For years a silent debate has waded through Canada, from sea to sea. Every few years it resurfaces, but is quickly drowned out by a proud and traditional populace. We have, as a nation, been working for years to become an independent and sovereign nation. We pleaded with the British crown to give us rights beyond that of a Dominion of the Crown, we opened our doors to every culture and every people group in the world. We have become so determined to be our own self, set apart from those who’s shadow we cannot escape, that we even fly in the face of the world’s only superpower whenever it suits us.
For all of this flag waving and chest thumping, we have forgotten one key fact that holds us victim to another power’s will. Our head of state isn’t even a Canadian. Somewhere in a far away land, an elderly Queen sips her tea and sits on her British throne. In that far away land, five time-zones apart from our Nation’s capital, she holds the power to snoop or possibly even wield the internal workings of our government.
Some of us anti-crown-patriots may be merely irritated that a foreign dignitary’s head still covers our coined currency, but metal-silhouetted Royals should be the least of our worries. Australia has already recognized that they cannot truly be independent as long as Britain still has its gloved hands so deep into their power structure. So to is it with Canada. What secret powers does she have at her disposal? What sensitive information is she privy to? Finally, if a national security issue existed between Canada and the UK, where do you think her loyalties would lie? Heaven forbid that we should ever have to actively fight against our British ‘mother’.
What Canadians have to realize is, the Queen’s position as our head of state isn’t just a threat to our sovereign identity – it’s a threat to our national security.
-----------------
Notes:
1. Australia voted against leaving the commonwealth, although support was strong.
2. I do not at this time understand what information or powers the Queen has. This blog entry was written simply to get people thinking about how outrageous it is that our head of state is British.
3. I have nothing against the Royals, in my opinion they are no more relevant to our nation than Hollywood celebrities. In fact, that’s exactly what they have become – the British monarchy is now the Hollywood of the UK.
CALL FOR FEEDBACK:
Are you a Canadian? How do you feel about our Royal Insecurity?
Are you American, or from another truly independant country? What are your thoughts?
Friday, September 08, 2006
Sunday, September 03, 2006
The Silent Weeks
Between the Old and New Testaments, there was a period of four-hundred years is not covered known as the 'Silent Years'. Whether it was insignificant, or merely insufficiently significant to warrant coveted space in the Book of Books, I have no idea.
The Truthy Report has gone through a silent period of it's own, I’m calling the 'Silent Weeks'. Not that this blog in any way compares to the Bible, but the term seems appropriate.
Unlike my theories on why the Bible ignores the 'Silent Years', my quiet time has more to do with being so completely busy that I haven't had time for any pleasantries or indulgences. Nearly one month ago, I underwent surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. The next three weeks of my life involved a frightening balance of trying not to die from cellulitis (an infection in my neck), and preparing myself for University - a task that is never truly complete.
As I begin my third week of University, I finally have time to jot down just a few words - i.e. this post. I hope you feel better informed now! Also, hopefully not all of my readers have given up on me ever posting again. Future updates will be more frequent, although the days of weekly posts may be over. Who knows? Maybe the semester will get lighter as it goes on.
...
ya right.
--------------------------------------
The Truthy Report is now syndicated on my FaceBook! www.facebook.com
Welcome to new FaceBook readers! For those of you that are unfamiliar with this blog, I highly recommend that you read my first-ever post. Cheers, and God bless!
...
(***omg! He said God bless!***)
Ya, that's right. I've discovered that 90%+ of my readers are Christians, and all of my new readers will also be Christians, so i'm dropping all pretense of subtlety. This is first and foremost a blog that glorifies God, and so it shall.
The Truthy Report has gone through a silent period of it's own, I’m calling the 'Silent Weeks'. Not that this blog in any way compares to the Bible, but the term seems appropriate.
Unlike my theories on why the Bible ignores the 'Silent Years', my quiet time has more to do with being so completely busy that I haven't had time for any pleasantries or indulgences. Nearly one month ago, I underwent surgery to have my wisdom teeth removed. The next three weeks of my life involved a frightening balance of trying not to die from cellulitis (an infection in my neck), and preparing myself for University - a task that is never truly complete.
As I begin my third week of University, I finally have time to jot down just a few words - i.e. this post. I hope you feel better informed now! Also, hopefully not all of my readers have given up on me ever posting again. Future updates will be more frequent, although the days of weekly posts may be over. Who knows? Maybe the semester will get lighter as it goes on.
...
ya right.
--------------------------------------
The Truthy Report is now syndicated on my FaceBook! www.facebook.com
Welcome to new FaceBook readers! For those of you that are unfamiliar with this blog, I highly recommend that you read my first-ever post. Cheers, and God bless!
...
(***omg! He said God bless!***)
Ya, that's right. I've discovered that 90%+ of my readers are Christians, and all of my new readers will also be Christians, so i'm dropping all pretense of subtlety. This is first and foremost a blog that glorifies God, and so it shall.
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Truth. Like Hammer
Below is a launch announcement regarding a new website by Joshua Wood, "Truth. Like Hammer". Check it out!
TruthLikeHammer.com Launch Announcement:
"The Western church is dying. Slowly but surely, it is being overcome by false
prophets and supposed spiritual gurus spouting promises of walking in
divine blessing, happiness, and health. Despite the overwhelming
acceptance of feel-good lies, there is still a flicker of light.
As stated on their website, the goal of Truth. Like Hammer is clear: To
stand against the flow of cultures and social movements firmly planted
in the unchanging message of Christ is our mission. We accept it proudly.
Charles H. Spurgeon once said, "If the Lord does not speedily appear,
there will come another generation, and another, and all these
generations will be tainted and injured if we are not faithful to God
and to His truth today."
Truth. Like Hammer was founded in 2006 by Joshua Wood of
btfindustries.com and is co-authored by Jezreel Cohen, and Amy Michelle
Wiley. The site offers a range of articles, blog entries, a discussion
forum, and advice pertaining to the Truth of the Gospel."
The 10 Cent Difference
Greetings Truthy faithful,
As many of you know, I am currently saving my pennies for University this fall.
"But Mike," you might say, "University will cost you more than a few pennies!" If you are such a person, you would be correct! Congratulations. In fact, evening saving many thousands of nickels won't do it for me. University requires thousands of dollars, most of which I don't actually have at the moment.
"But Mike," you might say again, "haven't you been working hard and saving your money?" The answer is 'yes', I have. However, what I have been able to save is still insufficient. I've been teaching computers, designing websites, selling on eBay, as well as working on a friend's farm. After all of this, I still need more. That is why I have implemented a new University Fund store, where you can get great merchandise cheaply.
"But Mike," you might say yet again, causing great irritation to the rest of us, "I have no money. I'm poor and I make my own underpants out of plastic bags." I have a solution for even these people - in fact, this solution is great for everybody, even those who do shop at the store.
The great option? I call it the '10 Cent Difference'. Click here to see how you can contribute to my education without paying a sent!
Thank you very much for your support, and I look forward to posting a success story for you later this year!
---
'Duality' is still awaiting a topic - email me your ideas, or leave a comment!
As many of you know, I am currently saving my pennies for University this fall.
"But Mike," you might say, "University will cost you more than a few pennies!" If you are such a person, you would be correct! Congratulations. In fact, evening saving many thousands of nickels won't do it for me. University requires thousands of dollars, most of which I don't actually have at the moment.
"But Mike," you might say again, "haven't you been working hard and saving your money?" The answer is 'yes', I have. However, what I have been able to save is still insufficient. I've been teaching computers, designing websites, selling on eBay, as well as working on a friend's farm. After all of this, I still need more. That is why I have implemented a new University Fund store, where you can get great merchandise cheaply.
"But Mike," you might say yet again, causing great irritation to the rest of us, "I have no money. I'm poor and I make my own underpants out of plastic bags." I have a solution for even these people - in fact, this solution is great for everybody, even those who do shop at the store.
The great option? I call it the '10 Cent Difference'. Click here to see how you can contribute to my education without paying a sent!
Thank you very much for your support, and I look forward to posting a success story for you later this year!
---
'Duality' is still awaiting a topic - email me your ideas, or leave a comment!
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Duality
Hey everybody, and welcome to the Truthy Report's first edition of our new feature - Duality. I know what you're thinking, and no, i'm not going to cut myself in half.
Duality is a unique oppurtunity for me to write two opposing viewpoints verses myself. Think like CNN's Crossfire with multiple personality disorder. Unlike Crossfire however, there will be no left wing. Being a middle-ish conservative, the sides will be Conservative and Facist - the extreme right side of the political spectrum. If I were a lefty, then that would be Liberal and Communist.
So, meet my two sides:
Copernicus is an intelligent, thoughtful man who is guided by his faith in God, and has a real compassion for people. He can keep his cool in all but the most heated of circumstances, and he holds to strong moral values. He believes that wrong is wrong all of the time, and there's no excuse for it.
Caesar is tactical, ambitious, and very big-picture oriented. He has little time for irritations or stupidities, and he would love to conquer the world someday so everyone could live properly. Ceasar believes in God, but he would rather think things through than call on the Almighty. He believes he is brilliant, and anyone would have a hard time proving him wrong.
I of course am neither of these men, that's what makes this entertaining. I'm sure we can all find elements in each of them that we can relate to. I'm likely a moderate middle - neither Copernicus nor Caesar, but more likely a healthy combination of the two.
Now, this feature thrives on your input - please suggest our first topic of discussion by leaving a comment on this post. After both sides are done duking it out, you can decide for yourself who won. Vote by showing your support in a comment!
*Awaiting your input*
---
Your non-word of the day is springroast, (spring-roast) the melting of one's internal organs by unseasonably high temperatures during the first quarter of the year. ie. "Have you springroasted yet?" or "We had our springroast early this year".
Duality is a unique oppurtunity for me to write two opposing viewpoints verses myself. Think like CNN's Crossfire with multiple personality disorder. Unlike Crossfire however, there will be no left wing. Being a middle-ish conservative, the sides will be Conservative and Facist - the extreme right side of the political spectrum. If I were a lefty, then that would be Liberal and Communist.
So, meet my two sides:
Copernicus is an intelligent, thoughtful man who is guided by his faith in God, and has a real compassion for people. He can keep his cool in all but the most heated of circumstances, and he holds to strong moral values. He believes that wrong is wrong all of the time, and there's no excuse for it.
Caesar is tactical, ambitious, and very big-picture oriented. He has little time for irritations or stupidities, and he would love to conquer the world someday so everyone could live properly. Ceasar believes in God, but he would rather think things through than call on the Almighty. He believes he is brilliant, and anyone would have a hard time proving him wrong.
I of course am neither of these men, that's what makes this entertaining. I'm sure we can all find elements in each of them that we can relate to. I'm likely a moderate middle - neither Copernicus nor Caesar, but more likely a healthy combination of the two.
Now, this feature thrives on your input - please suggest our first topic of discussion by leaving a comment on this post. After both sides are done duking it out, you can decide for yourself who won. Vote by showing your support in a comment!
*Awaiting your input*
---
Your non-word of the day is springroast, (spring-roast) the melting of one's internal organs by unseasonably high temperatures during the first quarter of the year. ie. "Have you springroasted yet?" or "We had our springroast early this year".
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Blistering Heat
May 30, and i'm already dying from the heat. It's insane! Sure, people love to tease us Canadians about our inhumanly cold weather and plentiful snow, but do you realise that the temperature outside is 36 degrees celcius!No, you most likely wouldn' if you are American. 36 C = 96.8 ferenheit. How's that for the True North? Sure, you Southerners are used to it, but in a country where our temperature regularly goes more than 25-30 degrees below freezing, that's just intolerable.
To see current weather conditions at my house, click here.
I'm sure there are more severe weather changes in the world, but I haven't heard of one! Maybe international charities should be donating to the 'Poor Roasting Canucks Fund'.
The fact that i've managed to accomplish anything today is a credit to my poor, dying fan. - Yay Mr. Fan!
Cheers to you who dwell in comfort, and I hope I get to join you soon!
Saturday, May 27, 2006
A Quick Update
The Truthy Report's special reports are now available via this blog's sidebar. Currently there is the ongoing feature - The Cyst List, as well as the one-time feature The DaVinci Report.
These special features will be few and far between, but as they occur they will be listed there as well.
These special features will be few and far between, but as they occur they will be listed there as well.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
From Porn to Ped - A Short Trip?
This blog entry is really for you if:
You've ever looked at pornography, on TV, the Internet, or a magazine.
or You don't think that porn depicting consenting adults is a problem.
If you're a man reading this, then odds are you fall into category #1 (above). I have yet to meet a guy that has not looked at porn at one time or another. Maybe they were young and curious, or maybe an experienced friend told them where to find it. The point is that we were fed it young.
As the years went on, a blessed few of us realized that we were heading down a dark path and veered off. Most didn't. Years later, many of us were still plagued by this disease of the mind. Are you on this path right now? Are you apathetic towards other people allowing their minds to go this way? Let me open a window to the future for you.
I have spoken with a number of guys and girls over the internet, who in anonymosity freely give out personal information about their lives - just not identifying information. Some of them just needed someone to listen, and some of them were trying to help others break from their chains. The consistant theme that I have gotten from these conversations is this - porn is a slippery slope. Everyone starts soft-core, but after a while that soft stuff just doesn't give you the same thrill. It's like alchohol - the more you drink, the more it takes to get that same buzz.
Once soft-core porn no longer does it for you, you turn to hardcore. This is a fast and likely unnoticed progression, as this is the most popular and most easily accesible form on the net today. Once a guy is into this, they likely are disgusted by seeing their own gender in the nude and will turn to lesbian porn so all they see is women. This horny mindset somehow ovverides your understanding of right and wrong, allowing you to lower your standards for a short time. Adding alchohol in the mix just makes this progression faster.
As sad as this progression is, it doesn't end here. Gay, orgie (groups), and strange fetishes (unusual sex) begin to pervade. This is the line that most people would agree publicly is quite disgusting. But you see, when you're hooked on porn, you'll never stay at one level - you keep getting sucked in deeper.
Abuse, control, rape, gang rape, and bestiality (sex with animals) is the second-last category of porn. This is inhumanly perverted, and no God-fearing man could possibly do any of these things. Not to say of course that they couldn't glance at them. They do. They shouldn't, but many do. To watch a sin and to take part in it are two seperate, and yet equal acts. God makes it clear in the Bible that thinking of sin and committing a sinful act bears the same penalty.
The most horrific and disgusting level of porn is child pornography, also know as kiddie porn. This vilest of evils is so disgusting that a conscience-driven man could kill himself before allowing his eyes to see it. Some have, i'm sure. The thing that we as society needs to realize is, not all people who look at this crap are perverts. God makes it clear that they are sinners, but they are also human beings who have been caught up in the lie that porn doesn't hurt anybody.
Watching a man and a woman having sex may seem like nothing more than a sexual charge, but it is really a beast in disguise.
I want to clarify something - I believe that a human being who has any grip on conscience could not possibly commit acts portrayed in child porn media. Such people should be locked away and held up to the glory of God, come fire or mercy. I do however pity those who have fallen into the imagery - those who watch but do not do. They are fathers, sons, teachers, pastors, and other trusted men that wouldn't dare commit such a sin, and yet are drawn into it just the same.
For these men - at any level of porn, whether it be soft or worse, GET HELP! Your mind is being changed by what you allow to enter your eyes, and every second you spend perverting your mind is another day of your future that you'll have to fight it.
For teens and young adults, I highly reccommend you buy and read Every Young Man's Battle.
This is the official website where you can buy the book,
or you can buy it here at Amazon.com.
For older men, as well as married men, read Every Man's Battle. Your fight isn't over - it's just beginning!
Official Website
Amazon.com
Also, you can visit Setting Captives Free for a free course on breaking the chains that porn has created in your life. They also provide a counsellor - very helpful!
You've ever looked at pornography, on TV, the Internet, or a magazine.
or You don't think that porn depicting consenting adults is a problem.
If you're a man reading this, then odds are you fall into category #1 (above). I have yet to meet a guy that has not looked at porn at one time or another. Maybe they were young and curious, or maybe an experienced friend told them where to find it. The point is that we were fed it young.
As the years went on, a blessed few of us realized that we were heading down a dark path and veered off. Most didn't. Years later, many of us were still plagued by this disease of the mind. Are you on this path right now? Are you apathetic towards other people allowing their minds to go this way? Let me open a window to the future for you.
I have spoken with a number of guys and girls over the internet, who in anonymosity freely give out personal information about their lives - just not identifying information. Some of them just needed someone to listen, and some of them were trying to help others break from their chains. The consistant theme that I have gotten from these conversations is this - porn is a slippery slope. Everyone starts soft-core, but after a while that soft stuff just doesn't give you the same thrill. It's like alchohol - the more you drink, the more it takes to get that same buzz.
Once soft-core porn no longer does it for you, you turn to hardcore. This is a fast and likely unnoticed progression, as this is the most popular and most easily accesible form on the net today. Once a guy is into this, they likely are disgusted by seeing their own gender in the nude and will turn to lesbian porn so all they see is women. This horny mindset somehow ovverides your understanding of right and wrong, allowing you to lower your standards for a short time. Adding alchohol in the mix just makes this progression faster.
As sad as this progression is, it doesn't end here. Gay, orgie (groups), and strange fetishes (unusual sex) begin to pervade. This is the line that most people would agree publicly is quite disgusting. But you see, when you're hooked on porn, you'll never stay at one level - you keep getting sucked in deeper.
Abuse, control, rape, gang rape, and bestiality (sex with animals) is the second-last category of porn. This is inhumanly perverted, and no God-fearing man could possibly do any of these things. Not to say of course that they couldn't glance at them. They do. They shouldn't, but many do. To watch a sin and to take part in it are two seperate, and yet equal acts. God makes it clear in the Bible that thinking of sin and committing a sinful act bears the same penalty.
The most horrific and disgusting level of porn is child pornography, also know as kiddie porn. This vilest of evils is so disgusting that a conscience-driven man could kill himself before allowing his eyes to see it. Some have, i'm sure. The thing that we as society needs to realize is, not all people who look at this crap are perverts. God makes it clear that they are sinners, but they are also human beings who have been caught up in the lie that porn doesn't hurt anybody.
Watching a man and a woman having sex may seem like nothing more than a sexual charge, but it is really a beast in disguise.
I want to clarify something - I believe that a human being who has any grip on conscience could not possibly commit acts portrayed in child porn media. Such people should be locked away and held up to the glory of God, come fire or mercy. I do however pity those who have fallen into the imagery - those who watch but do not do. They are fathers, sons, teachers, pastors, and other trusted men that wouldn't dare commit such a sin, and yet are drawn into it just the same.
For these men - at any level of porn, whether it be soft or worse, GET HELP! Your mind is being changed by what you allow to enter your eyes, and every second you spend perverting your mind is another day of your future that you'll have to fight it.
For teens and young adults, I highly reccommend you buy and read Every Young Man's Battle.
This is the official website where you can buy the book,
or you can buy it here at Amazon.com.
For older men, as well as married men, read Every Man's Battle. Your fight isn't over - it's just beginning!
Official Website
Amazon.com
Also, you can visit Setting Captives Free for a free course on breaking the chains that porn has created in your life. They also provide a counsellor - very helpful!
You have heard that it was said, "You shall not commit adultery"; but I say to you, that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart. - Matthew 5:27-28 (NASB)
Saturday, May 20, 2006
The DaVinci Report
This blog entry can be found here:
http://www.mikelovdal.com/TruthyReport_DavinciCode.html
on it's own special page! Enjoy.
http://www.mikelovdal.com/TruthyReport_DavinciCode.html
on it's own special page! Enjoy.
Monday, May 15, 2006
The Vibe of Verse
I don't have to explain to a music lover why song lyrics can be so powerful. For some reason, rhymed verse in combination with music just pierces your heart and connects at a deeper level than almost anything else can.
This post comes after I found, much to my amazement, that I had 48 songs that I had personally written available on my website. More amazing still, I suppose, is that I have another 20 songs just sitting on my computer - ready to be uploaded, or used elsewhere.
I don't claim to be a master songmaster. In fact, I can count my favorites on one hand. Still, I'm just happy that I found this outlet for my thoughts and emotions, when short stories or blog entries just don't cut it.
68 songs... hmm, that's almost enough to publish in a book...
* * *
The Cyst List has a new entry - colossal, Over-Packed Websites. Click here for the complete list.
This post comes after I found, much to my amazement, that I had 48 songs that I had personally written available on my website. More amazing still, I suppose, is that I have another 20 songs just sitting on my computer - ready to be uploaded, or used elsewhere.
I don't claim to be a master songmaster. In fact, I can count my favorites on one hand. Still, I'm just happy that I found this outlet for my thoughts and emotions, when short stories or blog entries just don't cut it.
68 songs... hmm, that's almost enough to publish in a book...
* * *
The Cyst List has a new entry - colossal, Over-Packed Websites. Click here for the complete list.
Thursday, May 11, 2006
This is the way I (would've done this)
This is the way I would have done things
Up against the wall
Up against the wall
You got me up against your wall
This is the way I would have done things
Up against the wall
Up against the wall
You've got me up against your wall
That quote is the chorus of one of my favorite songs of the year - "Reinventing Your Exit" by Underoath. It's creative, it's inspiring, it's punk-rocky. It also happens to be screamo.
*gasp!*
I confess, Underoath managed to do something to my musical tastes that I never thought possible. Here I am, enjoying a screamo song.
Screamo (screem-oh), a punk-rock music style variant involving lead vocals that are screamed from the throat or chest, generating an almost unnatural sound that is neither a scream nor a yell. Actually, when some bands do it it sounds like the gates of hell were opened for a minute. Quite disturbing, I assure you.
However, on a few odd occasions, with a few odd bands, it seems to actually work. I have to be in the right mood to listen to this kind of music mind you, but I generally enjoy it.
Now, i'm not saying that i'm a fan of screamo. As far as i'm concerned, if the lead vocalist sung his lines the song would have been better, as opposed to worse. It also would have made the emotion of the song more mild however... perhaps limiting the screamo to short sections like Relient K did in their song "Softer to Me" (from their self-titled debut album).
In any case, my allowance for such things seems to have widened. In my wilder moods, you can catch me listening to:
- Underoath
- Project 86
- Pillar
- Justified
- Dogwood
- 12 Stones
- Demon Hunter (limited)
Who knew..? Oh well, for my regular listening I'm sticking to the happier stuff. Hard music sounds great, but it can be a real downer. Curious what that entails?
- Relient K
- Sanctus Real
- Kutless
- Hawk Nelson
- Stellar Kart
- Falling Up
- 4th Avenue Jones
- SoulJahz
(Among many, many others! I love my music!)
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Care to Explain?
"How are you?" asks a passing stranger on the street. A friendly person would answer with something slightly personal, but publicly appropriate. They must say "i'm doing well thank you, it's a beautiful day". Or perhaps they might say "i'm alright..." anticipating that the stranger cares enough to ask why they are only feeling "alright". Such a person would be sadly naive.
If I ask you how you are doing, I care. I care because it's the decent thing to do, and as God graces me with his love I begin to care more. However, I was pre-teen by the time that I discovered that for most people this is not so. Even caring people have a badtendencyy to ask you how you are doing and then keep walking without bothering to find out the answer. A gesture of caring has been stripped down thesignificancee of a "hello", or perhaps the even less ambitious, "hey".
The odd time when somebody actually sticks around for the answer I am refreshingly taken off guard. It doesn't happen very often, but it sure is cool when it does.
So then of course I get to Part Two of my tangent on "caring". Part One was all about people not caring enough to stick around, but this next part is all about a misuse of the word 'care'.
So you've had a lovely conversation with a friend, relative, (both if you are so-blessed), or even a friendly stranger waiting for whatever you are waiting for (bus, train, plane, etc.). You say "it was nice talking to you", and they say "take care".
Excuse me?
Take care? Take care of what? How lame is that.... people used to say bless you!
Take care:
- that you don't trip and die on your way home.
- so that I don't have to see you in the hospital.
- so I don't have to say anything nice to you.
- because no one else will.
- or don't, it's not like I care.
The phrase "take care" is so overused, and so bland and meaningless that you might as well just say nothing at all and grunt your intention to depart.
Gah... "take care" is definitely making my Cyst List!
* * *
Today's non-word is yofalt (yo-fault), when something is clearly your problem or responsibility - so deal with it! ;-)
The updated Cyst List is now available here! All future Cysts will be added there. I may also add a link to the Truthy Report's sidebar if I ever feel more ambitious...
If I ask you how you are doing, I care. I care because it's the decent thing to do, and as God graces me with his love I begin to care more. However, I was pre-teen by the time that I discovered that for most people this is not so. Even caring people have a badtendencyy to ask you how you are doing and then keep walking without bothering to find out the answer. A gesture of caring has been stripped down thesignificancee of a "hello", or perhaps the even less ambitious, "hey".
The odd time when somebody actually sticks around for the answer I am refreshingly taken off guard. It doesn't happen very often, but it sure is cool when it does.
So then of course I get to Part Two of my tangent on "caring". Part One was all about people not caring enough to stick around, but this next part is all about a misuse of the word 'care'.
So you've had a lovely conversation with a friend, relative, (both if you are so-blessed), or even a friendly stranger waiting for whatever you are waiting for (bus, train, plane, etc.). You say "it was nice talking to you", and they say "take care".
Excuse me?
Take care? Take care of what? How lame is that.... people used to say bless you!
Take care:
- that you don't trip and die on your way home.
- so that I don't have to see you in the hospital.
- so I don't have to say anything nice to you.
- because no one else will.
- or don't, it's not like I care.
The phrase "take care" is so overused, and so bland and meaningless that you might as well just say nothing at all and grunt your intention to depart.
Gah... "take care" is definitely making my Cyst List!
* * *
Today's non-word is yofalt (yo-fault), when something is clearly your problem or responsibility - so deal with it! ;-)
The updated Cyst List is now available here! All future Cysts will be added there. I may also add a link to the Truthy Report's sidebar if I ever feel more ambitious...
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
Why Time Sucks
I'd liked to have written this blog yesterday, but I didn't have time. In fact, I don't really have time to write this right now. They say that everyone has the same amount of time, but I don't beleive them. I think that some of us have a unique ability to speed through time unabated, completely helpless to get a grip on the fourth dimension long enough to actually accomplish anything, or even feel like we've lived a full day.
You heard me right - they call time the fourth dimension. What the heck is with that? How is time a dimension? I can't write time on a ruler, or picture it in my head. That's a pretty lame dimension if you ask me. Even if it is a dimension, vandalize the thought, I bet it's a lot higher than number four. Number six perhaps...
Unconvinced that time sucks? How about this: I spent the first 18 years of my life trying to be an adult. I spent the next year trying to get bar-legal (not that i wanted to drink, but who likes being told what they can't do?), and then the next two years after that getting bar-legal for Virginia. (Not that I'm actually allowed to drink then either - as per University rules). I'll be spending the next four years trying to get out of university, and then the next two trying to enjoy myself and get financially grounded before Michael Jr. comes into the world and eats all my mushy-food. (Not that I prefer my food mushy...)
'Time' takes very little time to say, but more time to spell. It has only four letters, but uses twenty-four numbers (unless of course you'd prefer to argue that seconds put that number higher). Did that last comment confuse you? Well, I don't have time to explain myself further.
In fact, time is so inconvenient that it's making my Cyst List!
* * *
In case you're keeping track, the list is now: Osama Bin Laden (spit), Hamas (spit again, and then remove all foreign aid), Wal-Mart (spit and then try not to spend too much $), The Modern Media (just keep spitting... get a glass of water if you have to), McDonald's (tasy, yet some saliva neccisary to ingest anyway), the Six O' Clock news (watch out Eleven O' Clock news - you're next!), time (i'll explain later), asymmetry without complete chaos (because that's just sadistic to do that to an anal retentive person such as myself), and the non-word phat, because it's sick. No, I mean 'sick' as in 'stupid'.
You heard me right - they call time the fourth dimension. What the heck is with that? How is time a dimension? I can't write time on a ruler, or picture it in my head. That's a pretty lame dimension if you ask me. Even if it is a dimension, vandalize the thought, I bet it's a lot higher than number four. Number six perhaps...
Unconvinced that time sucks? How about this: I spent the first 18 years of my life trying to be an adult. I spent the next year trying to get bar-legal (not that i wanted to drink, but who likes being told what they can't do?), and then the next two years after that getting bar-legal for Virginia. (Not that I'm actually allowed to drink then either - as per University rules). I'll be spending the next four years trying to get out of university, and then the next two trying to enjoy myself and get financially grounded before Michael Jr. comes into the world and eats all my mushy-food. (Not that I prefer my food mushy...)
'Time' takes very little time to say, but more time to spell. It has only four letters, but uses twenty-four numbers (unless of course you'd prefer to argue that seconds put that number higher). Did that last comment confuse you? Well, I don't have time to explain myself further.
In fact, time is so inconvenient that it's making my Cyst List!
* * *
In case you're keeping track, the list is now: Osama Bin Laden (spit), Hamas (spit again, and then remove all foreign aid), Wal-Mart (spit and then try not to spend too much $), The Modern Media (just keep spitting... get a glass of water if you have to), McDonald's (tasy, yet some saliva neccisary to ingest anyway), the Six O' Clock news (watch out Eleven O' Clock news - you're next!), time (i'll explain later), asymmetry without complete chaos (because that's just sadistic to do that to an anal retentive person such as myself), and the non-word phat, because it's sick. No, I mean 'sick' as in 'stupid'.
Monday, April 24, 2006
The Cyst List
cyst
noun: a closed sac that develops abnormally in some body structure.
The Cyst List is a new irregular feature here at the Truthy Report. Whenever something or someone ticks me off or does something royally foolish, i'll be adding them to my Cyst List.
To start things off:
Osama Bin Laden- Hamas
- Wal-Mart
- The Modern Media
- McDonald's
- Six o' Clock News
- Asymmetry without complete chaos
- Phat
Your non-word of the day is decyst (dee-sist), to remove a flaw from the universe.
Friday, April 21, 2006
ASCII
Nothing has terribly outraged me over the past little while, so the Truthy Report has remained quiet.
Since that is the case, I think i'll continue my ascii craze. Below is this sweet flag I found made entirely out of keyboard characters (which is exactly what ascii is).
* * *
Today's non-word is gah (gagh), 1. Great frustration at one's situation, 2. An expression of surprise or pain, or 3. A live worm-like Klingon dish made famous on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mmm... not convinced? Click here.
Since that is the case, I think i'll continue my ascii craze. Below is this sweet flag I found made entirely out of keyboard characters (which is exactly what ascii is).
_Not that i'm American or anything... I just love ascii. I tried for a Canadian flag, but they just don't work on BlogSpot. See here for more cool ascii.
(_)
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* * *
Today's non-word is gah (gagh), 1. Great frustration at one's situation, 2. An expression of surprise or pain, or 3. A live worm-like Klingon dish made famous on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Mmm... not convinced? Click here.
Tuesday, April 11, 2006
My Baby
No congratulations necessary. No, I'm not a father - yet. Whahaha.
No, seriously. My baby is my website. No other project has so consumed my adult life. I pour hours and hours into theme changes and content additions, working to beat the last cool thing that I did.
It's fun! Since it's creation late last year, MikeLovdal.com has grown from 1 or 2 users a month to over 300 users per month and growing! The average user spends between 15 and 30 minutes every time they visit, (excluding users that go direct to the forum), and at least 9 websites link back to me.
It's really rewarding to see your own virtual empire being built on the back of all the work you've put into something. Today I just spent an inhuman amount of hours doing a complete retrofit on my site, causing more broken links and graphic chinks than a 10-year-old fansite.
After all that effort, it's nice to know that users will be able to move about my site more freely, discover pages that they may not have otherwise, and just enjoy the site more in general.
This mega update will be published to the web right after Easter (or during if I get jumpy).
If you ever have any comments on my site, good bad or ugly, please email me at cmikeff@hotmail.com
No, seriously. My baby is my website. No other project has so consumed my adult life. I pour hours and hours into theme changes and content additions, working to beat the last cool thing that I did.
It's fun! Since it's creation late last year, MikeLovdal.com has grown from 1 or 2 users a month to over 300 users per month and growing! The average user spends between 15 and 30 minutes every time they visit, (excluding users that go direct to the forum), and at least 9 websites link back to me.
It's really rewarding to see your own virtual empire being built on the back of all the work you've put into something. Today I just spent an inhuman amount of hours doing a complete retrofit on my site, causing more broken links and graphic chinks than a 10-year-old fansite.
After all that effort, it's nice to know that users will be able to move about my site more freely, discover pages that they may not have otherwise, and just enjoy the site more in general.
This mega update will be published to the web right after Easter (or during if I get jumpy).
If you ever have any comments on my site, good bad or ugly, please email me at cmikeff@hotmail.com
Sunday, April 09, 2006
Insensitive? Yes. Lucrative? Yes also.
On this fairest of weeks, the week of Easter, it is a time for families to celebrate and Christians and Jews alike to be thankful for Jesus' sacrifice some two-thousand years ago that even today changes lives. Click here for more information on the significance of Easter.
This also happens to be that lovely time of year that the media decides is a really good time to bring up old debates on the credibility of the Bible, the accuracy of the Christian faith, and the person of Jesus. Is it insensitive? Of course. You wouldn't catch major networks criticizing the Quran during Ramadan, or watch a documentary on the falseness of Muhammad during Rabi'ul awwal.
Why is it that the media feels that attacks on one faith is acceptable during their most holy hours, while for others it is not? Perhaps it is the long-outdated idea that Christians are among the majority in North American, or perhaps it is just that scenes of burning embassy's after a Muslim cartoon was printed in Europe still burn fresh in our eyes. They seem to believe that these shocking stories will boost their ratings and viewership. Where is journalistic integrity?
Whatever the reason, it is offensive. It should not just be offensive to Christians, but to anyone who claims faith in anything. Now don't get me wrong - freedom of speech is an essential part of what makes us truly free in our nation. We just need to show a little sensitivity when it comes to stepping on the toes of those bowing in respect to these holy days.
I won't draw swastikas during Holocaust Remembrance Day, so please don't publish Bible criticisms during Easter.
* * *
The following are the articles that prompted my outrage:
An anti-bible special feature on CBC (url unavailable), and
National Geographic's "The Gospel of Judas"
Note: Judas was one of Jesus' twelve apostles who betrayed Jesus, leading to his arrest and death before his resurrection three days later. Please note that although the above link calls this text a 'Christian' text, it has in fact been rejected by hundreds of years of Christians as heretic nonsense, and is believed to have been written as many as two hundred years after the Gospels that record events of the same time frame.
This also happens to be that lovely time of year that the media decides is a really good time to bring up old debates on the credibility of the Bible, the accuracy of the Christian faith, and the person of Jesus. Is it insensitive? Of course. You wouldn't catch major networks criticizing the Quran during Ramadan, or watch a documentary on the falseness of Muhammad during Rabi'ul awwal.
Why is it that the media feels that attacks on one faith is acceptable during their most holy hours, while for others it is not? Perhaps it is the long-outdated idea that Christians are among the majority in North American, or perhaps it is just that scenes of burning embassy's after a Muslim cartoon was printed in Europe still burn fresh in our eyes. They seem to believe that these shocking stories will boost their ratings and viewership. Where is journalistic integrity?
Whatever the reason, it is offensive. It should not just be offensive to Christians, but to anyone who claims faith in anything. Now don't get me wrong - freedom of speech is an essential part of what makes us truly free in our nation. We just need to show a little sensitivity when it comes to stepping on the toes of those bowing in respect to these holy days.
I won't draw swastikas during Holocaust Remembrance Day, so please don't publish Bible criticisms during Easter.
* * *
The following are the articles that prompted my outrage:
An anti-bible special feature on CBC (url unavailable), and
National Geographic's "The Gospel of Judas"
Note: Judas was one of Jesus' twelve apostles who betrayed Jesus, leading to his arrest and death before his resurrection three days later. Please note that although the above link calls this text a 'Christian' text, it has in fact been rejected by hundreds of years of Christians as heretic nonsense, and is believed to have been written as many as two hundred years after the Gospels that record events of the same time frame.
Saturday, April 08, 2006
The Forgotten Music
If you are a resident of North America (odds are that you are), chances are you look back on dance music as a fad of the 80's and 90's, or perhaps more fondly as a symbol of youthful memories.
The rest of the world looks at this style quite differently however. Japan, Europe, and many other parts of the world are still generating top ten songs with a dance beat, and an electronic treat. From the melodic techno to the chaotic hardcore, dance music (often referred to as electronica) is a forgotten art form in North America. How sad for the few of us that play our old Eiffel 65, U96, and Cascada tracks over and over again just wishing the fad would come back.
Dance music seems to be the one style that you can truly loose yourself in, plunging into a lake of sound that surrounds you and comforts you. Even the most lyrically depressing dance songs carried within them the underlying tone of hope and happiness.
How sad for us. The modern radio station chooses urban and rock over trance and ambient, and the next generation of listeners is told that those other styles are just an inferior expression of the past.
Not so. As I write this, the echo of the dance boom rages on with my subwoofer still kickin' the beat. Dance music may have died in North America, but the throbbing booms of music still resound in my house...
* * *
Today's non-word is Exiplocajim (ex-zip-lock-a-jim), the indescribable force behind societal fads and trends.
The rest of the world looks at this style quite differently however. Japan, Europe, and many other parts of the world are still generating top ten songs with a dance beat, and an electronic treat. From the melodic techno to the chaotic hardcore, dance music (often referred to as electronica) is a forgotten art form in North America. How sad for the few of us that play our old Eiffel 65, U96, and Cascada tracks over and over again just wishing the fad would come back.
Dance music seems to be the one style that you can truly loose yourself in, plunging into a lake of sound that surrounds you and comforts you. Even the most lyrically depressing dance songs carried within them the underlying tone of hope and happiness.
How sad for us. The modern radio station chooses urban and rock over trance and ambient, and the next generation of listeners is told that those other styles are just an inferior expression of the past.
Not so. As I write this, the echo of the dance boom rages on with my subwoofer still kickin' the beat. Dance music may have died in North America, but the throbbing booms of music still resound in my house...
* * *
Today's non-word is Exiplocajim (ex-zip-lock-a-jim), the indescribable force behind societal fads and trends.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
The Phat, Gay Trend
"You're trying to be gay Batman, but I know you're just faking it."I kid you not, this is an actual quote from a 40's Batman comic. Back in it's day, i'm sure it was quite socially acceptable that Batman was not in fact homosexual, but that he was acting happy. "Now we don our gay apparel" isn't a line about cross-dressing or anything kinky, it's about being joyous and celebrating.
We try not to laugh at these old references, but modern society has perverted this word. There are many more lesser examples, like how wicked, phat, and sick are supposed to be synonymous with good. In the forties, if someone were wicked, fat and sick, they were obviously a blubbery individual with some sort of criminal record for doing foul things.
Why is it that these words were morphed? Well, my later examples have to do more with creating a language barrier between generations and boredom than any kind of societal advancement, but what about gay? At what time did society deem it inappropriate to refer to such people as homosexual? Why is it that our politically correct world sees it fit to legitimize prostitution by calling prostitutes sex trade workers?
By the same token, be watching for these upcoming terms:
victims = unlucky recipients
thieves = tangible lifters
rapists = erotic intruders
It's not politically correct, but it's life.
Fight the tide, and call a spade a spade, before the media starts calling it a 'pointed personal shovel'...
* * *
Today's non-word is stoopidity (stoop-id-i-tee), the act of lowering oneself and one's personal standards to incorporate immoral or idiotic ideals.
Monday, April 03, 2006
Supers Among Us
Greetings fellow blog-readers,
I actually have nothing too profound to complain about today, so I'll just keep this short and sweet. I do however have some exciting news! I just finished my edit on my upcoming book "Fused #1". Not only that, but I have also decided to add an extra story to the book that is not currently available on my website - Rapido #2.
Work on Rapido #2 is going very well, and I can see being finished by the end of the week! Once completed, it will be added to the "Fused #1" manuscript and then edited once again.
The next step for me will be getting an ISBN number so that I can list my book on sites like Amazon.com. I'll release details on my book's official launch as soon as I have them for you.
* * *
Today I leave you with this:
Superheroes not as super as they used to be - corporations claim us all. lol
I actually have nothing too profound to complain about today, so I'll just keep this short and sweet. I do however have some exciting news! I just finished my edit on my upcoming book "Fused #1". Not only that, but I have also decided to add an extra story to the book that is not currently available on my website - Rapido #2.
Work on Rapido #2 is going very well, and I can see being finished by the end of the week! Once completed, it will be added to the "Fused #1" manuscript and then edited once again.
The next step for me will be getting an ISBN number so that I can list my book on sites like Amazon.com. I'll release details on my book's official launch as soon as I have them for you.
* * *
Today I leave you with this:
Superheroes not as super as they used to be - corporations claim us all. lol
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