February 21, 2009
America the Dutiful (a response to Naimul)
The above title is a description not of what America is these days but rather what we need to become. We've lost our sense of purpose and community, and even the emphatic (and historic) election of President Obama sometimes seems a little hollow.
Most people who voted for Barack Obama would reason (and probably believe wholeheartedly) that they wanted to make a statement that America is ready for a change in the right direction. Whether it was his optimistic rhetoric, race, or political philosophies, Barack Obama represented a stark contrast to the overtones of the last eight years. But too often, though, I've found that the election of President Obama is taken as the be all and end all of the democratic process or the death knell of racism, divisiveness, etc... in this country.
Something tells me that so long as there are politicians, there will be disingenuous manipulation of the democratic process, and until there is only one person living in this country, there will be discrimination based on lineage. But that is beside the point. The point is that while we continue to wallow in the achievement of the historic election, the economy continues to decline and world crises continue to pile up at our doorstep.
We have not scored the game-winning touchdown, we've kicked the field goal that brings it back to a one-possession game. There are many out there who can certainly see the situation as such. Part of the reason, though, many may not see it that way is that there are far too many Americans who put all the blame of the last eight years on the Bush Administration. Much of what the Bush Administration did (and didn't do) is certainly worthy of reproach, but it is not the sole contributor to the decline of the United States over the past eight years, especially when you consider the fact that the American people reelected Bush in 2004.
No, we are to blame. AmeRica has becOme a nation of capitalists on steroiDs. And if we don't regain some control over how this nation progresses, then the growth and well-being we wish to see will become erratic and cancerous.
So let's move forward. Let's nod our heads at the history we've created and move forward with what we need to do. I think the video below describes a little more succinctly what I was trying to say:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdfWAr8nNMI
Posted by ryan at 4:43 PM | Comments (6)
April 15, 2008
Into the Great Wide Open or Last dance with Marry Jane
Hello Everybody,
As the sun sets on my undergraduate education, I have yet to determine what my plans will be post-graduation. After declining a job offer in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I'm still waiting for the next one to come down the line.
It has been four years since the combatrhino crew was operating at full capacity, being at that time a large portion of the gossip in the Westside IMCs outside of Brandon Fleaharty's world history video. As the world sucks you into our respective cubicles, there's one thing that you just can't give up--your individuality. In the past year, my desire to be a better engineer has sucked away certainly a lot of time and also a lot of individuality which I've prided myself on in the past. Sure, I feel like an individual in the Cartesian sense, but blending into the background noise of the world is something I fear may be happening at least for a few years to come.
So what do we do to avoid this induction into the comtemporary Matrix? I think the answer is clear to a lot of people. Don't fight it. Just live your life, indulge in the simple pleasures of life and forget about eminence. But how is this satisfying? In your own mind, you cherish those memories that linger no matter what the situation brings. How then, can one be happy being a forgotten memory in the mind of the world?
If you can't be happy with that, then the simple answer is fight, fight, fight. Keep trying and trying until something catches, and then try some more. Jimmy Cliff famously sang "You can get it if you really want, but you must try, try and try, try and try...". Perhaps for the rhythm of the song, Mr. Cliff left out the infinite intricacies that are involved in his profession of possible victory through hard work, but his message remains both as an opportunistic and cautionary one. So if you want it, you must try, try and try, try and try.....
...You succeed at last.
Posted by ryan at 7:45 PM | Comments (4)
December 12, 2006
Long Time...
It's been a long time since I've seen a lot of you guys. I plan on coming up to Omaha sometime over break, so tell me when you'll be back. Later.
Posted by ryan at 1:22 AM | Comments (7)
May 22, 2006
Space Cadets
I saw Erik!'s blog when I got on here for the first time in awhile, and I thought I would say something about the hyped "space travel" industry.
Currently, private spacecraft can only fly to about 70-80 miles altitude. To put this into perspective, the space shuttle flies at 150-200 miles altitude. In fact, a flight in one of the current private spaceships (of which Burt Rutan's Spaceship One is the only) would last only 15 minutes, four to five of which would be flown in "weightlessness". It is a fad for the super-rich since a seat on one of these things would cost thousands of dollars. Unless the private companies develop orbital systems, the industry is going to be only a fad, and it will go away in a relatively short time.
On another note, being home has its perks, although living with family can be agonizing, too.
Posted by ryan at 1:13 PM
April 8, 2006
Revision
Alright, I was not thinking very realistically, however I was thinking optimistically, and I will not retract the level of fame I invision, but perhaps the level of intricacy. It seems to me that people like selling lemonade; however 72nd and Dodge would be better. The problem is, there is not really any place in omaha that gets heavy pedestrian traffic except for the old market. Instead of a lemonade stand at 90th and center, have one that goes all different places in the city.
Also, look respectable. A bunch of guys in suits selling lemonade is going to get a lot more attention than some kids in tie-dyed westside debate team t-shirts. Also, go on some roadtrips this summer and bring the stand with you (the suits too).
What is going to be most important is shameless self-promotion. Dig into the cyberspace culture and also into the real space culture.
The goal is to get on cable and promote the lemonade in the same way, except on television.
Posted by ryan at 7:18 PM | Comments (1)
April 6, 2006
So You Want To Be Famous, Huh?
In all my myriad muses, it was only when I let go of the complicated intellectual ponderings and reverted to the simple thought of an underappreciated American icon, that I found an outlet to become somebody more than who I am. Now, that first sentence may appear quite verbose, however, the power of the thought behind it holds the key to both fame and fortune. I'm suggesting that I know a way to get famous that will take some work, but is assured to give not only fame but also fortune if it can come together.
In 1993, the greatest TV show of all time hit the small screen. Starring a hero with a take-no-bullshit attitude, a background in martial arts, and (coincidentally also) the greatest facial hair of all time, this show will undoubtedly go down in history as the most mocked albeit fervently loved television program ever.
Walker, Texas Ranger stars the greatest actor/martial artist/fitness equipment salesman to ever have graced the earth, Chuck Norris. His DNA is so pure that Hitler would have killed himself and every German due to the futility of creating a "perfect race", his attitude is so cool that even L.L. Cool J. would look like a buffoon in comparison, his martial arts skills are so adept that Steven Segal couldn't get a hit off, his gun slinging skills put cap guns in the hands of Annie Oakley, and his style can only be rivalled within any arena by Kanye West. I can definitely say God exists, and Chuck Norris is divine proof.
Now what does Chuck Norris have to do with you being famous, might you ask? Let's face it, you can never be as awesome as Chuck no matter how hard you try. So what do you do? Leech off of His Awesomeness (that's what he'll be referred to from here on out). Like the Mayflower, Chuck Norris is a vessel who will take you to new and great lands.
The Plan:
What doesn't His Awesomeness have? A line of products devoted to him, at least one that is advertised on national television. My first Idea is one product that is sure to be a hit with the kids. It's the CN punching bag. "He always gets up from a punch". With sand in the bottom, nobody can keep him knocked over.
Yes, it's going to cost a lot of money to create a production line, but there ways to collect money that we are not unfamiliar to. Ploys such as kissing booths, Collection plates for people who His Awesomeness has destroyed the lives of, and other off the wall ideas will all contribute to the capital investment.
I have not forgotten that this is a project in which we will get famous in the process. This is why in our collection of money, we will acquire enough to advertise for a limited time on high exposure cable television channels.
Using the superior video editing and hip hop skills we have in our circle, we will create the commercial to appeal to all audiences, intellectuals and more "visceral" types (exactly as we did back in the day). Obviously, our commercial will star us and of course, our novel product, which will be the greatest gag gift ever.
It's going to incorporate all the skills we've acquired in all our years of schooling including my engineering skills, the NYU people's film skills, Rob's being a complete lazy pile "skills" (I'm serious, he can relate to people who watch television a lot. I wonder why?), and other professional skills people have gained in the past two years. It is going to be quite a bit of work, but I can assure you that if the work is done in stride, this is something that can pan out in a relatively short amount of time. I leave you now to consider these not-so-idle thoughts.
Posted by ryan at 5:52 PM | Comments (4)
December 3, 2005
Yawn.
That pretty much sums up my semester.
Posted by ryan at 2:18 PM | Comments (3)