1984 by George Orwell

Orwell’s 1984 hardly needs an introduction (although Christopher Hitchens, author of Why Orwell Matters, does a nice job contextualizing the novel in this radio appearance). Originally published in 1949, the novel came to television in 1954, courtesy of the BBC. The live production, featuring scenes considered “horrific” and “subversive” at the time, shocked viewers across England. One viewer reportedly collapsed and died while watching the program. A wave of controversy followed, and, amidst it all, the BBC decided to air a second live performance and record it to 35mm film. (Watch above or here.) Years later, the British Film Institute ranked the production 73rd on its list of the 100 Greatest British Television Programs of the 20th century. www.openculture.com/2012/01/orwells_1984_animal_farm_adapted_to_film.html 

Watch the film here: 1984 by George Orwell

There was a time when people read the book or watched this film and laughed at the absurdity of it all but the reality of it has root in the world today. We are controlled at every turn by a government which wants more and more control over our everyday lives and more of our people are willing to just give it to them in exchange for what they perceive to be a "free" ride. There are more folks on some sort of governmental assistance (approx. 1 in 6 people in the United States) and less people working (over 8.2% unemployment more like 14% -18%) than at any other time in our countries history except during the Great Depression and it is does look like it will be getting any better in the near future. It is during times like these that people look for help and if that help comes in the form of "Big Brother" they will gladly give up their rights in exchange for a better situation.

Seconds are ticking away.

If we allow ourselves to think about the fact that each second wasted is a second gone forever, would we be better stewards of our time? David E. Carroll Jr.

"Why can't time just STOP slipping away and give me a minute to get my stuff together?" This is one of the first thoughts which entered my mind as I awoke this morning followed immediately by the thought, "You have had 48 years+ to get it together how much more time do you need?"

"Yes, But..."

"There are no BUTS, you have squandered your time so don't expect any pity from me?"

"Where the hell did this come from and who or what has invaded my thoughts and why today?"

"Where were you when I was a teenager with my life stretched out before me like a road without an horizon?"

"I was here."

"Where were you during my twenties when I was an energetic and ambitious young man struggling to become a man and make a name for myself?"

"I was here."

"Where were you during my thirties when I was beginning to take root and grow?"

"Once again, Here."

"And now in the closing hours of my forties you show up with this B.S. telling me I have squandered my time, How dare you?"

"Well, haven't you? Be honest with yourself for once in your life! Could you have done more? Cumulatively, over your lifetime, How many weeks have you spent sitting in front of the television or on your computer just wasting time? Sure, you have had some legitimate setbacks in your life but who the hell hasn't and even though you have always said that you have not let the setbacks affect you, apparently, they have because you have not been the man I know you to be for the last few years."

"But, I am more intelligent now than I have ever been in my life."

"Really? Are you really? Yes, you are more educated than at any time in your life but intelligence is the ability to take what you know and apply it in some way to benefit your life or someone else's? I dunno know bro. and you are fooling yourself if you think you are capable of blowing smoke up my invisible anus, so just stop it! I have always been with you, waiting patiently while you wandered around like a ship without a rudder." 

"Oh come on, Man! Don't you think that was a little below the belt?"

"Tick, Tick, Tick..."

"AUUUUGGGHHHH!!!!!!"

7/27/2012 2:27 AM

• My Niece wrote on Facebook, "So what do you plan to do with this new revelation?"
  

  13 hours ago via mobile · 
• 
  

  My Answer..."Nothing... I write, I don't act. lol"
  

  about an hour ago · 

Why do innocent people die?

Why do innocent people die? This question, I am sure has been on people's minds since the beginning of time. Many great men and women have attempted to answer it and while some have done a good job no one really has the answer.

The tragic occurrence in Aurora, Colorado, a few days ago, is a prime example of folks who were minding their own business, settling in to watch the new Batman movie,  "The Dark Knight Rises", and a few minutes later 72 people were either dead, dying or wounded.

In the coming days, weeks, months and years we will hear "experts" attempt to make sense out of a senseless event. There will be activists calling for stricter gun control while others declare that if more guns had been in the theater that night maybe this would not have happened. My thoughts on this matter are: "If the shooter did not had access to guns he could have just as easily caused death and destruction by whatever means he had at his disposal. The hijackers on 911 used box-cutters to hi-jack jetliners and used them to kill 3000 innocent people. People use machetes to cut off heads in third world countries. I could go on and on by what;s the point? Evil thrives everywhere and there is no explanation to the question, WHY DO INNOCENT PEOPLE DIE?"


Listed below is an attempt to answer a question of a similar nature.

Why do Innocent suffer? 

Talking to strangers...

I was lying here (just got off Facebook) thinking, "How many people actually take time to speak to total strangers face to face on a daily basis?" I don't know if it is just a Southern thing or not but I had heard it was not as common for folks, up north, to talk to strangers, so while visiting a few years ago, I made people talk to me by asking questions. Surprisingly enough people are will ing to talk if approached in the right way.  On the other hard every time I go into a anywhere down here, I find myself in a conversation with a total stranger.

The technological world we live in today makes it really easy for folks to hide behind their electronic devices or ear phones and never say a word to the person sitting across the room from them. There was a time not so long ago when people actually talked to one another instead of sending texts, e-mails, or walked around listening to music in their headphones. For a person, who spent almost 22 years in sales, those forms of communication are a distraction to me. I would much rather sit across the table or next to a person and hear the sound of their voice. You can learn so much more about a person from listening to their voice inflections and the sound of their breathing as they speak rather than reading words on a screen. On the other hand, while electronic devices may make it easier to communication for some folks, digitally generated letters and images are impersonal which makes the use of emoticons and other forms of internet slang necessary as a way for people to express what they believe to be the correct emotion for a given situation.

I grabbed a few links off the web which may help.
http://www.wikihow.com/Talk-to-Strangers
http://www.wikihow.com/Start-a-Conversation-with-a-Stranger
http://socialanxietydisorder.about.com/od/copingwithsad/qt/conversetips.htm
http://community.sparknotes.com/2011/02/22/how-to-talk-to-strangers

How are you spending your "Dash"?

I read of a man who stood to speak

At the funeral of a friend

He referred to the dates on her tombstone

From the beginning to the end

He noted that first came the date of her birth

And spoke the following date with tears,

But he said what mattered most of all

Was the dash between those years

For that dash represents all the time

That she spent alive on earth.

And now only those who loved her

Know what that little line is worth.

For it matters not how much we own;

The cars, the house, the cash,

What matters is how we live and love

And how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.

Are there things you’d like to change?

For you never know how much time is left,

That can still be rearranged.

If we could just slow down enough

To consider what’s true and real

And always try to understand

The way other people feel.

And be less quick to anger,

And show appreciation more

And love the people in our lives

Like we’ve never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect,

And more often wear a smile

Remembering that this special dash

Might only last a little while.

So, when your eulogy is being read

With your life’s actions to rehash

Would you be proud of the things they say

About how you spent your dash?

©1996 Linda Ellis

My opinion of Twitter...

https://twitter.com/David01964

Twitter is for people who are already popular (celebrities) not for folks like me who can't bribe anyone to follow them except people trying to sell crap or hookers trying to convince me, to pay them, to converse with me, on their webcam.

This has pretty much been the story of my life. Unless, I am buying dinner or drinks I can't get a woman to just hangout with me because they always have something better to do. I guess that comes with the territory when you are not all that interesting. The problem with that line of thought is I am pretty damn interesting if anyone would just take the time to find out.

Yes, I am a little nerdy. (Well ok a lot nerdy) (nerds make good lovers)
Yes, I no longer draw a very large salary. (Truth is I never did)
Yes, I am 48 years old and have never been married. (No Kids)
Yes, I have had lots of girlfriends. (Many for short periods of time)
Yes, I love to cook. (Very good at it)
Yes, I love to talk. (Especially, if I can get anyone to listen)
Yes, I watch lots of television. (Only when there is no one to talk to)
Yes, I like controversy. (But not cruelty)
Yes, I like Photography. (30+ years behind the camera and am still learning)
Yes, I spend lots of time on my laptop. (Only when there is no one around)

Now you see why Twitter is not for people like me or is it?

http://www.chow.com/recipes/30376-easy-brownies

A Challenge to Myself...

I wish I had the creative writing skills necessary to draw a story out and develop all the characteristic nuances necessary to pull a reader in and keep them interested for the length of time it takes to read a novel. I have a tendency to get straight to the point which in some cases needs to be made a little less sharp because although a cut made with a sharp knife is cleaner it can also appear to be much messier.

I come from a background which covers the who, when, what, where and how in as succinct a manner as possible which comes across as harsh at times in my writings. I am going to work to develop the skills necessary to be a better writer as to cause less controversy in the future. ;)