Month: April 2013

The Art of Raw Denim

displacedlocalLeave a comment

Denim is an american Icon, from levi strauss to James Dean denim has evolved through many subcultures and styles.

Denim enthusiasts gather online to discuss the subtleties of a great pair of jeans. Often drooling over the japanese made pairs that were created on old shuttle looms. It isn’t washed treated, or soaked before you get it. It is simply raw.

I have a pair of jeans that I find to have molded to me. each fade and tear has a story. They still are quite dark, but after a few years of wear the denim looks amazing.

The fade on every pair is unique to the wearer and becomes a footprint of the person wearing them.

Here is another picture illustrating the huge difference a year can make.

Little Kim

smackyjackjackLeave a comment

Poor North Koreans.

Not only do they have to live in a state of complete dictatorship and just a pure totalitarian nightmare, but they think it’s a good idea to keep showing off their nuclear arsenal and taunting America and it’s allies.

This whole situation is so ridiculous.

Yes, I see that America is pretty close to last on the list of countries with good international relations *cough* Abu Ghraib! *cough*, but who in their right minds think that nuclear war is a good thing to get started?

Well, apparently this guy does.

Mr. Un, I’m sorry, but the US is capable and ruthless enough to convert your country to ash within about an hour. Yes, that’s pretty messed up, but that is a definite possibility if you take one more step in the direction of nuclear war again, it might be time to get out of Dodge.

The True King

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frf

Who is the man who rules the country?

The Tiger yellow and proud seems to be in control.

He roars and claws threatening his neighbors.

They do not believe his threats.

It would seem that he is not the one who is in control.

The Tiger’s uncle, the Lion is the true king of the land.

The Lion shatters the tiger’s claws and bites his tail.

He threatens the Tiger, the Tiger must obey his command.

The neighbors will not sit quietly they will invade.

When this happens the Tiger will be held responsible.

It is not his fault however for his gruesome crimes.

The Lion is the true king.

UP.

eternity1030Leave a comment

“Thanks for the adventure. Now go have a new one.”

– Ellie

I watched this movie three years ago, and I was moved by the exciting adventure of a flying house.

Then I watched the movie last year, and I was moved by the interactions between two generations.

Last night, I watched it again. And I discovered a part that I’ve ignored for a long time – the memory between Carl Fredricksen and his wife Ellie.

The film “centers on an elderly widower named Carl Fredricksen and an earnest young Wilderness Explorer named Russell. By tying thousands of balloons to his home, 78-year-old Carl sets out to fulfill his lifelong dream to see the wilds of South America and to complete a promise made to his lifelong love.”

I did not realize that the memory was really playing a big role throughout Carl’s entire life.

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Kevin Ware

backinphillyLeave a comment

There are no other words I feel comfortable putting in this title. I’m not going to show you guys the video or anything like that. This is mainly about how hard an athlete has to work to reach his goals. Kevin Ware is no different than anyone in the sense that he worked hard at what he loved. He loved basketball and because of what happened yesterday, he can probably never play again.

By now, just about everyone knows about the Kevin Ware incident. He jumped up to block a shot and while landing, his leg crumpled in a number of spots. According to reports, his tibia went through his skin and was exposed. This goes down as possibly one of the most gruesome injuries in the history of sports. It’s right up there with Joe Theismann.

I don’t want to talk about it too much. But what I do want to point out is something I saw on Facebook the other day. There was a picture by Adidas posted on their wall, asking the public “Is there anyone on YOUR team that brings out the best in you?”. I immediately started thinking about players I had competed with at any given time. I thought of a few, but after this moment in the game yesterday, I undoubtedly believe that Ware is one of the most inspirational players I’ve ever seen.

He spoke to his coach Rick Pitino and some of his teammates as he was being tied to the stretcher. “Just win the game” he said to his teammates.

A man who is laying on the ground with part of his bone out of his skin still tries to rally his teammates. And it worked.

Louisville won by 22 points and buried Duke. It was inspirational, and I wish Kevin Ware the very best.

Without You

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

Let it all fall down.

Let your hair fall down with the rain.

The water drops down your face, and make up or none your beauty remains the same.

Dancing in the grass while the heavens open upon us.

Like the scene from a movie.

Embracing each other while the thunder booms in the background, and distant lightning draws closer.

The sky flashes with purple and white light, but in that moment there was no other care in the world.

The ground could be falling around us, but all that matters is we were the last ones standing.

You and I together while the world crumbles away.

The rain douses the fire that rumbles below our feet,

Stuck, but not alone.

Never alone when I am with you.

The alarm goes off

Blindly reaching for the snooze button, just longing for another 10 minutes.

Another night spent with you.

Without you.

When the time comes that the world does actually fall away,

It will be you and I on that last piece of earth left.

Holding each other as it all crumbles.

Dove

callmemaybe32Leave a comment

A little Dove chocolate told me to enjoy the small things in life.

This is a stage in my life that I need the small things.

With the stress of school, sports, and a social life, it’s the little moments that make it all worth it.

They happen here and there, but today for instance it rained.

The rain brings me great happiness. It cleanses the ground, but it makes everything clean and new.

Flowers bloom, and otherwise dusty hills become rolling green hills.

This is the entrance into spring that we have been waiting for.

The past few weeks have brought a lot of stress to an already stressful life.

One would think that having a single mother with multiple incurable diseases would cause stress.

Having her go to the hospital unexpectedly would seem to cause stress, but that is my life.

This is who I am, this is how my family works.

I can accept that my mother is sick and I can find happiness in the fact that she always comes home, although sometimes not without a fight, she has managed to make it back every time.

On this Easter Sunday I ask you to consider this.

I don’t care what your beliefs are, or if you don’t believe, but there is something on this Earth and beyond that has kept my mother here.

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NHL-It’s a distant second

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Well, as you guys remember, I was a pretty big fantasy football player during the NFL season. This season, I follow fantasy hockey. I’ve been playing with a few of my friends this season and I’ve really enjoyed making some trades (including some that shouldn’t have been made and now I’m just laughing to the bank with it :))

Anyway, I’ve always been a pretty big NHL fan. I am a New Jersey Devils fan, and my favorite player is probably Ilya Kovalchuk. To be honest, I don’t have a favorite player. I just love watching some good hockey.

I especially love this time of year, which is trade season. The trade deadline is on Wednesday and teams are making some last minute adjustments to their rosters in the hopes of pushing for the playoffs.

I just want to discuss the Jarome Iginla trade from last week real quick. Iginla was traded to the Pittsburg Penguins for a first round pick and two college prospects. I think the Flames win this trade given Jarome’s age. But, I want to direct everyone’s attention to one of the college prospects that the Pens sent to Calgary.

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Jazz

displacedlocal1 Comment

I have been listening to quite a bit of Jazz lately. Exploring the brass of Dizzy Gillespie and Miles Davis.

The upbeat rhythms and adventurous melodies get me excited to ordinarily mundane tasks like cleaning and doing math homework.

It gives everything a unique feel, and keeps me excited to do everything. I used to play Jazz, but I fell victim to the sports requirement for my last school. Jazz still plays in my soul, and whenever it plays that melody is reborn.

Currently, I have been listening to songs like “I’ll Remember April” played by Miles Davis.

The running bass line gives the song consistency while Davis creates beautiful melodies with his natural musicality.

It infuses the rhythm into ones soul, and plays against your own heartbeat.

Bebop
by Dizzy Gillespie is also a fantastic example of this upbeat style. The drummer’s play of the cymbal, and the fast tempo creates a nice sense of controlled chaos that is the essence of the style.

A Holy Bond

frog3Leave a comment

fr

A debate has been raging for centuries.

Since the growing power of the cross.

Since the beginning of the dark ages.

Companionship considered unholy.

Unholy by who?

Unholy by religion?

Unholy by those who cling to the past.

What is right and what is wrong is decided by society.

Not by an institution or a country.

The masses have spoken.

They wish freedom for all people of their land.

God was not a factor in the founding of this nation.

Wise men believed country and God did not mix.

Their plan succeeded.

Eventually however their work was undone.

Undone by misguided “holy” men.