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Quasimofo
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Name: Justin
Country: United States
State: Pennsylvania
Metro: Selinsgrove
Birthday: 12/11/1986
Gender: Male
Interests: IUP Ultimate, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, the military, anime, drawing, FPSs, navy blue, science fiction, fantasy, German related jank, Puma, Music: big beat, electronica, ambient, indie, rock in general
Expertise: Head shots, Procrastination
Occupation: Student
Message: message me
Website: visit my website
AIM:  Quasimopho
Member Since:
6/23/2004
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| I had a little discussion on religion with some classmates in World Lit the other day, and began explaining that I liked certain aspects of some religions, but I don't really agree that any religion is the "right" religion. I usually call myself a monotheist, but I only believe in a God in the same sense that (I'm being a little sarcastic here) Jedi believe in "the force." As in some sort of universal energy that resides in all of us and binds the universe together. Something that always was and always will be. If God is in everything, including your thoughts, then God always hears what you're thinking. You are technically talking to yourself AND God, because you are God, and God is you. God is your conscience. God is good and evil. God is balance. God is an equation. Sometimes I like to think Christians have a slight understanding of this when they say "if you believe in God, then you'll have everlasting life forever." Well, yes, kinda. If you realize that God is everything, then you realize that it doesn't matter what happens to your body after you die, you still remain part of the big equation, you're just factored into something else that's not the body you just used. So that's where reincarnation might be a possibility, where I like to assume with the law of conservation and matter, that nothing is gained or destroyed in the universe, just re-used. These thoughts will probably keep going and be all over the place, so I'm gonna talk about why I originally started this entry.
I wondered what my own religion would be (even though I'm completely opposed to the idea of organized religion). I just started thinking about everything that made sense to me, and how everyone would possibly be at peace with each other.
The religion would be for the most simple minded man, or the most intelligent man. There would be no bias. It's unfair if you're blind and can't read scripture, or deaf and can't have it read to you either. The idea of of something residing in you like a moral compass is practically understood by everyone who is raised and conditioned in an "ideal" setting. If you actually can read the scripture, it's not fair for those who have an inability to understand it. You know what is right and wrong within yourself. Leave it at that.
A lot of philosophy was put into this made up religion, or at least some stuff I remembered. Obviously it would make sense for one to seek pleasure in life, so long as you, nor anyone else is harmed. Similar to the Wiccan belief of "harm none." By seeking pleasure you should be seeking a means of obtaining peace with God, or seeking ecstasy. I know some shamans seek ecstasy by placing hooks in their backs and suffering from the pain long enough to go into a heightened state of awareness, achieving so called ecstasy. This practice always fascinated me, because it always made sense to me, and how you can connect to some great universal spirit or realm (God). It does go against the "harm none" rule (not even yourself), so to clarify (since this a made up religion) I would say it would be "do no harm out of malice." Classic example of this is your dying buddy on the battlefield, he begs you to end his life so he doesn't have to suffer. No religious belief holding you back, you would probably do it. I guess it wouldn't make sense to just simply say "don't harm or kill anyone else" for you know there's certain circumstances that you might need to harm others in an altruistic manner.
For me, I would say the easiest way to find God is through art (human expression). I really love doing this through music, especially feeling the energy that's created from gatherings such as concerts or parties. That amazing feeling you get from being together with everyone who shares a similar taste in music with you, when you're all dancing, singing, and just letting go. That to me is what God wants us to feel. Whether you listen to rock, rap, heavy metal, ambient, electronica, Indie, pop, it doesn't matter. What matters is that connection you have, whether it's between you and the music - or you, the music, and everyone else enjoying it. You feel tapped into something. It doesn't matter if it makes you happy, sad, angry, whatever - you know you're venting that thought and emotion into something great and it's returning a message back to you - that what you feel is right. What you're feeling needs to be felt. Same thing with dancing. Dancing and music to me are almost interchangeable when it comes to achieving ecstasy or connecting with God. It just brings out so much spiritual energy within you. Everyone has free will, so if you don't choose to get into music, and you find some other way to connect with God, go for it. I would just highly recommend music. It's hard to find someone who's opposed to music in general.
Acknowledge God, you don't have to always express it (worship), you don't have to praise God all the time (We can't program ourselves like that, everyone forgets or becomes careless), you don't have to dance or sing or do anything you don't want to. Just know that the universe is set in motion, and that God is responsible for everything. That everything is stable because of him, and a simple thanks, even if it's just in your head while you're taking a shit, or you're reminded when you're eating an amazing meal, or even a simple meal - that God is responsible for everything good and bad, simple and complicated, and that you understand that balancing something as grand as the universe, is a remarkable feat, and probably deserves a little recognition. Just live. (To clarify why I'm so fixated on the idea of universal balance, I usually refer to the sweet and sour idea - because you really can't appreciate the sweet without the sour. I can't appreciate pleasure if I haven't known pain. I can't appreciate love without knowing hate. And so on.)
I'm going to stop here for now, but this isn't anywhere near finished. What I ultimately want is for everyone to contribute to this. It might start here on this xanga entry, but I'm hoping it expands. The ultimate goal is for the religion (or a better term might just be "idea") to be created by everyone, and for everyone to contribute to it. It may shift here and there, and it should, but for the most part everyone will ultimately agree on it, for we all created it. We are all God and God is all of us and everything. It is our religion - it is God's religion. It is everyone and everything's religion.
In my opinion, I think the greatest objection to any organized religion or scripture is just the simple fact that only a few contributed to it's creation. You always wonder - "Why didn't I get to contribute?" Well, now you can.
So please give feedback, if there's something you don't agree with tell me or comment. If someone contributes an idea and you like it or don't like it - comment. If you have an idea that adds on to this entry or someone else's idea, say it! The ideas will just keep molding and shaping into something great. Ideas from scriptures, philosophies, cultures, sciences, personal beliefs, etc. are welcomed, as well as fresh ideas. Just keep them coming.
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My Parisian friends never cease to amaze me. Although I wasn't all that impressed with Air's new album (Love 2). It seemed too "upbeat" from all their previous albums. Definitely loving the new Phoenix album so far, well, at least it's given me a good impression.
I might elaborate on this later. I doubt it though.
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| Been having a lot of vivid dreams recently, and I'm trying to recollect and write down what I can remember from them ASAP.
Last night I dreamed about going into a shop specifically named after Mike Piazza. The store was in some downtown location in some sort of metropolis (I wanna say either some Northeastern state, most likely New York, or possibly somewhere in Canada). They sold MLB merchandise there and other novelty items. I walked into the store with some girl I had just met. Upon walking in I heard the store playing the song "Piazza, New York Catcher" by Belle and Sebastian (respectively). My mind WOULD do that. Once me and this girl walked into the store, she started singing the song word for word and note for note. It was really quite beautiful to say the least. I didn't really know the lyrics so I basically just hummed along while just being in awe of how amazing this girl was, whoever she was. After she started singing she began gracefully moving about the store, dancing about as she gazed upon items with quite some interest. She became the center of attention in the store and was obviously the focal point in the dream. It was almost hypnotic, the way she moved about while singing, it's kind of hard to explain. The more I watched her the heavier my heart became, I was drawing in deep breaths and letting out long sighs. I can't even remember what color her hair was, but all I know is I practically fell in love with this person I just made up, solely because she sang along to one song that I knew and listen every now and then. It's one of those dreams that you later wake up from and realize how easy it is to fall in love with someone from one thing, and when you reflect back on the dream, it seems rather silly. ONE thing you found amazing about the person, not knowing anything else, and you're head over heels in love with that person. It's torturing really, because (A) It's just a dream and that blissful moment is gone forever, and (B) Experiencing that feeling in reality is a rarity of its own. You can barely grasp it in your dream, and then just like that - it's gone.
I had another dream that took place the prior night about flying. Just flying, free from everything. Not in a craft, no wings mounted on my shoulder blades, just flying freely about, no worries, nothing. Originally I was dreaming about turning to the dark side in the Star Wars universe or something (it was really retarded), but then it abruptly changed back to "this" universe, and next thing I knew I had ran and jumped off a ravine like area and defied gravity, and just flew. A few times the Hitchhiker's Guide quote came to my head (About falling and missing the ground), which kind of kept fucking with me in the dream and felt like it was weighing me down. So I forgot about it and just elevated myself once more. It was like an overwhelming amount of positive energy flowing through my body, giving me a sense of euphoria and well being. I definitely got a sense that I was at one with the universe, I was tapping into the energy that drives the universe and gives it form, and the moment I forgot it, was the moment I would drift down. My thoughts, which absorbed and harnessed energy into my body and around me, was my propellant. I was essentially Peter-fucking-Pan. And it's funny enough, when I think about it - this positive energy I was trying to draw from, was definitely assisted by positive "thoughts" - Happy thoughts, so to speak. I just didn't have any pixie dust :P
I flew for a while, testing different altitudes and such, learning to control speed and how to land. I met a few people at a Sheetz like place later and showed them my new talent. One of the guys I showed it to actually tried and almost succeeded - it looked like he just jumped up a really tall embankment, but he definitely had the right idea. Which was inspiring, however, the rest of the group failed. I guess they were representative of people who don't think freely enough and will never just "let go." Later I was flying around some house, almost like a mansion, which supposedly belonged to Shirley Phelps (Fred Phelps daughter - if you don't know who this family is, they're the ones who picket funerals of war vets and gay people with signs like "God hates fags" and "Thank God for 9/11"). I think me and the new group of people I just met wanted to fuck with her, me above any of them. I think they ended up bailing because they pretty much looked at her as if she was the devil incarnate and was going to possess their souls. So they fled eventually, and I kept flying around her house, and eventually I think I made it into her house for some reason. I'm pretty sure she was alerted that I was in her house, so I made run for it and made it outside, right in front of her front door. And just as she was about to see me, I shot straight up into the air. The sight of her would make anyone fly away, regardless. She probably saw me fly away, but I'm pretty sure I wanted her too. I flew up just far enough to sit on some huge, red, metal beam. I think it was attached to her house somehow. I just sat there, realizing that I was sitting on something that wasn't meant to be sat on at that height. It was neat :) That's about all I remember.
That dream was definitely revealing in some ways, just how capable our human potential (specifically our minds) is for great things. Flying being one of them. The dream gave me the illusion that flying was possible, there's just no way anyone could harness enough energy in the universe, as well as comprehend how immensely complicated the universe is - yet, to actually fly. That to me though, felt reassuring. It was possible. That's what the dream was telling me. Just not with how are brains are programmed right now. We haven't evolved yet or haven't flexed that muscle in our mind yet to make it stronger. Shamans may be on to something, or anyone who tries to become interconnected with the universe. Not trying to advocate psychedelics, but they definitely help expand your mind to understand these things better. Shamans try to achieve a state of ecstasy through drugs sometimes, as well as other means. Some dance (personal favorite), some inflict great pain upon their bodies (such as hanging from hooks, I knew a girl that did this), some playing rhythmic drum beats to go into a trance like state, and so on. I have no idea if videos of African shamans levitating are legit or not, but if they are, it gives me a little hope that we're moving in the right direction. Even if we're moving REALLY FUCKING SLOW.
Okay I'm done.
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This probably won't be a meaningful entry. You've been warned.
So it turns out, I actually like the idea of writing as a profession. It wasn't until a little bit before this fall semester began that I not only got a shit ton of ideas for creative short stories, but when classes began I got even more ideas for the student newspaper. I went from freaking out that I could never come up with any "newsworthy" material to KNOWING I could come up with some great story ideas. I finally got myself back in that little niche I used to be in during high school, where I could read other classmates' terrible writing and make myself feel better knowing that the piece of shit that I put together three hours before class was STILL better than the garbage they probably poured their heart into for an entire week. It's sad because it still holds true for college courses. Meh, whatever, I like being cocky about it. Why not? Some assholes do well with sports, some perfect the arts, this asshole is good with writing.
I love the professor I have for my news writing class. He just emanates this charisma I can't explain. Almost as if you know that the guy is good at whatever the fuck he does. Which happens to be chewing gum and writing - and he's all out of bubblegum. But seriously, he's one of the few professors I've ever had that I just give my utmost respect to. He's humorous enough while still maintaining a professional demeanor, making sure you get your shit done and stay on task. He actually makes you want to write! HOLY SHIT! My other writing professionals I pretty much hated. In fact I felt like I purposely wrote shit papers so I didn't impress them. I didn't want to make them go "Oh, wow, what a wonderful paper, some of the best writing I've read in years!" Fuck that. I'm not writing my "best" work for a couple of dipshits fresh out of grad school. It just seems I was given the unfortunate luck of being placed in writing classes with all the R-tard professors over the past year. Until now - FINALLY. I actually want to IMPRESS this professor. I mean, the textbook he uses in class he wrote himself, and it's actually very well written and easy to understand. That, to me, is very commendable, considering textbooks fucking suck to read, or on rare occasions - actually contain useful information.
And his name is Dr. Drager. I don't know why, I just think that sounds bad ass. Like "Dragon raper" or something. Dr. Dragon Raper. "Hello, my family history involves raping dragons. No, not sexually - as in fucking them up so bad no other word can described their mangled carcass other than "raped." I need to stop talking about this. Moving on!
I hate vlogs. Fucking HATE them. I can't even stand saying that word. It doesn't even roll off the tongue right, almost as if it was NEVER MEANT TO BE SAID. And of course I have friends that make them. Well, some still do, most have stopped though - thank GOD. But yeah, the idea seemed alright when they first started making them, but then I realized how completely self-absorbed you have to be in order to make these things and actually think people will care enough about your mundane life to keep watching them daily. To think your friends care about what you do every. single. day. I watched my one friend's vlogs for about 30 days. No, I lie, maybe about 10 days before I got BORED and skipped a lot of them, and then went back because I "felt bad" (I was actually really fucking bored that day) and watched the rest to catch up to like, day 40 or 50. I forget. But yea, soon after that, I started giving him shit (in a "friendly" way) and just kinda hinted that maaaaaybe he should stop doing them, or at least cut them down to weekly vlogs. Or just whenever something important actually happened in his life that was WORTH telling about, vlog it.
You know what? Really, that would be fine. A weekly vlog, a bi-weekly vlog, whatever. Just as long as I'm not guilt tripped into watching them every single day. Muster up enough material for one, good weekly vlog, or monthly vlog. That would be tolerable.
And don't give me that bullshit that they don't want me to watch. That's the biggest load of shit EVER. This is how I know how fucking vain these God damn things make people. They pretty much tell you almost every other vlog how many subscribers they have (and how proud they are of that fact) PLUS they want YOU, yes, YOU, to tell them what ideas they should do for their next vlogs because they "can't think of anything to vlog about." Awwww, boo hoo :( How about you just don't vlog? I told that to one friend and he got pissed. Whatever. It's the truth. If you don't have anything important to say, don't say it. Simple as that. Don't fucking sit in front of a camera for 5 minutes going "uuuhhhh, uummmm, deerrrrrr, I don't really have much to talk about, uuuhhhmmm-heerrrrrr-deerrrrrrrrrrr." Seriously, just don't bother. Rant about politics, talk about shit in the news, recent events, movies, review books, do a theme for fuck's sake, anything creative - not just "uh, today was rather boring, I'll give you guys something better tomorrow. Sorry, bye." Thank you, for wasting my time. I don't watch them (if I actually do give two shits to watch them occasionally) just to look at your face and hear your voice. Speaking of which...
Some people actually vlog, mute themselves, make facial expressions, and then put up captions with information that match those facial expressions.
So let me get this straight. I'm just reading information that you supposedly think is important enough for your friends to care about. What the FUCK is the difference between that, and just BLOGGING. Seriously, what am I doing right now? If you did that at least I wouldn't have to hear some of your annoying voices or see your dumb faces. I wouldn't have to hear your dorky background music either. I on the other hand can display what I'm listening to, and if you FEEL like it, you can check it out if it interests you. I don't just rape your ears with tasteless garbage (you're welcome).
Seriously, I don't think they're cute, I don't think they're clever, and I sure as hell hope they don't stick around. It's just a trend, get it out of your system, I don't care, whatever. I'm done ranting. I'm running out of steam.
I don't even wanna get started on Twitter.
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I could of sworn I've heard "Alice" a while back, and now I'm kinda pissed I didn't look more into Pogo. From what I've heard, especially "Bangarang," I think there's a lot of potential for him to release a mind blowing album. He reminds me a lot of Girl Talk's cut-and-dry, spliced up sound when he was first starting out, but eventually cleaned it up, excluding the "glitchiness" of his earlier work. There's something about Pogo, just like Girl Talk, that gives me an overwhelming feeling of nostalgia. Very few musicians, let alone artists, can do that for me.
Let me know if you guys stumble across anymore mashup artists (that are actually good, please).
...now that I think of it I'm almost positive I heard Alice on entensity. Well shit.
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