I'd like to reiterate that I am in no way a political person. Most people could care less what I think about most of these subjects. But this one particular case got me thinking deeply about the fabric of America.
When I was first introduced to this country, it was a place where most people would swim through shark infested waters to gain the opportunities my native country didn't possess. The thought was that ANYTHING was possible. You can become anyone and do anything. While I find this to still to be true (relative to other countries) I find myself absolutely confused as to how justice can work for some, and not for others.
I really don't want to spread facts, since I'm sure most of what I've read is colored by some level of exaggeration, but I have to believe, in this day and age, when one person shoots another person we have to believe there is justifiable homicide. What we so got away from is just basic common sense. Much like O.J. We just let the letter of the law dictate to us how the outcome would come about. To me, this is just scary. The world I live in now doesn't want us to succeed at life. We've convicted/exonerated Zimmerman before he was even tried. How could it possibly be that he would get a fair trial. The facts are, he shot someone who they got into an altercation with. The kid died. I'm not sure how much more clear we can get on that. Then, as a defense which is to offer him the best effort possible, hid behind the "Stand Your Ground" law. Now...I get how this law was enacted. IF someone was to put your life in danger, I can see how you could've done what it took to protect yourself. Here's a kid walking to the market to get some candy. The kid wasn't going out looking to get into an altercation. It just happened. And he ends up dead.
I dunno about you, but if a stranger came up to me and didn't identify himself, I'd be defending myself. So, where does standing your ground protect? It's all so confusing and incendiary, so I'll stop there. But I will say...I don't like that Zimmerman walked away, cleared of the charges, but I will say he is going to be punished worse out of prison than in prison. By the media. By the public. By the world. He will have to wear the fate of that terrible night with him forever. I don't think there is punishment enough to undo that.
Monday, July 15, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
Gym Rats @ 5AM
So my schedule has changed now where I hit the gym at 5AM instead of the usual 8AM. It may seem like a 3 hour difference but...what a difference it makes.
5AM gym rats are definitely a different breed. In Ohio, you would never see a person at the gym at that hour. I mean, you want to do some physical labor go bale some hay. Here I am in Universal Studio L.A. Fitness at this ungodly hour thinking I'd be completely alone. I was wrong.
There is a special type of person who gets up early to go to work. You would assume these are the people who have really early working hours. I mean, it was the case with me. Unfortunately this is not true. They are, for the most part have issues that need to be sorted out.
In Los Angeles, you can usually tell the meeting place for AA meetings. There are people standing outside a church late at night chain smoking. This is similar to gym night rats. They aren't necessarily bleary eyed, which is a dead giveaway...they are focused and they beeline to the machines. Once there, they put their headphones on, select the machine workout and pump away furiously. Almost as if to outrun whatever it is that drove them there in the first place. Some you can tell are overcoming addictions. This is the only release they have for the day for peace of mind. The other 23 hours, their brain is a pinball machine. There are people who show up to socialize (like the day rats), while others seem to be biding their time before their inevitable death. I see a LOT of senior citizens there. They aren't really dressed for the gym, but they hop on a machine, do half-ass workout and start pacing the floor. If I were to equate this type to anything, it'd be like a zombie, who in their dying light they're going through the motions of who they once were.
The ones that really stand out, are the ones training for something. There are a few that rotate marathon t-shirts. They are slim, trim and tend to wear body formed shorts. But odd thing is, they still have a gut. Everything on them tells me that they are athletic except the spare tire they're probably there to get rid of. I'm sure they've run marathons before. They seem very focused. Very gung-ho about...everything. There is no real form to how they exercise, only that it is done with authority. You get the feeling that these are the ones with the biggest issues. Whether it be a relationship they can't get out of, or one they can't get into. No one in this population, if espoused, would put their mate in a situation where they leave at 4:45AM to make the gym at 5. And not on a non-school day.
I shouldn't judge though. I mean, I'm there. I go, mostly, for the free shower. And to catch up on my podcast listening. It's a nice quiet time. I know my previous schedule was more hectic. Pretty girls later in the day though.
I dunno. Sometimes I think I may go too much if I'm thinking about what people are like at gyms this early. Maybe tomorrow I'll just sleep in.
5AM gym rats are definitely a different breed. In Ohio, you would never see a person at the gym at that hour. I mean, you want to do some physical labor go bale some hay. Here I am in Universal Studio L.A. Fitness at this ungodly hour thinking I'd be completely alone. I was wrong.
There is a special type of person who gets up early to go to work. You would assume these are the people who have really early working hours. I mean, it was the case with me. Unfortunately this is not true. They are, for the most part have issues that need to be sorted out.
In Los Angeles, you can usually tell the meeting place for AA meetings. There are people standing outside a church late at night chain smoking. This is similar to gym night rats. They aren't necessarily bleary eyed, which is a dead giveaway...they are focused and they beeline to the machines. Once there, they put their headphones on, select the machine workout and pump away furiously. Almost as if to outrun whatever it is that drove them there in the first place. Some you can tell are overcoming addictions. This is the only release they have for the day for peace of mind. The other 23 hours, their brain is a pinball machine. There are people who show up to socialize (like the day rats), while others seem to be biding their time before their inevitable death. I see a LOT of senior citizens there. They aren't really dressed for the gym, but they hop on a machine, do half-ass workout and start pacing the floor. If I were to equate this type to anything, it'd be like a zombie, who in their dying light they're going through the motions of who they once were.
The ones that really stand out, are the ones training for something. There are a few that rotate marathon t-shirts. They are slim, trim and tend to wear body formed shorts. But odd thing is, they still have a gut. Everything on them tells me that they are athletic except the spare tire they're probably there to get rid of. I'm sure they've run marathons before. They seem very focused. Very gung-ho about...everything. There is no real form to how they exercise, only that it is done with authority. You get the feeling that these are the ones with the biggest issues. Whether it be a relationship they can't get out of, or one they can't get into. No one in this population, if espoused, would put their mate in a situation where they leave at 4:45AM to make the gym at 5. And not on a non-school day.
I shouldn't judge though. I mean, I'm there. I go, mostly, for the free shower. And to catch up on my podcast listening. It's a nice quiet time. I know my previous schedule was more hectic. Pretty girls later in the day though.
I dunno. Sometimes I think I may go too much if I'm thinking about what people are like at gyms this early. Maybe tomorrow I'll just sleep in.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Big Brother 15: The Aaryn Gries Saga
I watched maybe one episode of "Big Brother" years ago. In it, they pit a bunch of mis-matched people and spy on them. The show is a total ruse. It's stuffed with casted actors.
Yea, I'm not telling you guys anything you already don't know. But recently this pretty blonde named Aaryn Gries is getting a shellacking over racist, homo-bashing comments she's made on air. With a name like Aaryn so close to Aryan...are you surprised?
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this IS a reality show? And if that isn't her real attitude or that she should keep those comments in check aren't we, in essence...NOT presenting reality? See, that's what bugs me about these shows. They want the battle but they don't want the war. She spoke her mind and, stupid as her comments may be, only paints her out to whatever you side with. For example, she makes remarks about the Asian girl should go make some rice. Or corrects a Black girl's language (ebonics). This is what I dealt with when I lived in Ohio. And if you don't believe that is as close to the reality we still live with, then you still believe pro wrestling is real. Because nothing is as raw as blatant hurtful comments.
But hurtful to whom? We've put SO much emphasis on Caucasian people to step on shells when around a minority that it has, in fact, worked against the cause. They feel they shouldn't have to side-step someone's personal feelings because what they say is deemed wrong or offensive. If you're a minority, try this sometimes. If one of your Caucasian friends makes a race joke, look at them with a serious look and a blunt tone tell them how offended you are by that comment. Watch them freeze in fear that they've cut you deep into your soul.
Why? Why must they be the only ones that feel this way but other races will blatantly drop white jokes and get away without a scratch? Is it because they've grown thicker skin over the years? No. Is it because they understand joking better? No. It's because WE'VE given the words too much power. And it does describe our own wretchedness to allow it to effect us. The minute we can laugh this all off, the sooner we can move on. The days of angry minorities is growing tiresome. Maybe it's my old age, or maybe just not giving it that much thought anymore, but I just want us to recognize that these hurtful things exist. And the spokesman didn't have to be a 22 year old blonde model who probably couldn't articulate herself better. I don't hate her. I feel sorry for her. She will move through life with far greater burden of "type" over my Asian ass. Trust me on that. She will constantly be objectified and, more than likely, emotionally (and possibly physically) abused. People think she got the gene lottery, I say she will suffer greater than any minority because of her gender and looks. These things fade. As do hurtful comments.
Yea, I'm not telling you guys anything you already don't know. But recently this pretty blonde named Aaryn Gries is getting a shellacking over racist, homo-bashing comments she's made on air. With a name like Aaryn so close to Aryan...are you surprised?
Now correct me if I'm wrong, but this IS a reality show? And if that isn't her real attitude or that she should keep those comments in check aren't we, in essence...NOT presenting reality? See, that's what bugs me about these shows. They want the battle but they don't want the war. She spoke her mind and, stupid as her comments may be, only paints her out to whatever you side with. For example, she makes remarks about the Asian girl should go make some rice. Or corrects a Black girl's language (ebonics). This is what I dealt with when I lived in Ohio. And if you don't believe that is as close to the reality we still live with, then you still believe pro wrestling is real. Because nothing is as raw as blatant hurtful comments.
But hurtful to whom? We've put SO much emphasis on Caucasian people to step on shells when around a minority that it has, in fact, worked against the cause. They feel they shouldn't have to side-step someone's personal feelings because what they say is deemed wrong or offensive. If you're a minority, try this sometimes. If one of your Caucasian friends makes a race joke, look at them with a serious look and a blunt tone tell them how offended you are by that comment. Watch them freeze in fear that they've cut you deep into your soul.
Why? Why must they be the only ones that feel this way but other races will blatantly drop white jokes and get away without a scratch? Is it because they've grown thicker skin over the years? No. Is it because they understand joking better? No. It's because WE'VE given the words too much power. And it does describe our own wretchedness to allow it to effect us. The minute we can laugh this all off, the sooner we can move on. The days of angry minorities is growing tiresome. Maybe it's my old age, or maybe just not giving it that much thought anymore, but I just want us to recognize that these hurtful things exist. And the spokesman didn't have to be a 22 year old blonde model who probably couldn't articulate herself better. I don't hate her. I feel sorry for her. She will move through life with far greater burden of "type" over my Asian ass. Trust me on that. She will constantly be objectified and, more than likely, emotionally (and possibly physically) abused. People think she got the gene lottery, I say she will suffer greater than any minority because of her gender and looks. These things fade. As do hurtful comments.
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