Jason Haskins's Blog, page 53
August 18, 2014
A Crumbling Internet
If the internet crashes in the woods, does it make a sound?
The internet, as of late, has been bringing me down. Perhaps it has been a slow build, piling brick upon brick of negativity and political correctness. Perhaps it has only happened recently and the internet has evolved into this beast of a thing that is exploding into a forum in which everyone is offended by every little thing. Maybe, just maybe, it has been here the entire time. An open ended platform in which every person is entitled to their own opinion.
In expressing my opinion here in blog form, I am part of the masses. I can see that. In that regard, I use this blog mostly as a platform to promote my writing and to satirize what is going on this world. On occasion I'll sprinkle in a post with my opinion or it will naturally seep in within a post. It is my attempt to voice them in a non-hateful or non-spiteful way. It's who I am. People might see it in a different way. That's fine. People of the world have different thoughts, views, and ways of life, which is part of the beauty that makes up this world. It's something I quite enjoy. I appreciate the many different people and viewpoints I have encountered in my short life.
Today I'd like to discuss three things that have brought me to today's post. All, in a way, I've discovered while surfing the internet. While there is so much good out there on the world wide web, part of me can't get past some of the negative and pessimistic attitudes delivered in the form of comments, tweets, and what have you.
I'm going to start with the tweets and photos posted to the Twitter account of Zelda Williams. As many of you know, her father is Robin Williams and he passed away by committing suicide one week ago. The internet exploded with tributes, memorials, and links to mental health websites and suicide help hotlines. This, overwhelmingly, is the good side of the internet society. Unfortunately, we also witnessed the ugly side of humans. The internet allows for many to hide behind a keyboard while displaying their vile nature. Internet trolls, as the collective is called, began bombarding Ms. Williams' Twitter account with nasty tweets, uncalled for remarks, and insensitive photos. All were done with the disregard of respecting the privacy of a woman they didn't even know. In true fashion, Ms. Williams stepped away from Twitter and deleted her account. In this day and age, it takes a lot to not answer back and get in a comment war with these trolls. I understand leaving comments on menial celebrity items or political issues, but when it comes to death, even with a person thrust into the national spotlight, one should abide by "say something nice or don't say anything at all."
The next thing I saw was actually a culmination of different posts and articles I've seen the last few weeks. Before I jump into that, I will mention I agree with certain aspects of these items I've read. I am simply concentrating today on the areas that have thrown me for a loop. Apparently, due to these various posts and articles I've seen, there are certain women out there that all men are sex hungry pigs. Let me clarify a bit. These women believe that a man's actions or words towards women are only meant to sexually idealize them. I will agree that there are certain men like that. It is lumping all men into this culture that irks me a bit. And on the flip side, not all women feel this way about men. As far as I know, it could be a small culture from both sides that are displaying these attitudes. The thing that finally got me was from a post I read on Facebook. A woman was drinking a soda. An elderly man walked in and said, "Smile while you drink your pop." The woman automatically felt degraded and put down as a woman. She felt that he was simply using this idea of smiling as a stepping stone for some sexual fantasy. Unless this was said it a creepy manner (which was not clarified in the post), I'm just not sure how a simple remark like this can be taken in a sexual way. Sometimes a compliment is just a compliment. Maybe this man just likes to see people smile. Or maybe he just likes people who enjoy soda pop. I know we all have a right to smile when we want, but do I have to start to worry about how I approach any female? Will she take something I say in the complete wrong way and assume I'm a neanderthal that just sees sex? I certainly hope not. I certainly don't see myself in that way, but life is about learning and I know I still have a few lessons to learn.
Further down within the thread of the post, it was mentioned that guys have this preconceived notion that when a woman smiles at a man, whether walking down a street or across a bar, it only means one thing: That the woman is into the man and she owes him something. Maybe I'm of a different sort, but that's not something I think on a normal basis. As part of a dating cultures, yes, I do believe a smile can go a long way. Sometimes it leads to meeting someone and having an actual conversation. Other times, it's a nice polite way to acknowledge another person's existence. A smile can be just a smile. Or a compliment.
Finally, and briefly, I'll once again return to Twitter. Justin Timberlake recently tweeted a birthday shout out to Madonna that included the phrase "my ninja". Now, I believe I'm somewhat up to date on current slang, but I was surprised to hear that ninja is a new term for ni***. Of course Timberlake received many tweets calling out his insensitivity towards the current happenings in Ferguson (which I understand why). Timberlake deleted the Tweet, but for arguments sake, let's say him and Madonna actually had nicknames for each other that involved ninjas. Because of a slang culture, this might have been blown out of proportion. I don't doubt that Timberlake used this word ninja as the slang meaning. So many words have different meanings that a few people can take something out of context or meaning and suddenly we have a newsworthy article.
Yes, I have focused on the negativity of the internet. Like I said, there is a lot of positive out there on the internet. I see it every day. The things I've spoken about are just a small sample of what occurs out there. Yet it grows a bit more every day and this negativity and political correctness is spilling slowly over into many websites. That is why I intend to focus on the positive of the internet and things I enjoy (and avoid getting on Facebook as often. Maybe I'll just starting hitting the LIKE button on positive things and somehow the algorithm that determines my feed will bring with it better stories). I will continue to try to see all the different viewpoints that my friends offer. These previously noted items are only a couple that are contributing to the negative and on guard feelings of the internet. In the end, I think it's time for some to take a step back, relax, and enjoy this little thing called life. I promise I will do the same.
The internet, as of late, has been bringing me down. Perhaps it has been a slow build, piling brick upon brick of negativity and political correctness. Perhaps it has only happened recently and the internet has evolved into this beast of a thing that is exploding into a forum in which everyone is offended by every little thing. Maybe, just maybe, it has been here the entire time. An open ended platform in which every person is entitled to their own opinion.
In expressing my opinion here in blog form, I am part of the masses. I can see that. In that regard, I use this blog mostly as a platform to promote my writing and to satirize what is going on this world. On occasion I'll sprinkle in a post with my opinion or it will naturally seep in within a post. It is my attempt to voice them in a non-hateful or non-spiteful way. It's who I am. People might see it in a different way. That's fine. People of the world have different thoughts, views, and ways of life, which is part of the beauty that makes up this world. It's something I quite enjoy. I appreciate the many different people and viewpoints I have encountered in my short life.
Today I'd like to discuss three things that have brought me to today's post. All, in a way, I've discovered while surfing the internet. While there is so much good out there on the world wide web, part of me can't get past some of the negative and pessimistic attitudes delivered in the form of comments, tweets, and what have you.
I'm going to start with the tweets and photos posted to the Twitter account of Zelda Williams. As many of you know, her father is Robin Williams and he passed away by committing suicide one week ago. The internet exploded with tributes, memorials, and links to mental health websites and suicide help hotlines. This, overwhelmingly, is the good side of the internet society. Unfortunately, we also witnessed the ugly side of humans. The internet allows for many to hide behind a keyboard while displaying their vile nature. Internet trolls, as the collective is called, began bombarding Ms. Williams' Twitter account with nasty tweets, uncalled for remarks, and insensitive photos. All were done with the disregard of respecting the privacy of a woman they didn't even know. In true fashion, Ms. Williams stepped away from Twitter and deleted her account. In this day and age, it takes a lot to not answer back and get in a comment war with these trolls. I understand leaving comments on menial celebrity items or political issues, but when it comes to death, even with a person thrust into the national spotlight, one should abide by "say something nice or don't say anything at all."
The next thing I saw was actually a culmination of different posts and articles I've seen the last few weeks. Before I jump into that, I will mention I agree with certain aspects of these items I've read. I am simply concentrating today on the areas that have thrown me for a loop. Apparently, due to these various posts and articles I've seen, there are certain women out there that all men are sex hungry pigs. Let me clarify a bit. These women believe that a man's actions or words towards women are only meant to sexually idealize them. I will agree that there are certain men like that. It is lumping all men into this culture that irks me a bit. And on the flip side, not all women feel this way about men. As far as I know, it could be a small culture from both sides that are displaying these attitudes. The thing that finally got me was from a post I read on Facebook. A woman was drinking a soda. An elderly man walked in and said, "Smile while you drink your pop." The woman automatically felt degraded and put down as a woman. She felt that he was simply using this idea of smiling as a stepping stone for some sexual fantasy. Unless this was said it a creepy manner (which was not clarified in the post), I'm just not sure how a simple remark like this can be taken in a sexual way. Sometimes a compliment is just a compliment. Maybe this man just likes to see people smile. Or maybe he just likes people who enjoy soda pop. I know we all have a right to smile when we want, but do I have to start to worry about how I approach any female? Will she take something I say in the complete wrong way and assume I'm a neanderthal that just sees sex? I certainly hope not. I certainly don't see myself in that way, but life is about learning and I know I still have a few lessons to learn.
Further down within the thread of the post, it was mentioned that guys have this preconceived notion that when a woman smiles at a man, whether walking down a street or across a bar, it only means one thing: That the woman is into the man and she owes him something. Maybe I'm of a different sort, but that's not something I think on a normal basis. As part of a dating cultures, yes, I do believe a smile can go a long way. Sometimes it leads to meeting someone and having an actual conversation. Other times, it's a nice polite way to acknowledge another person's existence. A smile can be just a smile. Or a compliment.
Finally, and briefly, I'll once again return to Twitter. Justin Timberlake recently tweeted a birthday shout out to Madonna that included the phrase "my ninja". Now, I believe I'm somewhat up to date on current slang, but I was surprised to hear that ninja is a new term for ni***. Of course Timberlake received many tweets calling out his insensitivity towards the current happenings in Ferguson (which I understand why). Timberlake deleted the Tweet, but for arguments sake, let's say him and Madonna actually had nicknames for each other that involved ninjas. Because of a slang culture, this might have been blown out of proportion. I don't doubt that Timberlake used this word ninja as the slang meaning. So many words have different meanings that a few people can take something out of context or meaning and suddenly we have a newsworthy article.
Yes, I have focused on the negativity of the internet. Like I said, there is a lot of positive out there on the internet. I see it every day. The things I've spoken about are just a small sample of what occurs out there. Yet it grows a bit more every day and this negativity and political correctness is spilling slowly over into many websites. That is why I intend to focus on the positive of the internet and things I enjoy (and avoid getting on Facebook as often. Maybe I'll just starting hitting the LIKE button on positive things and somehow the algorithm that determines my feed will bring with it better stories). I will continue to try to see all the different viewpoints that my friends offer. These previously noted items are only a couple that are contributing to the negative and on guard feelings of the internet. In the end, I think it's time for some to take a step back, relax, and enjoy this little thing called life. I promise I will do the same.
August 11, 2014
Mr. Robin Williams
Dear Mr. Williams,
Thank you. Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for the tears. I did not know you personally but you've been in my home for years. Your work in Aladdin, Fern Gully, and Mork and Mindy enlightened me as a child. Just as Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting moved me as an adult. You embraced life, as seen by me on the small screen or the big screen (or occasionally print), with a boundless energy. For that, the world thanks you. I thank you. Words cannot say enough at this time. Or perhaps ever. I sincerely hope you found your peace. I will leave you with this. It is the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Thank you. Thank you for inspiring me. Thank you for making me laugh. Thank you for the tears. I did not know you personally but you've been in my home for years. Your work in Aladdin, Fern Gully, and Mork and Mindy enlightened me as a child. Just as Dead Poets Society and Good Will Hunting moved me as an adult. You embraced life, as seen by me on the small screen or the big screen (or occasionally print), with a boundless energy. For that, the world thanks you. I thank you. Words cannot say enough at this time. Or perhaps ever. I sincerely hope you found your peace. I will leave you with this. It is the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace;
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.
O divine master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console
to be understood as to understand
to be loved, as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.
August 5, 2014
Pound Sign
The pound sign is popular again. It's not just a button on the phone to press after you've entered your password for your voice mail. Twitter started it and now it's slowly made it's way over to Facebook. One follows every sentence or statement with the aforementioned "Pound Sign". For argument's sake, here it is: #.
Wait. You're telling me that's called a hashtag? The lady on my voice mail does not say "Please enter your password followed by the hashtag." Maybe I should write a letter to the phone companies and ask them to change their automated voice recording. It would really clear things up for me.
Okay, I've used the hashtag plenty of times on Twitter and perhaps once or twice on Facebook. For the most part, I use the hashtag when I'm discussing something that's trending on Twitter. I do this in hopes of simply getting my tweet noticed. It's that simple. Nothing more or nothing less. Okay, maybe I also do it once in awhile to be obnoxious. I'll admit that. I'll also admit that years ago I wrote a blog about how I didn't really understand Twitter and that I would never use it. Of course, I buckled. I would say that I'm not an excessive user of Twitter, but I do go through spells on there in which I'll post consistently for a few days. A lot of it is to promote this blog or other projects I'm working on. Mostly it's to follow celebs, friends, and news outlets to see what's going on in the world.
With the hashtag making it's way into various forms of social media and entertainment, I see a future of articles, essays, and short stories incorporating the hashtag and various other Twitter symbols to sell and promote their work. It might be the only way a younger generation can fully appreciate writing. As an experiment, I will be using the first paragraph of a writing session I did earlier this morning. Let's see what happens.
"I have been staring at this blank canvas of a notebook for thirty minutes now.#WastingTime There is so much to discuss, but the thoughts just won't formulate.#MathSucks#FormulateThis The coffee has certainly helped to make me more alert.#CoffeeRules It's the music of @BenHarper blaring on my Ipod that pulls me in the other direction.#Music#BenHarper#Apple Instead of focusing on the many topics of the pop culture world, I drift away to a place of self introspection#PopCulture#Writing".
I certainly hope this does not happen. I do believe the hashtag can be helpful when promoting something like an event or a project you're working on. To what extent it helps, I don't know. I will continue to use the hashtag when I feel like it, especially when it comes to the Sharknado movies. I just hope there doesn't become a day when people rely on the hashtag to fully understand what a sentence is trying to convey. If that happens our days as a verbal society may indeed fall by the wayside.
*To see my hashtagging in action you can follow me on Twitter @jasonrh_78. I promise to only hashtag when absolutely necessary.
Wait. You're telling me that's called a hashtag? The lady on my voice mail does not say "Please enter your password followed by the hashtag." Maybe I should write a letter to the phone companies and ask them to change their automated voice recording. It would really clear things up for me.
Okay, I've used the hashtag plenty of times on Twitter and perhaps once or twice on Facebook. For the most part, I use the hashtag when I'm discussing something that's trending on Twitter. I do this in hopes of simply getting my tweet noticed. It's that simple. Nothing more or nothing less. Okay, maybe I also do it once in awhile to be obnoxious. I'll admit that. I'll also admit that years ago I wrote a blog about how I didn't really understand Twitter and that I would never use it. Of course, I buckled. I would say that I'm not an excessive user of Twitter, but I do go through spells on there in which I'll post consistently for a few days. A lot of it is to promote this blog or other projects I'm working on. Mostly it's to follow celebs, friends, and news outlets to see what's going on in the world.
With the hashtag making it's way into various forms of social media and entertainment, I see a future of articles, essays, and short stories incorporating the hashtag and various other Twitter symbols to sell and promote their work. It might be the only way a younger generation can fully appreciate writing. As an experiment, I will be using the first paragraph of a writing session I did earlier this morning. Let's see what happens.
"I have been staring at this blank canvas of a notebook for thirty minutes now.#WastingTime There is so much to discuss, but the thoughts just won't formulate.#MathSucks#FormulateThis The coffee has certainly helped to make me more alert.#CoffeeRules It's the music of @BenHarper blaring on my Ipod that pulls me in the other direction.#Music#BenHarper#Apple Instead of focusing on the many topics of the pop culture world, I drift away to a place of self introspection#PopCulture#Writing".
I certainly hope this does not happen. I do believe the hashtag can be helpful when promoting something like an event or a project you're working on. To what extent it helps, I don't know. I will continue to use the hashtag when I feel like it, especially when it comes to the Sharknado movies. I just hope there doesn't become a day when people rely on the hashtag to fully understand what a sentence is trying to convey. If that happens our days as a verbal society may indeed fall by the wayside.
*To see my hashtagging in action you can follow me on Twitter @jasonrh_78. I promise to only hashtag when absolutely necessary.
July 30, 2014
Moments
I am saving the Orland Bloom vs. Justin Bieber celebrity death match for a later time. Mostly because I haven't written it yet. Instead, you get this thing here that might be considered poetry. I consider it part of a free writing session I did earlier today.
Moments. Those brief, tiny moments of time that provided light.
Moments. Frozen in the dark abyss that is a memory. Many moments. Many memories. The bottle of wine is nearly empty. Save for that last memory of a silhouette in the morning there is nothing left.
Moments lost within the soul. Swallowed whole and vomited into the atmosphere.
Moments. The days go by. Blended together like the last margarita of the night. Striving for something more, but haunted by the dreams of a broken mirror of the past. Look into the mirror. A fractured reflection of what might have been.
Moments. Fleeting and whisked away in the night. Happiness. Joy. Loneliness. Anger. Tears. Silence. A beginning.
Moments. A brief glimpse into what is desired. A moment. To let it go or welcome it in. No longer live in the gray. Live in the black and white.
Moments. Those brief, tiny moments of time that provided light.
Moments. Frozen in the dark abyss that is a memory. Many moments. Many memories. The bottle of wine is nearly empty. Save for that last memory of a silhouette in the morning there is nothing left.
Moments lost within the soul. Swallowed whole and vomited into the atmosphere.
Moments. The days go by. Blended together like the last margarita of the night. Striving for something more, but haunted by the dreams of a broken mirror of the past. Look into the mirror. A fractured reflection of what might have been.
Moments. Fleeting and whisked away in the night. Happiness. Joy. Loneliness. Anger. Tears. Silence. A beginning.
Moments. A brief glimpse into what is desired. A moment. To let it go or welcome it in. No longer live in the gray. Live in the black and white.
July 25, 2014
Updating in July
There is something that has been weighing on my mind over the last month. I've done an inordinate amount of research and pondered over this question for countless hours. My query is this: Why did Ross and Rachel name their baby Emma? I mean, Ross almost married a woman named Emily. Those two names are too similar to me. The entire Ross/Emily/Rachel situation caused a lot of tension. Why name your child with a name that closely resembles this love from your past? Bad call, Ross and Rachel. Bad call...
With that being said, I am here today to provide a few updates on my writing projects and such.
My two full length plays, Solace and Poison, have been submitted to various places across the country. Still waiting for that first bite for a reading and/or production. (Or I guess second bite. Both have had readings in Boise at Alley Rep Theater.)
I have written a ten minute play entitled Visions of a Hamburger. The story tells of two homeless men and their attempts to survive in today's society. A few rejections here so far, but also a few places I'm waiting to hear on. I've also submitted this one for publication.
In addition, I continue to submit previous one act and ten minute plays to various places. I have also taken up the writing of short stories and have submitted those to a couple of places as well.
My original screenplay, The True Life, has been submitted to a few places that have come back with rejections. In both case, though, I have received positive feedback and comments with how to improve it a bit. So that will be a project I tackle shortly.
I can say the waiting game sucks, but at least I keep busy. I continue to write, edit, and brush up the current pieces in my collection. (Yep, I call it a collection. One day someone will have various binders and notebooks to go through.) I have also finished the first half of a new play called The Latitude of Life. It is my hope the entire first draft will completed within the next few weeks.
Of course, if you saw the blog a few posts ago, I have recently self-published my fantasy novel entitled The Dragon Princess. In case you missed it, you can read all about it here: http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dragon-princess.html If you're looking to purchase it and haven't already it, I've provided a quick link to Amazon for you right.... here.... http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Princess-Jason-Haskins-ebook/dp/B00LUFQJWC/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405966009&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Dragon+Princesshttp://
Thank you all that have supported the book thus far. It means the world to me. Enjoy the weekend.
With that being said, I am here today to provide a few updates on my writing projects and such.
My two full length plays, Solace and Poison, have been submitted to various places across the country. Still waiting for that first bite for a reading and/or production. (Or I guess second bite. Both have had readings in Boise at Alley Rep Theater.)
I have written a ten minute play entitled Visions of a Hamburger. The story tells of two homeless men and their attempts to survive in today's society. A few rejections here so far, but also a few places I'm waiting to hear on. I've also submitted this one for publication.
In addition, I continue to submit previous one act and ten minute plays to various places. I have also taken up the writing of short stories and have submitted those to a couple of places as well.
My original screenplay, The True Life, has been submitted to a few places that have come back with rejections. In both case, though, I have received positive feedback and comments with how to improve it a bit. So that will be a project I tackle shortly.
I can say the waiting game sucks, but at least I keep busy. I continue to write, edit, and brush up the current pieces in my collection. (Yep, I call it a collection. One day someone will have various binders and notebooks to go through.) I have also finished the first half of a new play called The Latitude of Life. It is my hope the entire first draft will completed within the next few weeks.
Of course, if you saw the blog a few posts ago, I have recently self-published my fantasy novel entitled The Dragon Princess. In case you missed it, you can read all about it here: http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2014/07/the-dragon-princess.html If you're looking to purchase it and haven't already it, I've provided a quick link to Amazon for you right.... here.... http://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Princess-Jason-Haskins-ebook/dp/B00LUFQJWC/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1405966009&sr=1-2&keywords=The+Dragon+Princesshttp://
Thank you all that have supported the book thus far. It means the world to me. Enjoy the weekend.
July 22, 2014
Passion Overfloweth
Where did it all start? That's probably the first question you'll ask. I'll tell you. The Boston Red Sox broke my heart for the first time in 1986. I was just shy of my eighth birthday. Being of the impressionable age of when sports allegiances are formed, I liked Boston because they had a good team. They had Roger Clemens. They had Wade Boggs. There was Dave Henderson, Dwight Evans, and Marty Barrett. Okay, I suppose you get the point. (Spike Owen, Bill Buckner, Rich Gedman, Jim Rice. That's an entire starting lineup. Don't mean to brag, but I just did that all from memory. Somebody fact check me on this please.) I respected that team. I celebrated with them when they beat the California (now Anaheim) Angels and I cried with them when Bill Buckner made that error. Then I cried even more when Game 7 rolled around and the World Series was lost. Thus began the journey of my passion for the Boston Red Sox.
Now, I've chronicled my love of the Boston Red Sox a few years back. (http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2010/02/long-toss.html ) I'm not going to delve much more into that today. Plus, the Red Sox added a third title in the past ten years this last fall. Very close to a dynasty, if you ask me. I can no longer be considered a long suffering fanatic. Now, I'm just a fanatic.
That's what I'm here to talk about today. The passion that a sports fanatic has will often be carried with him through life. A non-sports fan might not understand this passion. They watch a sports fanatic make time every Sunday for a football game. Or the fanatic will constantly check the scores of a baseball game on the phone or the internet. To the non-sports fan, this may seem silly or even a waste of time for the fanatic to devote so much energy to their respective sports team of choice. The non-sports fan may be even right in this regard. In a way, it is silly to put our faith in athletes who make millions of dollars to play a sport. Professional sports are simply another form of entertainment, some will say. For some, though, the passion exuded for a certain team runs through our veins. It's like me with the Boston Red Sox. Or a person that has infinite love for the San Diego Chargers. Or the fanatic that show devotion for the Boise State Broncos. Or people that have unquestioned faith in the Oregon Ducks. I could go on forever with examples, but you see my point. Sports fanatics are fiercely loyal and will continue to be this way not only in sports but in life.
"Jason," you might say, "It's just a game. You have no control over the outcome. Why invest so much time into it?" That's a very good point. I have no control over the games. Superstition dictates otherwise. If I'm watching a game and my team is losing, I will turn off the game. If I come back to the channel and they are now winning, I'll turn it off once again. The theory goes that if I was watching the game and my team is losing, it's my fault they were losing. So if I don't watch they will continue to win. Now, I logically know this theory is not true. That's the beauty of superstition. That's why my friends and I will continue to eat hot dogs before every Boise State home basketball game.
In a broad spectrum, a sports fanatic carries the same passion for his team that someone else carries for their favorite musician or band. Perhaps it is not to the same rabid extent, but it's still inherently present in a person. You love that band's music, you soak in every lyric, and you might even be disappointed if a new album doesn't live up to par. If that band is your favorite band of all time, you'll stick with them through the thick and thin. Even if that passion you have is for an author, a playwright, a movie series, or even the love of a guy or girl, everything that was said here applies to all of this. You, like a sports fanatic, will most likely feel the elation, the ups and downs, the bad decisions, and the rejuvenation in wherever the passion lies in life.
I have experienced passions that spread across all of the previous mentioned spectrum. Out of these, though, the one constant has been the Boston Red Sox. Even if they don't win another World Series in my lifetime, I will be fine. Because in baseball, like life, there is always hope.
Now, I've chronicled my love of the Boston Red Sox a few years back. (http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2010/02/long-toss.html ) I'm not going to delve much more into that today. Plus, the Red Sox added a third title in the past ten years this last fall. Very close to a dynasty, if you ask me. I can no longer be considered a long suffering fanatic. Now, I'm just a fanatic.
That's what I'm here to talk about today. The passion that a sports fanatic has will often be carried with him through life. A non-sports fan might not understand this passion. They watch a sports fanatic make time every Sunday for a football game. Or the fanatic will constantly check the scores of a baseball game on the phone or the internet. To the non-sports fan, this may seem silly or even a waste of time for the fanatic to devote so much energy to their respective sports team of choice. The non-sports fan may be even right in this regard. In a way, it is silly to put our faith in athletes who make millions of dollars to play a sport. Professional sports are simply another form of entertainment, some will say. For some, though, the passion exuded for a certain team runs through our veins. It's like me with the Boston Red Sox. Or a person that has infinite love for the San Diego Chargers. Or the fanatic that show devotion for the Boise State Broncos. Or people that have unquestioned faith in the Oregon Ducks. I could go on forever with examples, but you see my point. Sports fanatics are fiercely loyal and will continue to be this way not only in sports but in life.
"Jason," you might say, "It's just a game. You have no control over the outcome. Why invest so much time into it?" That's a very good point. I have no control over the games. Superstition dictates otherwise. If I'm watching a game and my team is losing, I will turn off the game. If I come back to the channel and they are now winning, I'll turn it off once again. The theory goes that if I was watching the game and my team is losing, it's my fault they were losing. So if I don't watch they will continue to win. Now, I logically know this theory is not true. That's the beauty of superstition. That's why my friends and I will continue to eat hot dogs before every Boise State home basketball game.
In a broad spectrum, a sports fanatic carries the same passion for his team that someone else carries for their favorite musician or band. Perhaps it is not to the same rabid extent, but it's still inherently present in a person. You love that band's music, you soak in every lyric, and you might even be disappointed if a new album doesn't live up to par. If that band is your favorite band of all time, you'll stick with them through the thick and thin. Even if that passion you have is for an author, a playwright, a movie series, or even the love of a guy or girl, everything that was said here applies to all of this. You, like a sports fanatic, will most likely feel the elation, the ups and downs, the bad decisions, and the rejuvenation in wherever the passion lies in life.
I have experienced passions that spread across all of the previous mentioned spectrum. Out of these, though, the one constant has been the Boston Red Sox. Even if they don't win another World Series in my lifetime, I will be fine. Because in baseball, like life, there is always hope.
Passion Overfloweth.
Where did it all start? That's probably the first question you'll ask. I'll tell you. The Boston Red Sox broke my heart for the first time in 1986. I was just shy of my eighth birthday. Being of the impressionable age of when sports allegiances are formed, I liked Boston because they had a good team. They had Roger Clemens. They had Wade Boggs. There was Dave Henderson, Dwight Evans, and Marty Barrett. Okay, I suppose you get the point. (Spike Owen, Bill Buckner, Rich Gedman, Jim Rice. That's an entire starting lineup. Don't mean to brag, but I just did that all from memory. Somebody fact check me on this please.) I respected that team. I celebrated with them when they beat the California (now Anaheim) Angels and I cried with them when Bill Buckner made that error. Then I cried even more when Game 7 rolled around and the World Series was lost. Thus began the journey of my passion for the Boston Red Sox.
Now, I've chronicled my love of the Boston Red Sox a few years back. (http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2010/02/long-toss.html ) I'm not going to delve much more into that today. Plus, the Red Sox added a third title in the past ten years this last fall. Very close to a dynasty, if you ask me. I can no longer be considered a long suffering fanatic. Now, I'm just a fanatic.
That's what I'm here to talk about today. The passion that a sports fanatic has will often be carried with him through life. A non-sports fan might not understand this passion. They watch a sports fanatic make time every Sunday for a football game. Or the fanatic will constantly check the scores of a baseball game on the phone or the internet. To the non-sports fan, this may seem silly or even a waste of time for the fanatic to devote so much energy to their respective sports team of choice. The non-sports fan may be even right in this regard. In a way, it is silly to put our faith in athletes who make millions of dollars to play a sport. Professional sports are simply another form of entertainment, some will say. For some, though, the passion exuded for a certain team runs through our veins. It's like me with the Boston Red Sox. Or a person that has infinite love for the San Diego Chargers. Or the fanatic that show devotion for the Boise State Broncos. Or people that have unquestioned faith in the Oregon Ducks. I could go on forever with examples, but you see my point. Sports fanatics are fiercely loyal and will continue to be this way not only in sports but in life.
"Jason," you might say, "It's just a game. You have no control over the outcome. Why invest so much time into it?" That's a very good point. I have no control over the games. Superstition dictates otherwise. If I'm watching a game and my team is losing, I will turn off the game. If I come back to the channel and they are now winning, I'll turn it off once again. The theory goes that if I was watching the game and my team is losing, it's my fault they were losing. So if I don't watch they will continue to win. Now, I logically know this theory is not true. That's the beauty of superstition. That's why my friends and I will continue to eat hot dogs before every Boise State home basketball game.
In a broad spectrum, a sports fanatic carries the same passion for his team that someone else carries for their favorite musician or band. Perhaps it is not to the same rabid extent, but it's still inherently present in a person. You love that band's music, you soak in every lyric, and you might even be disappointed if a new album doesn't live up to par. If that band is your favorite band of all time, you'll stick with them through the thick and thin. Even if that passion you have is for an author, a playwright, a movie series, or even the love of a guy or girl, everything that was said here applies to all of this. You, like a sports fanatic, will most likely feel the elation, the ups and downs, the bad decisions, and the rejuvenation in wherever the passion lies in life.
I have experienced passions that spread across all of the previous mentioned spectrum. Out of these, though, the one constant has been the Boston Red Sox. Even if they don't win another World Series in my lifetime, I will be fine. Because in baseball, like life, there is always hope.
Now, I've chronicled my love of the Boston Red Sox a few years back. (http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2010/02/long-toss.html ) I'm not going to delve much more into that today. Plus, the Red Sox added a third title in the past ten years this last fall. Very close to a dynasty, if you ask me. I can no longer be considered a long suffering fanatic. Now, I'm just a fanatic.
That's what I'm here to talk about today. The passion that a sports fanatic has will often be carried with him through life. A non-sports fan might not understand this passion. They watch a sports fanatic make time every Sunday for a football game. Or the fanatic will constantly check the scores of a baseball game on the phone or the internet. To the non-sports fan, this may seem silly or even a waste of time for the fanatic to devote so much energy to their respective sports team of choice. The non-sports fan may be even right in this regard. In a way, it is silly to put our faith in athletes who make millions of dollars to play a sport. Professional sports are simply another form of entertainment, some will say. For some, though, the passion exuded for a certain team runs through our veins. It's like me with the Boston Red Sox. Or a person that has infinite love for the San Diego Chargers. Or the fanatic that show devotion for the Boise State Broncos. Or people that have unquestioned faith in the Oregon Ducks. I could go on forever with examples, but you see my point. Sports fanatics are fiercely loyal and will continue to be this way not only in sports but in life.
"Jason," you might say, "It's just a game. You have no control over the outcome. Why invest so much time into it?" That's a very good point. I have no control over the games. Superstition dictates otherwise. If I'm watching a game and my team is losing, I will turn off the game. If I come back to the channel and they are now winning, I'll turn it off once again. The theory goes that if I was watching the game and my team is losing, it's my fault they were losing. So if I don't watch they will continue to win. Now, I logically know this theory is not true. That's the beauty of superstition. That's why my friends and I will continue to eat hot dogs before every Boise State home basketball game.
In a broad spectrum, a sports fanatic carries the same passion for his team that someone else carries for their favorite musician or band. Perhaps it is not to the same rabid extent, but it's still inherently present in a person. You love that band's music, you soak in every lyric, and you might even be disappointed if a new album doesn't live up to par. If that band is your favorite band of all time, you'll stick with them through the thick and thin. Even if that passion you have is for an author, a playwright, a movie series, or even the love of a guy or girl, everything that was said here applies to all of this. You, like a sports fanatic, will most likely feel the elation, the ups and downs, the bad decisions, and the rejuvenation in wherever the passion lies in life.
I have experienced passions that spread across all of the previous mentioned spectrum. Out of these, though, the one constant has been the Boston Red Sox. Even if they don't win another World Series in my lifetime, I will be fine. Because in baseball, like life, there is always hope.
July 16, 2014
The Dragon Princess
It all started somewhere around the sixth grade. That was when I embarked on writing a short story called Journeys and Wars. I call it a short story now, but at the time I believed I was writing a novel. A few years later, I decided to write a sequel to this first story. It was to be called War of the Lands and would, by the end of high school, be a two book series that between both books totaled roughly 100 pages. Boy, did I sure know a lot about how long a novel should be. A binder soon began to be filled with maps, re-writes, chapters written on flyers, notes on napkins, and various other ideas from the years after school. Soon, an actual novel began to take shape.
Nearly twenty years after graduating high school, I have finally decided to self publish what was formerly called War of the Lands. That book is now called The Dragon Princess and is now closer to a respectable 300 pages long. Though it still could use the look of a professional editor (thanks to Danny Cerullo for editing the first couple of chapters), I feel the book is at a point to at least be published out there on the internet. The good thing about self publishing it through Amazon Kindle is that I have the ability to do re-writes and can pull it offline if the book is ever physically published, if that opportunity arises.
The book is available from the Amazon Kindle Store for $2.99 and can be accessed via Kindle Devices or Kindle Apps. Search for The Dragon Princess in the Kindle store. A few books with this title will show up but you'll see mine near the top of the list. At least that's where it was earlier today when I searched for it. As of now, the book is only available in this format. No hard copies yet, but of course, that is still the ultimate goal. If anyone has any comments or questions, feel free to ask here or send me an email at: hasko_y2j@hotmail.com. Feedback is always appreciated. Feel free to share this blog post or the Facebook post with friends and family that may like fantasy novels. The book is appropriate for ages 12 and over. Without a further adieu, a brief description of The Dragon Princess:
"Centuries have passed since the Druids helped the Council of Races to broker peace amongst the lands. Fractures have occurred over time, but it was not until the rise of Druid Kayman that this peace finally broke for good.
The Black Magic Druids, as Kayman and his cohorts were called, rose to power and annihilated all but a few of the White Magic Druids. Druid Kayman disbanded the Council and joined forces with Queen Leron and her minions: the Demons. In an effort to control the lands, these already mighty forces joined with King Black Thunder, his army, and the creatures that held the key to all the future power of the lands: the Dragons.
To stop the Black Magic Druids and their allies, the fate of the lands rests on an old prophecy dervived from ancient times. The prophecy tells of a child that has been born of Dragon's blood and there is one man that holds a strong belief in the prophecy: a White Magic Druid by the name of Lemen. Enlisting the help of Prince Rion, his sister Riyana, and a young Druid called Stelart, Lemen moves to meet the Druid Kayman head on and hopefully end this war once and for all.
Untested in battle and in life, it will be up to this trio of young adults to end the evil that looms and to once again bring peace and safety to all the lands."
Nearly twenty years after graduating high school, I have finally decided to self publish what was formerly called War of the Lands. That book is now called The Dragon Princess and is now closer to a respectable 300 pages long. Though it still could use the look of a professional editor (thanks to Danny Cerullo for editing the first couple of chapters), I feel the book is at a point to at least be published out there on the internet. The good thing about self publishing it through Amazon Kindle is that I have the ability to do re-writes and can pull it offline if the book is ever physically published, if that opportunity arises.
The book is available from the Amazon Kindle Store for $2.99 and can be accessed via Kindle Devices or Kindle Apps. Search for The Dragon Princess in the Kindle store. A few books with this title will show up but you'll see mine near the top of the list. At least that's where it was earlier today when I searched for it. As of now, the book is only available in this format. No hard copies yet, but of course, that is still the ultimate goal. If anyone has any comments or questions, feel free to ask here or send me an email at: hasko_y2j@hotmail.com. Feedback is always appreciated. Feel free to share this blog post or the Facebook post with friends and family that may like fantasy novels. The book is appropriate for ages 12 and over. Without a further adieu, a brief description of The Dragon Princess:
"Centuries have passed since the Druids helped the Council of Races to broker peace amongst the lands. Fractures have occurred over time, but it was not until the rise of Druid Kayman that this peace finally broke for good.
The Black Magic Druids, as Kayman and his cohorts were called, rose to power and annihilated all but a few of the White Magic Druids. Druid Kayman disbanded the Council and joined forces with Queen Leron and her minions: the Demons. In an effort to control the lands, these already mighty forces joined with King Black Thunder, his army, and the creatures that held the key to all the future power of the lands: the Dragons.
To stop the Black Magic Druids and their allies, the fate of the lands rests on an old prophecy dervived from ancient times. The prophecy tells of a child that has been born of Dragon's blood and there is one man that holds a strong belief in the prophecy: a White Magic Druid by the name of Lemen. Enlisting the help of Prince Rion, his sister Riyana, and a young Druid called Stelart, Lemen moves to meet the Druid Kayman head on and hopefully end this war once and for all.
Untested in battle and in life, it will be up to this trio of young adults to end the evil that looms and to once again bring peace and safety to all the lands."
July 8, 2014
The Potato Salad Incident
Today's blog post was supposed to be about potato salad. I had written some early drafts about this Kickstarter campaign to raise money for a better potato salad that had contributions upwards of $20,000. I had a little trouble finding an angle on this post because I'd recently written a blog about Kickstarter and crowd funding in general (http://jrhask.blogspot.com/2014/05/kicksts.html). I understand that this current campaign involving a better potato salad may have started out as a joke (which I applaud the kid for), but why have people continued to donate? Is it partly because they want to be part of something hip and trendy? (Yes) Aren't there better ways to contribute money, say five dollars to the Veterans or ten dollars to cancer research? (Of course) Sure, at this point the kid that started the campaign will be using the money to feed the homeless, but that is far from the issue at hand. I wanted to make a statement on the downfall of society and how the lack of individuality has become the new hip and trendy thing to do. This entire blog could have turned into a 20 page dissertation on the fall of the American Empire.
Instead, I was distracted by the World Cup yet again and the magnificent game that was being played. In the span of twenty five minutes, the Germans scored five goals against Brazil and the route was on. The great Brazilian massacre of 2014 or "O grande massacre brasileiro de 2014" as Google translate tells me they say in Portuguese. Not since my days of youth soccer had I seen anything like this in soccer. Brazil was shell shocked and Germany looks like nothing can stop them now. America losing only 1-0 to Germany should be considered a victory at this point. I was fascinated by this game and could not look away from the train wreck. In those first forty-five minutes of soccer I'd forgotten all about potato salad.
Maybe that's wherein the problem lies. With the beauty of the internet and technology, people will have forgotten about this potato salad campaign and moved onto the next fascinating story of the world. Or in the case of this potato salad fiasco, the ridiculous nature of today's society. I mean, does anyone remember the missing plane from Malaysia? Some people do, but it hardly is mentioned in the American news anymore. I mean, come on, they lost a plane! Are people not interested anymore in how they lost a plane of this size? Even a week ago, America had a sudden infatuation with soccer. Now, many of those same fans probably couldn't even tell you what teams were playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup. (Argentina plays The Netherlands in the other semi-final.)
As it is, there was one other piece of news from yesterday that had me rolling my eyes. A man is suing Major League Baseball and ESPN for 10 million dollars for emotional distress, having his career derailed, etc., etc., etc. The man happened to fall asleep during a nationally televised baseball game. The game's announcers, John Kruk and Dan Shulman, made a few quips about the man, but nothing was disparaging or bullying in any manner (See clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FDrcWTSczs ). End of story? Nope. People in society (not everyone) have become overwrought with sensitivity and some have lost the ability to laugh at themselves. Did people stop coming to see this guy at this job of being a used car salesman (as per reports on the internet) because of ESPN? No. If anything, due to society's YouTube/15 minutes of fame obsession, this man might have seen an uptick in sales the next week or two just because people wanted to buy a car from the "sleeping man at baseball game" guy. I don't have any data to back that up. It's just a guess. If anything, this lawsuit can be traced to the person who successfully sued McDonalds because her coffee was hot and she burned herself. Now, the coffee may have been a little scalding, but usually when I order a hot coffee, I'm pretty damn careful when handling it. Because, you know, hot coffee is usually hot.
I feel I have covered a lot of ground today. I wish I had more answers to the questions/problems I've posited here today but I do not. I believe people should take more responsibility for their actions, give money to charitable organizations, donate that extra dollar to the arts (and not potato salad), laugh at moments of embarrassment, better yourself because of it, be yourself, and never root for Brazil when they play Germany.
Now, if you excuse me, I'm about to try the new recipe for potato salad. I sure hope it's good.
"To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity."- William Arthur Ward
Instead, I was distracted by the World Cup yet again and the magnificent game that was being played. In the span of twenty five minutes, the Germans scored five goals against Brazil and the route was on. The great Brazilian massacre of 2014 or "O grande massacre brasileiro de 2014" as Google translate tells me they say in Portuguese. Not since my days of youth soccer had I seen anything like this in soccer. Brazil was shell shocked and Germany looks like nothing can stop them now. America losing only 1-0 to Germany should be considered a victory at this point. I was fascinated by this game and could not look away from the train wreck. In those first forty-five minutes of soccer I'd forgotten all about potato salad.
Maybe that's wherein the problem lies. With the beauty of the internet and technology, people will have forgotten about this potato salad campaign and moved onto the next fascinating story of the world. Or in the case of this potato salad fiasco, the ridiculous nature of today's society. I mean, does anyone remember the missing plane from Malaysia? Some people do, but it hardly is mentioned in the American news anymore. I mean, come on, they lost a plane! Are people not interested anymore in how they lost a plane of this size? Even a week ago, America had a sudden infatuation with soccer. Now, many of those same fans probably couldn't even tell you what teams were playing in the semi-finals of the World Cup. (Argentina plays The Netherlands in the other semi-final.)
As it is, there was one other piece of news from yesterday that had me rolling my eyes. A man is suing Major League Baseball and ESPN for 10 million dollars for emotional distress, having his career derailed, etc., etc., etc. The man happened to fall asleep during a nationally televised baseball game. The game's announcers, John Kruk and Dan Shulman, made a few quips about the man, but nothing was disparaging or bullying in any manner (See clip here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FDrcWTSczs ). End of story? Nope. People in society (not everyone) have become overwrought with sensitivity and some have lost the ability to laugh at themselves. Did people stop coming to see this guy at this job of being a used car salesman (as per reports on the internet) because of ESPN? No. If anything, due to society's YouTube/15 minutes of fame obsession, this man might have seen an uptick in sales the next week or two just because people wanted to buy a car from the "sleeping man at baseball game" guy. I don't have any data to back that up. It's just a guess. If anything, this lawsuit can be traced to the person who successfully sued McDonalds because her coffee was hot and she burned herself. Now, the coffee may have been a little scalding, but usually when I order a hot coffee, I'm pretty damn careful when handling it. Because, you know, hot coffee is usually hot.
I feel I have covered a lot of ground today. I wish I had more answers to the questions/problems I've posited here today but I do not. I believe people should take more responsibility for their actions, give money to charitable organizations, donate that extra dollar to the arts (and not potato salad), laugh at moments of embarrassment, better yourself because of it, be yourself, and never root for Brazil when they play Germany.
Now, if you excuse me, I'm about to try the new recipe for potato salad. I sure hope it's good.
"To make mistakes is human; to stumble is commonplace; to be able to laugh at yourself is maturity."- William Arthur Ward
July 4, 2014
A Revolution Birthday Fact Parade
Happy Birthday, America. You turn 238 years old today. You're starting to show your age a bit, but who doesn't after being around for so long? America has fireworks, apple pie, watermelon, barbeques, and even a hot dog eating contest to honor your birthday. Yep, America, you have it all. In honor of your birthday, let's take a look at some facts from the American Revolution and our independence.
After a long day of chopping down Cherry trees and doing General stuff, George Washington only wanted to settle in next to a fire with a mug of whiskey and relax a bit. Instead, he was forced to listen to his wife Martha read to him from a weekly publication called Keeping up with the Reveres. This serial indulged the colonies with the inane stories involving the daughters of Paul Revere. While Paul Revere was famous for his midnight ride, his daughters actually brought no real value to the world. Yet colonists kept shilling out a gold piece a week to continue to follow the daughters' stories. George Washington went as far as to cross the Delaware River in the middle of winter in order to avoid having to hear anything more about the Revere daughters.
We've all heard that the Colonists were tired of taxation without representation. They even had a collective tea party in attempt to break free of England's rule. Let me tell you about another darker, more sinister reason that we desired independence. Turns out that a group of colonists from Pennsylvania, led by Thomas Paine, had formed a soccer team. While these players were never selected to be part of Great Britain's national team, they were tired of being associated with The Three Lions and their lack of advancement in World Cups. These players from Pennsylvania not only wanted independence for their country, but also wanted soccer independence as well. In their hearts, they knew that the Colonies would always have a bigger, faster, and stronger soccer team--er, I mean country.
Benedict Arnold is largely known as a traitor to the Colonies. In fact, at the time, the Colonies were largely divided has to whether Arnold should be called a traitor or be hailed as a hero. Here was a man that worked for the Army of the Colonies and he knew many of our best kept secrets. Arnold finally drew the line when Colony soldiers began to intercept the common man's letters. In time of war and terror, our top generals were on the lookout for traitors and only wanted to keep the Colonies safe. Instead it was Arnold that divulged the secrets of our nation to the British because he just couldn't take the deception anymore. Eventually, Benedict Arnold eventually found asylum in Russia where he lived out his life in misery.
William Daniels, aka Mr. Feeny, aka the voice of K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider, took part in an historical re-enactment called 1776. In this, he played John Adams. The great John Adams, our second president who was one of the many men who took part in our independence. Which is funny, because I do believe that Mr. Feeny was the Principal at John Adams High. This was a high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nothing historical here, I just wanted everyone to know more about William Daniels. Wait. Boy Meets World just took on a whole new meaning for me. The creators, it seems, just really loved 1776 and this show was created just to work with William Daniels. Now there's trivia for you.
Thomas Jefferson was a great stage actor before getting into politics. In fact, just before the Revolution, Jefferson played the lead in a touring production of Hamlet. When he became a delegate in the Continental Congress, Jefferson knew that politics were his true calling. Jefferson drew up the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and later became our third President. Revisionists of history like to harken back to Jefferson and say that during his presidency America was at it's brightest. While he did acquire most of Middle America for us, people tend to forget his failed "War on Opium" program. And let's not even talk about Jeffersonomics, the economy program that was good at first but would lead us into a Depression nearly 100 years later.
So Happy Birthday, United States of America. You've come along way. Here's to another 238 more!
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."-Thomas Paine
After a long day of chopping down Cherry trees and doing General stuff, George Washington only wanted to settle in next to a fire with a mug of whiskey and relax a bit. Instead, he was forced to listen to his wife Martha read to him from a weekly publication called Keeping up with the Reveres. This serial indulged the colonies with the inane stories involving the daughters of Paul Revere. While Paul Revere was famous for his midnight ride, his daughters actually brought no real value to the world. Yet colonists kept shilling out a gold piece a week to continue to follow the daughters' stories. George Washington went as far as to cross the Delaware River in the middle of winter in order to avoid having to hear anything more about the Revere daughters.
We've all heard that the Colonists were tired of taxation without representation. They even had a collective tea party in attempt to break free of England's rule. Let me tell you about another darker, more sinister reason that we desired independence. Turns out that a group of colonists from Pennsylvania, led by Thomas Paine, had formed a soccer team. While these players were never selected to be part of Great Britain's national team, they were tired of being associated with The Three Lions and their lack of advancement in World Cups. These players from Pennsylvania not only wanted independence for their country, but also wanted soccer independence as well. In their hearts, they knew that the Colonies would always have a bigger, faster, and stronger soccer team--er, I mean country.
Benedict Arnold is largely known as a traitor to the Colonies. In fact, at the time, the Colonies were largely divided has to whether Arnold should be called a traitor or be hailed as a hero. Here was a man that worked for the Army of the Colonies and he knew many of our best kept secrets. Arnold finally drew the line when Colony soldiers began to intercept the common man's letters. In time of war and terror, our top generals were on the lookout for traitors and only wanted to keep the Colonies safe. Instead it was Arnold that divulged the secrets of our nation to the British because he just couldn't take the deception anymore. Eventually, Benedict Arnold eventually found asylum in Russia where he lived out his life in misery.
William Daniels, aka Mr. Feeny, aka the voice of K.I.T.T. on Knight Rider, took part in an historical re-enactment called 1776. In this, he played John Adams. The great John Adams, our second president who was one of the many men who took part in our independence. Which is funny, because I do believe that Mr. Feeny was the Principal at John Adams High. This was a high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Nothing historical here, I just wanted everyone to know more about William Daniels. Wait. Boy Meets World just took on a whole new meaning for me. The creators, it seems, just really loved 1776 and this show was created just to work with William Daniels. Now there's trivia for you.
Thomas Jefferson was a great stage actor before getting into politics. In fact, just before the Revolution, Jefferson played the lead in a touring production of Hamlet. When he became a delegate in the Continental Congress, Jefferson knew that politics were his true calling. Jefferson drew up the first draft of the Declaration of Independence and later became our third President. Revisionists of history like to harken back to Jefferson and say that during his presidency America was at it's brightest. While he did acquire most of Middle America for us, people tend to forget his failed "War on Opium" program. And let's not even talk about Jeffersonomics, the economy program that was good at first but would lead us into a Depression nearly 100 years later.
So Happy Birthday, United States of America. You've come along way. Here's to another 238 more!
"Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it."-Thomas Paine
