the stars seemed so real and so close that I could almost touch them.
For me, looking up at the great beyond has always been a very humbling experience. I look, watch, listen, and just think to myself, "what is out there?" When you think about it, there are sooooo many stars and planets that are soooo far away and even more that our little eyes cannot see. There are thousands of galaxies like ours with limitless potential for....well anything. I marvel at how outstanding life is that we have this beautiful and amazing planet with millions and billions of fascinating life forms all with unique characteristics, and yet, we are just one planet amongst a universe. Holy shit we are insignificant. I mean does it really matter in the grand scheme of things what I do today, does it affect anything else in this gargantuan universe? The fact that it can is just mind-blowing, so most of us tend not to think about things in terms of their universal impact and justly so. But I just get so excited when I think that (assuming the big bang is somewhat close to true) every spec of atomic particle in this universe was once all gathered together in the tiniest space imaginable and then blew up to spread out everywhere. But since matter is not ever created or destroyed (at least that is what they tell us so far), all matter on this planet is somehow connected to everything else on this planet and every other planet out there. Ok this may be getting a little nerdy and heavy, but it just blows my mind that life even exists sometimes. I mean sure we are alive, but we also manipulate matter, we think, we can use our senses, we wonder at our own existence; everything we do is just so complex and brilliant, so significant. How is it possible? This, this complexity, our capabilities, our gorgeous design, that fact that all that I just mentioned is seemingly insignificant compared to the humongous universe is what makes me love life so damned much. The fact that we exist is something so awesome that I just can't help but appreciate it and be thankful for it and try to take advantage of all the life I have by living every moment and learning as much as I can.
Back to the stars though, can it be possible that we are the only planet with life on it? Is that self-centered to think? Can we ever know? I really hope there is life elsewhere and although I cannot even fathom what it is like, I hope they are wondering about us. There is just so much potential out there it can't be all for not. Either way, when I do die I hope that my life becomes apart of all that again, the cosmos, and maybe gets deposited somewhere else. I just wish that for now, I could still stargaze in the city.
For me, looking up at the great beyond has always been a very humbling experience. I look, watch, listen, and just think to myself, "what is out there?" When you think about it, there are sooooo many stars and planets that are soooo far away and even more that our little eyes cannot see. There are thousands of galaxies like ours with limitless potential for....well anything. I marvel at how outstanding life is that we have this beautiful and amazing planet with millions and billions of fascinating life forms all with unique characteristics, and yet, we are just one planet amongst a universe. Holy shit we are insignificant. I mean does it really matter in the grand scheme of things what I do today, does it affect anything else in this gargantuan universe? The fact that it can is just mind-blowing, so most of us tend not to think about things in terms of their universal impact and justly so. But I just get so excited when I think that (assuming the big bang is somewhat close to true) every spec of atomic particle in this universe was once all gathered together in the tiniest space imaginable and then blew up to spread out everywhere. But since matter is not ever created or destroyed (at least that is what they tell us so far), all matter on this planet is somehow connected to everything else on this planet and every other planet out there. Ok this may be getting a little nerdy and heavy, but it just blows my mind that life even exists sometimes. I mean sure we are alive, but we also manipulate matter, we think, we can use our senses, we wonder at our own existence; everything we do is just so complex and brilliant, so significant. How is it possible? This, this complexity, our capabilities, our gorgeous design, that fact that all that I just mentioned is seemingly insignificant compared to the humongous universe is what makes me love life so damned much. The fact that we exist is something so awesome that I just can't help but appreciate it and be thankful for it and try to take advantage of all the life I have by living every moment and learning as much as I can.
Back to the stars though, can it be possible that we are the only planet with life on it? Is that self-centered to think? Can we ever know? I really hope there is life elsewhere and although I cannot even fathom what it is like, I hope they are wondering about us. There is just so much potential out there it can't be all for not. Either way, when I do die I hope that my life becomes apart of all that again, the cosmos, and maybe gets deposited somewhere else. I just wish that for now, I could still stargaze in the city.
Take me on a trip somewhere
One of my favorite things to do, which I happily get to do often, is go on short trips via public transportation. Going back and forth between home and Boston gave me ample opportunities to ride the bus and train to get where I needed to. These little trips bring me a lot of joy because they give me time to think, time to relax--because there is nothing I need to do, and time to just look out the window and admire the scenery. Taking the train is especially awe-inspiring because I live right on the Hudson River, the valley being one of the most beautiful places in the country. Lucky me, I got to ride right at dusk (my absolute favorite time of day during the summer) when the lighting was just perfect over the water and the trees. Not to mention the clouds, oh the clouds. When it comes to sunsets, some people love to see the different colors and shapes of the radiant sun. I, however, love to watch the clouds. When they form massive shapes that just hover over you and look strangely like they are all part of a crusade siege, moving onward to attack some foreign land. It is just beautiful. And sure, as some say the colors of the clouds at sunset is a result of pollution in the air, it is stunning none the less.
When asked whether or not I would rather drive or fly somewhere or take the bus/train, I will almost always prefer the later. It may take longer, but it gives me an overwhelming sense of satisfaction to watch the world from that point of view and to really feel the distance I am covering. I can meet people along the way (Fungwah tends to have many interesting characters) and I can go into my own little world of thought. Many of these posts were thought up on a bus ride and many of the books I have read in the past few years were finished timely because of the long trips I often made. Some people do not like public transportation, so for them I am glad there are other options. I however relish in the fact that it is eco-friendly and will most likely be sticking around for quite a while.
When asked whether or not I would rather drive or fly somewhere or take the bus/train, I will almost always prefer the later. It may take longer, but it gives me an overwhelming sense of satisfaction to watch the world from that point of view and to really feel the distance I am covering. I can meet people along the way (Fungwah tends to have many interesting characters) and I can go into my own little world of thought. Many of these posts were thought up on a bus ride and many of the books I have read in the past few years were finished timely because of the long trips I often made. Some people do not like public transportation, so for them I am glad there are other options. I however relish in the fact that it is eco-friendly and will most likely be sticking around for quite a while.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
Two-sides of every coin
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/21/us/21farmers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&hpw
In this Times article, there is some frustration from farmers over the quick increase of farmer's markets in the last couple years. At first while reading this I was a little shocked, isn't that a good thing...more people choosing to buy their vegetables fresh from local farms rather than from giant corporate supermarkets that ship them from all over?
Then I started thinking about it from an economic point of view, and their grief makes sense. So many people are buying from a large number of markets that no one or two farms can capitalize on the demand and make any money. The demand is there but it is so spread out over the market that the money is not able to support the production and farms themselves are loosing money while the markets are able to stay afloat. So should there be less farmer's markets? For the time being, I think that might be a good idea. It is the classic case of too much of a good thing, the economy is not structured to handle such a quick boom in demand.
However, a number written in this article also showed an increase in the number of farms in the US. This is something to celebrate. As far as susatainabiliy of the planet, our economy, and our health goes we need more farms and more farmers. Our country is starving (literally) for healthy food that does not need gallons of oil to transport and our communities need to be able to support themselves and not depend on giants like Cisco for our basic needs. So what I think this article represents is a clear request from the people of the United States for our government to start subsidizing these smaller farms that produce for the local boom farmer's markets. I know that right now our country is in a bit of trouble financially and now might not be the right time; but I do think this is the direction we need to go in.
Now I am clearly writing all this with a bias because I love farmer's markets and I love fresh food. I am most definitely not an economist so maybe someone with that background could give me some better strategies or respond to the article more intelligently. But I do like that these issues are receiving press and people are at least thinking about them. I just hope we can find a way to bring fresh vegetables to people without hurting the farms that grow them.
In this Times article, there is some frustration from farmers over the quick increase of farmer's markets in the last couple years. At first while reading this I was a little shocked, isn't that a good thing...more people choosing to buy their vegetables fresh from local farms rather than from giant corporate supermarkets that ship them from all over?
Then I started thinking about it from an economic point of view, and their grief makes sense. So many people are buying from a large number of markets that no one or two farms can capitalize on the demand and make any money. The demand is there but it is so spread out over the market that the money is not able to support the production and farms themselves are loosing money while the markets are able to stay afloat. So should there be less farmer's markets? For the time being, I think that might be a good idea. It is the classic case of too much of a good thing, the economy is not structured to handle such a quick boom in demand.
However, a number written in this article also showed an increase in the number of farms in the US. This is something to celebrate. As far as susatainabiliy of the planet, our economy, and our health goes we need more farms and more farmers. Our country is starving (literally) for healthy food that does not need gallons of oil to transport and our communities need to be able to support themselves and not depend on giants like Cisco for our basic needs. So what I think this article represents is a clear request from the people of the United States for our government to start subsidizing these smaller farms that produce for the local boom farmer's markets. I know that right now our country is in a bit of trouble financially and now might not be the right time; but I do think this is the direction we need to go in.
Now I am clearly writing all this with a bias because I love farmer's markets and I love fresh food. I am most definitely not an economist so maybe someone with that background could give me some better strategies or respond to the article more intelligently. But I do like that these issues are receiving press and people are at least thinking about them. I just hope we can find a way to bring fresh vegetables to people without hurting the farms that grow them.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Which side of the glass are the animals on?
We took our annual family trip to the Bronx Zoo yesterday, but this time around was a little different for me. For the first time, I was not so sure who was observing who.
Walking around the extremely crowded paths of the zoo, I noticed how strange it was for a place like this to even exist. Here were are, thousands of people from all over, all packed together in one small area to watch animals in cages. What!? What other species of animal congregates like we do to observe the behavior of other animals? Then you think, these animals are NOT behaving like they normally would in their natural state. How could they? They cannot hunt, they cannot run, they cannot explore their environment. They are domesticated. The animal has been taken out of them. They are acting quite human actually, all because we put them in a zoo so we could watch how they act. Then you look at us, pushing and shoving to get the best view, waiting on lines for food, getting aggravated, taking pictures, all sorts of strange behavior. It just makes me wonder if we are doing things right. I understand that human beings and animals are different, but why have we taken the liberty of enslaving these animals, why do we have that right?
Alright so maybe I am getting a little too cynical and just mad that my childhood naivety has gone, but part of my point is that humans are taking too much advantage of their ability. Just because we have "superior intellect and reasoning skills" does not mean we have the right to abuse other animals and do whatever we want with them. I will consent that part of what the zoo does is great; they are saving endangered species and attempting to learn more about our world through its inhabitants. But isn't there a more humane way of doing that? Let me rephrase because it probably is very humane, but it isn't very just. I just get so frustrated when people think that we have the privileged of walking around and doing whatever we want to the planet and everything in it. We have a responsbility to take care of it, not mutilate it.
So part of me is thinking I will never go to a zoo again. Another part of me thinks I will keep going because it has such amazing people watching opportunities. Maybe the animals don't have it that bad, perhaps they like the entertainment too.
Walking around the extremely crowded paths of the zoo, I noticed how strange it was for a place like this to even exist. Here were are, thousands of people from all over, all packed together in one small area to watch animals in cages. What!? What other species of animal congregates like we do to observe the behavior of other animals? Then you think, these animals are NOT behaving like they normally would in their natural state. How could they? They cannot hunt, they cannot run, they cannot explore their environment. They are domesticated. The animal has been taken out of them. They are acting quite human actually, all because we put them in a zoo so we could watch how they act. Then you look at us, pushing and shoving to get the best view, waiting on lines for food, getting aggravated, taking pictures, all sorts of strange behavior. It just makes me wonder if we are doing things right. I understand that human beings and animals are different, but why have we taken the liberty of enslaving these animals, why do we have that right?
Alright so maybe I am getting a little too cynical and just mad that my childhood naivety has gone, but part of my point is that humans are taking too much advantage of their ability. Just because we have "superior intellect and reasoning skills" does not mean we have the right to abuse other animals and do whatever we want with them. I will consent that part of what the zoo does is great; they are saving endangered species and attempting to learn more about our world through its inhabitants. But isn't there a more humane way of doing that? Let me rephrase because it probably is very humane, but it isn't very just. I just get so frustrated when people think that we have the privileged of walking around and doing whatever we want to the planet and everything in it. We have a responsbility to take care of it, not mutilate it.
So part of me is thinking I will never go to a zoo again. Another part of me thinks I will keep going because it has such amazing people watching opportunities. Maybe the animals don't have it that bad, perhaps they like the entertainment too.
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Chickpeas, sesame tahini, olive oil, and a few others...
These are the main ingredients to the most amazing food on earth: Hummus!!
Putting it on a sandwich with grilled vegetables, dipping pretzels, wheat thins, pita, carrots, or even your finger into a tub of it. Cooking with it. Making it. It is so delicious any which way you eat it. I literally go through it like water and can't get enough of it. Garlic lovers, roasted red pepper, pine nut, tahini, and soooo many others. Going to a Lebanese or Mediterranean market or restaurant and ordering their homemade hummus just makes my mouth water and I get so excited to dip in some fresh bread. MMMMM. It is light and airy and packed with savory protein that just makes my body so happy.
I used to feel this way about peanut butter (and believe I still LOVE pb) and I am sure I will find something else to drool over. But for the time being, I am comfortable eating my weight in hummus. I am even dropping some money on my very own food-processor so I can stop using my friends' and make my own hummus any time I want. If you have never tried it, go get some!
Putting it on a sandwich with grilled vegetables, dipping pretzels, wheat thins, pita, carrots, or even your finger into a tub of it. Cooking with it. Making it. It is so delicious any which way you eat it. I literally go through it like water and can't get enough of it. Garlic lovers, roasted red pepper, pine nut, tahini, and soooo many others. Going to a Lebanese or Mediterranean market or restaurant and ordering their homemade hummus just makes my mouth water and I get so excited to dip in some fresh bread. MMMMM. It is light and airy and packed with savory protein that just makes my body so happy.
I used to feel this way about peanut butter (and believe I still LOVE pb) and I am sure I will find something else to drool over. But for the time being, I am comfortable eating my weight in hummus. I am even dropping some money on my very own food-processor so I can stop using my friends' and make my own hummus any time I want. If you have never tried it, go get some!
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