Summer Breeze Steady Keepin Us Up Up Up

The Mount Woodson Trail at Lake Poway

We Can't Be Livin Like This For the Rest of Our Lives

Europe Trip
Dec 19 leave 8:30 pm
Dec 20 – arrive London 2:50 pm, can do some of the places below maybe
Dec 21 – London – hop on hop off bus tour(26 pounds), Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower of London. Westminster Abbey, British Museum
Dec 22 – more of London (from above)
Dec 23 – London St. Pancras Station - Train to Paris 10:24 AM, arrive 1:47 PM –
Stay at Novotel Paris Vaugirard Montparnesse, 257 Rue De Vaugirard, - Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum, Arc de Triomphe, Versailles Estate
Dec 24 – Paris – more from list above or hop on hop off bus for 29 Euro, get car in PM
Dec 25 – Christmas, everything closed, drive through Switzerland, stop at Lausanne, to Milan
Dec 26 – Drive Milan to Venice, drop car in Venice – Hotel ai Mori d’Oriente, Fondamenta della Sensa, Venice, 3319
Dec 27 – Venice – St Marks Basilica and bell tower, Doge’s Palace, Lace Museum for MAB(Musea del Merletto) , La Fenice Theater audio tour, St Marco Square, Correr Museum, Rialto Bridge, Gondola Ride 80 Euro!
Dec 28 – Venice- boat to Murano (glass) and Burano (lace) – maybe night train to Rome?
Dec 29 – Rome – stay Atahotel Villa Pamphili, Via Della Nocetta 105
Vatican, Pantheon, Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica
Dec 30 – Tour to Pompeii maybe, if you want, return to Rome
Dec 31 – Tour of the Vatican
Jan 1 – Leave Rome 11:55 AM


I hope that this trip will serve as just a taste of what Europe/the rest of the world has to offer. I want to come away from this trip thinking "fuck, I need to get up, get out and do something."

Fuck All the Discrete Shit

I'm so lucky that the wisest person in my life is my mom. Not everyone is lucky enough to have parents who are involved AT ALL in their life

We Don't Need No Protection

It's easy to say that you're an original, non-conformist who isn't afraid to like things that aren't mainstream or popular. But if the things you do like are widely accepted, then you really aren't taking much of a risk.

It takes more courage to openly admit that you love Soulja Boy than it takes to admit that you love Slum Village. Admitting to loving Soulja Boy will get you absolutely slandered in some circles. I can't think of any circles that openly hate Slum Village

I Strive to Be Live

I balk before diving into a pool

I Can't Do This No No No

The person who is most eager to speak first in a conversation/debate is often the one who is less knowledgable on the situation. A real wise and knowledgable person is content to let the other person eagerly spill their cards first, because they know that they really have control of the situation. The person who can't wait to get their thoughts out on the matter knows that they need to get their words out first because they need to show just how much they know. The more knowledgable person will wait it out and listen to the other persons' entire spiel, confident that they can respond in a smart and logical manner.

I often see this in sports talk. Whenever I'm in a conversation about basketball, there's inevitably one person in the convo who HAS to be the first one to speak, eager to display just how much they know about the game. They'll go on and on for 5 minutes, talking about this and that. They end their rant, content that everyone in the conversation knows that they know a lot about basketball.

I'm on the receiving end, listening without interruption, noting each talking point that interests me. I sit there, confident that not only do I understand the point they're making, but I also know the counter argument. Most of the time, I can't even get 10 words into the counter argument before the other person decides that they've had enough; they don't want to hear what I have to say so they interrupt my train of thought and make some small point. I sit there, astonished by the fact that they were so adamant about me not making my point that they had to stop me. I sense that I struck a nerve, so I decide not to pursue any further. Now we're both sitting there, awkward as fuck

Climb a Mountain But Tell No One You Did It

Everyone accomplishes great things. However, not everyone handles those accomplishments the same ways.

I think it's best to accomplish great things and not tell a soul that you did it. One shouldn't do things with the goal of telling everyone about it; instead, one should accomplish great things and tell no one. Do things for the sake of doing them, not to tell other people.

You got an A on your midterm? That's great! You deserve to reward yourself.

The way you reward yourself is important, though. I think it's best to be humble about it and act like you do it all the time, instead of needing everyone to know how great you are because you did something great today. Instead of telling everyone, tell your best friend. Tell your girlfriend. Don't tell everyone on facebook so you can get recognition. An average person will need everyone to recognize and acknowledge their greatness; an excellent person will receive that recognition without having to tell everyone to acknowledge them

We Obviously Need to Tone It Down a Bit

Not the most scientific of studies, but this is hilarioussssssss

That's When We'll Settle Up the Score

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon - The Roots: The OtherSide (12/6/11) - Video - http://www.latenightwithjimmyfallon.com

I really wanna be a drummer

Also, I wonder if I could pull of these all black outfits with black gloves. Drake, Black Thought, im sure countless others pull it off. I think I'd look like a wannabe thug lolllll

And It Don't Stop

I know it sounds crazy, but sometimes I wish I was ODing on cocaine or some other hardcore drug and just flipping the fuck out. I'd be bumping some crazy, sadistic sounding music. Sort of like the ending to Requiem for a Dream. My life is too structured sometimes

With the Birds I Share This Lonely View

Some people, maybe even most people, have the viewpoint that every one out there is out to exploit you. I feel like people who have this viewpoint must carry SUCH a burden. Not being able to trust people (and thus society as a whole) must lead to some scary personality traits.

Everybody Knows But Nobody Really Knows

It isnt a scientist's job to win wars or win arguments; a scientist's job is to develop knowledge and to get us closer to the truth.

A scientist will gladly admit when she's wrong. A politician, however, is hellbent on public image and winning battles and wars.

I look for my friends to be more like scientists and less like politicians

Skeet Skeet Skeet

Damn I wanna try this one day hahahaha

Youngest Fire

Girls who need to be treated like princesses don't end up as functionally healthy members of society. They can't handle not getting what they want and that doesn't translate well into being a responsible, socially capable member of society.

Getting used to being treated like a princess leads one to expect a lot of things out of others that they simply don't deserve. I can't deal with women (and men, for that matter) who expect to be treated a certain way because they're self-centered, spoiled brats

What the Fuck It Take So Long For

The dopest shit is when someone says that they hope the rest of your day is nice. Or when they ask you how your day was, and they completely mean it. Having someone important to me genuinely want to know how my day was gives me this incredible feeling that I can't even describe

Everyday is a Battle I Face

One of the biggest things that gets to me is when I feel that I haven't been a good friend. I know without a shadow of a doubt that overall, I am a great friend. However, there are times, especially lately, that I feel that I've failed my friends. Whether it be not hanging out enough, not being there when I said I'd be, or just not being energetic, I know that I definitely haven't been entirely there for my friends.

Think Less But See It Grow

I have no need to defend my taste in music (nor my taste in any kind of art) to anyone. Following the same logic, no one else needs to defend their taste in music. I like the music I like because I like the way it makes me feel (or for whatever arbitrary reason I like it) and that's the only thing that matters. Fuck you if you don't approve of my musical taste.

It's like all the music I listen to are guilty pleasures. I really don't care one way or another if you approve, I enjoy it so suck my cack and call me Sally.

For Gentlemen Only

I think it's a mark of maturity to be able to accept that you live in a world where Justin Bieber, Soulja boy, or (insert artist whose music you dont like) exists.

Some people would have you believe that the world is going to end because people like Lil Wayne exist. They say how terrible things are and "wish things were how they were back then."

I don't understand the logic behind this because there's always been art that has been considered wack. It's existed back in the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's and it still exists now. That's just a function of art. Not everyone is going to like every piece of art. Everyone has different tastes in art because it's all subjective.

So to complain about how bad things are and wish bad on people simply because they listen to or make art that you don't enjoy is very immature. We should be able to take a deep breath, realize that not everyone has the same taste in art, and keep it pushing.

Also, note that if this applies to the Soulja Boy and Lil Waynes of the world, it still has to apply to less controversial artists like Adele, Little Brother and A Tribe Called Quest.

Where Would You Go With a Lasso

Circlejerking all over my music

So Sweetened, You're Doomed For A Well Garnished Life

I used to look for girls who shared the same interests as me. I wanted a girl who likes the Lakers, Drake and first person shooters. That way, we could talk about the same things, compare our views on those things and all that cool stuff.

Lately, however, I've figured that it really isn't all that important to me that me and a girl have exactly the same interests. It's okay if she doesn't share the same love for AC Milan. She could have never watched a game of soccer for all I care.

I care more that she is willing to learn, that she wants me to tell her and teach her about everything I'm passionate about. She doesn't listen to Childish Gambino? That's fine, we can listen to his music together and hopefully she'll learn to love it. And even if she doesn't end up loving it, it doesn't have any bearing on whether or not she's a great girlfriend. Only thing that's different is now I know that I might have to skip his songs when we're playing my ipod in the car.

I think it'd be really cute, trying to get my girl into the same things that I'm interested in (and vice versa). It'd be really cool, teaching her all I know about the strong side zone defense. It'd be sooo cool, telling her what I think the Weeknd could be talking about in a particular song and what that song means to me.

I think it'd be even cooler for me to learn about what my girl is into. Seeing her talk so passionately about things she's interested in is always a HUGE turn on for me. I love to ask questions and get her thinking about things that she might have never thought about before. Taking the role of an ignorant student is something I love doing when I'm getting to know someone.

When Will it End, the Ride

Too many women hide behind the idea that they are supposed to be emotional creatures. They ignore logic and reason and look at emotion as the only thing they should focus on.

On the other side of the coin, too many men don't put enough focus on their emotions, or look at their emotions in too much of a masculine sense.

We've got to get past these social constructions that tell us how to be manly or lady-like

I Don't Wanna Do It Right

music is a collection of sounds that makes us feel one way or another.

whether or not an artist is a good live performer has no bearing on how much i enjoy listening to the studio version of their music

I'm the Same Dude

"Be Ashamed to Die, Until You Have Scored Some Victory for Humanity." -Horace Mann

"I remain unconvinced that anything other than rapid decomposition is the fate of my body and mind after death." -Neil deGrasse Tyson

I Need Someone To Put This Weight On

I see people who worry too much about being someone who gives good advice. This leads them to interrupt conversations with a need to interject every little tidbit of advice they have.

Instead, I think it's better to listen without interrupting. Have someone tell you a story and then lead the discussion in a way so that the other person figures out the best solution by themselves. Your job as a good listener is to guide their thought process so that they think in a way that leaves them in a healthy position. If they stray and start taking an unhealthy position, that's where you interject and point out why that might not be the best course of action. Other than that, you should encourage the other person to keep talking and to understand for themselves why or why not what they are doing is good.

Calm Down, You Found Me

Long road trips by myself are the biggest high for me. Driving with my windows down, music blasting, mindlessly navigating my way through traffic gives me SUCH an escape from the stresses in my life.
In my car, music blasting, I can be frank ocean. I can be 2pac. I can be aristotle. I can be 5 year old me. I can be extremely proud of myself, and 10 minutes later be absolutely disappointed in myself. I can reminisce about the troubles I've had with girls. I can scheme out the ways I plan on getting at these future girls. I can yell til my lungs get sore.

I ain't shit

She got me looking like a fucking gump. Got me checking my fucking NEWS FEED, refreshing every few minutes, hoping and praying she replied to my post. You're fucking pathetic ryan, you're pathetic

There's a Place We Can Visit If We Go Outside

I remember back in the day, when I was maybe 6 or 7, when my dad would ask me “if bad guys came in and tried to kill us, what would you do?” I would respond by air-fighting, showing off the kung-fu and karate skills I picked up from watching Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers and The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. That must’ve been the cutest sight ever.

Fuck These Backpackers

One of the biggest reasons why I can't wait to get into another relationship is that whenever I get into one, I inevitably learn SO much about myself. They sort of act as a gauge of where I'm at in my life. I learn a lot about how I feel about different things. I can then turn around and look at how I felt about those same exact things years ago and look at my growth

Make Sure It Aint Wack

I remember thinking "I miss the feeling of having a girl make me nervous." Now that it's happened, I really wish it never happened lol

Drop it to the floor

At times I'm underrated. At times I'm overrated. I like to think that because of this, I'm perfectly rated. If anything, I'm average to above average, and that's okay.

Last Name is the Same

When I browse the internet and see beautiful places in other countries that i've visited, i get this crazy surreal feeling. It makes me feel blessed to have taken in the surroundings. The view, the smells, the ambience. It makes me feel cool because I'm one of the few people I know who've taken in that experience.

On the other side of the coin, with that feeling comes a feeling of smugness. I feel so damn smug, thinking I'm in some way unique or cool because I've been somewhere or done something that other people haven't. I'm always trying to reshape my view on this. Instead of feeling smug because I've accomplished something others haven't, I try to act in a way that encourages others to feel the positive feelings I got when I first went through that experience

You Didn't Wanna Play Your Cards So Soon

Do I listen to this dark, edgy music that might lead deeper into emo-ness and sadness or do I fake the funk and listen to spunky, upbeat music and try to get away from being in a bad mood?

Tener es Tuve, Estar es Estuve

One of the things that scares me the most is dreading the day that I come out to my very religious mom and tell her that I'm atheist

Dangerous Street Corners

When people ask me how I've been, I damn near always give them the same answer: "Shit, nothing much, just the normal shit. Nothing too big, what about you?" While it's true that I really don't have much going on other than school, I definitely have a lot to talk about; it's just that I choose to share those things with a VERY select few people in my life.

I'm so much more of a listener than a talker. Don't get me wrong; I can talk for days about certain subjects, but I very much prefer to listen to other people's opinions and thoughts on things. I know that there's many more people who are good at talking than people who are good at listening. I like to think that I'm in the latter. Knowing this, I try to fulfill my role as a "good" listener more than I try to fulfill my role as a talker.

Edit: (This was sitting in my drafts, waiting to be posted. I was gonna make this its own post but I think it fits in well with this one)

I'm not very vocal with my opinions and ideas. I'm very much content with listening to other people and their ideas. I think it's a great thing, to hold back on what I'm thinking and take the time to listen to people instead. Lord knows most people don't often have someone there to listen to what they have to say. I like to think that I fill a very useful niche in this way.

It blows my mind how much people have to say when you take the time to listen to them. Although it sometimes leaves me feeling like I want more people to listen to me and my feelings and ideas. I know I have a very easygoing, passive personality that might make it a little harder to sit down and listen to, but once you get past the wall I put up, I like to think that I'm a really interesting dude.

Crazy cuz back when I wrote this edit, I felt like I was unique in having this feeling. But after rereading it after all this time, I feel like everyone can relate to this feeling

I'd Reconsider My Foolish Notion

I did this with my friends when I worked in a restaurant.

You Know How the Story Goes

If I were an artist, I don't think I'd make my art for an audience. I'd make it solely for myself. So if someone were to tell me what to do with my art, I'd politely tell them to "fuck off, I'm not doing this for you."

More questions, more answers

I've always been a very independent person who believes "i can do it by my motherfucking self." Damn near everything I need, I can do/provide by myself. But nights like these are when I'm sure that I still realize the value in being dependent on someone else.

I could really use someone to rub my motherfucking back. Being sick isnt cool :(

Really Wanna Get to Know You

i think i miss going on dates more than i miss sex. am i going crazy? lol

I Don't Want To Think This Through

There are MANY girls who I find attractive. Damn near all of them(hell, right now its all of them lol) have one or more things about them that I find unattractive enough that I wouldn't want to be in a relationship with them. I feel that this presents the perfect situation for hooking up. I might not like a few things about a girl, but that would have no real effect on whether or not we could hook up.

But I'm not that kinda guy. I catch feelings much too easily to even entertain the idea of hooking up.

Is Pious Pious Cuz God Loves Pious

I need a girl who I can trust to rub my head and assure me that I'm not a terrible person

He's Got a Strong Arm

a real bro will put off getting pussy to play you in madden. LOL

You Know What's On My Mind

the problem i have with the typical bachelor mentality is the way that it turns bros into competitive non-bros. two bros fighting over the same girl isnt cool at all. we're in this together bro!

Why Are You Trying to Control it

its crazy how some of the memories and stories i thought were the most important to me only 3 years ago have been pushed aside by newer, more relevant memories. i thought that i'd never forget those times(and still maintain that), but nowadays i dont even worry about those memories anymore. instead of being relevant stories that i tell to anyone i meet, those stories have been set aside, relevant only for reminiscing and those nights of sharing and story telling

kiss me

my acoustic guitar represents all the things i want to achieve

I See You Lookin at Me

Band Rehearsal from MayerHawthorne on Vimeo.

Love this video. He sounds great live.

Btw, 500th post WOOTWOOT IMSOCOOLYEAH

its mr steal yo girl

chillin at a party, talking to a female acquaintance. she adds me on facebook using my phone. dude comes over, assuming im choppin it up, getting her number. she introduces us and he gives me the fakest, emptiest smile ive ever seen. shit was craaaaaazy. he'd be perfectly casted as a douchebag on a teen rom-com.

that shit catches me off guard every time it happens (not that it happens very often, but you get the idea). if only dudes knew how much of a friend-zoner i am, lol

i cant see a very long way

sometimes i think that i dont allow myself to get emotionally attached to too many things. i definitely feel emotions and understand why i feel these ways, but i havent cried in a long time. i dont put myself in positions that can potentially nuke me personally

My Art of War Will Leave You Sore From the Abuse

"How's that soc degree working for you?"

OUCH

Caught Up

Theres a time when listening to your emotions is the most logical decision you can make

Gotta Fix That Calendar I Have

My schedule lately has been perfect. I've had just enough time to do what I want to do. I even had time to have a cute "Friends" marathon con mi mama. I can't help but appreciate the hell out of this

No Plan is Foolproof

Being a nice guy is a burden.

At times I feel like people act *differently* around me (i.e. *nicer*) around me because I'm generally a good natured guy. People who are normally jerks and assholes recognize that I'm a decent guy and reciprocate the positivity. However, I sometimes feels that this behavior is disingenuous.

One might say this is a good thing but in some cases I would prefer people to be more consistent with their behavior. (This makes sense because people crave and need consistency, not constant change and inconsistency.)

For example,
i cant tell if people burden themselves because they dont wanna be the guy who inconveniences "the nice guy."

im not a "good guy" so that i could receive these benefits; they're collateral damage of my outlook and behavior

my main reason for being such a well-natured guy is that i want to be a good guy. its an end in and of itself

I am a misanthrope

I hate everyone

No rhyme or reason

I am the king of friend zoning

Music snobs. Snobs in general

Drive stick really well. Drove in a way that made good mileage. Had great grammar. Spoke well. Great opinions and ideas

i dont have to leave anymore

im about to nut all over this final

It's As Natural As the Birds And the Bees

Today I got a text from my uncle in the Philippines that my other uncle passed away.

I remember in 7th grade, a few weeks after my dad passed away, I was disinterested in school. I made an appointment with my school counselor not so much so I could talk to soemone about it, but just to have a reason to skip class.

I went into her office, feeling terrible about what I was doing. I told her my situation and told her "I think i'm okay." She broke down and cried, which led to me crying.

I just wanted an excuse to get out of class; what ended up happening was an entirely different story

I Chopped Some Onions

Dennis Rodman 2011 Hall Of Fame Speech (VIDEO) by 3030fm

Where Are You Now

Kettrell was a leader at the after school program i was in during my elementary school years. He served as a mentor to me and I learned a lot about many things from him. While my Dad was off on WestPac, doing his navy business, Kettrell was teaching me how to be a good person and a man. He taught me how to play chess, something that sounds really small but was actually a really big deal in my life.

don't take your love away

starting my day thirsty, ending it simpin

So Many People Telling Me One Way

"There is only one reason to break up a relationship, and that's if continuing the relationship makes you unhappy. Some people are unhappy without enough sex, some can manage, but if one part is unhappy, that's a good enough reason to leave."

I Think I Have an Inferiority Complex

I've noticed two different personality modes I have. (I guess you can only have one personality, but you get the idea lol.) I have one where I'm very quiet, reserved and respectful. The other mode is where I'm very social, unfiltered and hilarious. I wish I could break out the latter more often.

What Time Do You Get Off? I Wanna See You Tonight

Crazy how a seemingly trivial lyric can bring out such a strong emotion out of you. I love feelings like this

Repost

Facebook beezy

tip drill

skip to 1:40 for a life changing tip

#toyotapreviaswag

if you can watch this without smiling, you have no soul

worldtourawardtour

i was here for this

ive gotta find a way to bring the passion back

people confuse being a good flirt with being easy. guys and girls who are easy are often considered good flirts because they're more than willing to put themselves out there

you're like a whildphyre

I used to have this mindset that I would never date a girl who I didn't find to be intelligent. If she didn't have great grammar, didn't know basic facts that most people should know, or carry herself in a respectable way, I just wouldn't fuck with her on any kind of level.

I think that its not about their intelligence anymore, its about their curiosity. They don't need to be the smartest person in the world, but if she's not a curious person who wants to know more and is actively pursuing more and more knowledge, I'm not fucking with her

Superman Was A Gump

I love you too, man.

some things are better inside of the store

im very much a pacifist. theres not too many things id get in a physical fight over. but if you have beef with someone and decide to get some of your friends and jump your enemy, thats wack as fuck. what does that even prove?

if you decide to be *dumb* and get into a fight, at least decide on a squaredance. mano y mano, one room, no weapons, just fists. go at it until youre done with each other and move on with your lives.

I'd Rather Dance With You Than Talk With You

Her: I'm bored.
Me: Do you want to go for a bike ride.
Her: Nah.
Me: How about we go out for a walk and grab dessert.
Her: Don't really want to go out.
Me: How about we watch a movie?
Her: Don't feel like it.
... Her: (1 week later) Why don't we ever do anything?

LOL

Original link from Reddit

Because I Always Feel Like Running

I'm c0nvinced that the best way to counter the hipster way of thinking is positivity and support. We should encourage anybody and everybody to find art(lets use music as an example) that they love and enjoy, regardless of said art's popularity.

Your friend enjoys listening to Drake? They love his wordplay, flow, and beat selection? Okay, thats great, be glad that they found something they love and enjoy. Pay no mind that he "sold out." Pay no mind that you could list 50 better MC's with wayyyyy better wordplay, flow, and beat selection. Instead, support your friend and be glad that they found something that they love and enjoy. Encourage them in their search to find art that they enjoy. That motivation to find art that they love will be the same motivation that they'll use to possibly find and get into art that you both find common ground in.

I personally get into music that I find some kind of emotional connection with (anything that hypes me up, gets me through a rough day, etc.) I dont give a fuck whether or not something is popular, unpopular, hipster, indie, or underground. As long as the music gets some kind of response out of me that i like, then I fucks with it. Hell, my favorite artist is Drake, and lord knows it's no longer cool to listen to him at all. lol

A good way to see if you're a hipster or not is to look at your response to one of your favorite bands becoming more and more popular. If you discourage the spread of, popularity, and success of their music, you might be a hipster.

A "better" way to look at their increase in popularity, is to support it. Fuck it, more and more people are liking music that you knew about way back when? That's great! That's what's supposed to happen. If an artist makes good music, people will respond to it.

If my friend comes to me, hyped as fuck that they found music that they love, then I'm happy for them. It doesn't matter that I might not fuck with that artist musically at all.

If a friend claims that they're a bigger fan of an artist than I am, and I know that there's no way in hell they're right, then I figure, fuck it, imma chill. I already know how big of a fan I am and how they're probably just getting into the music. I have no reason to circlejerk myself and stroke my ego. Let them circlejerk themselves and embarrass themselves.

I understand the hipster way of thinking. A friend explained it to me like this: Let's say you found an island that you thought was great. Great location, uninhabited, beautiful views, great everything. You build up that island by yourself. You're more than happy to take in that island's beauty, all by yourself, uninterrupted by any distractions. But eventually, more and more people show up and the novelty is gone. Now you can't stand all the people who turned your once serene island into a tourist attraction.

Ignoring the fact that that's not a very good analogy for a hipster's response to music, I do get it. However, no one likes a hipster who thinks they're high and mighty, cooler than everyone else. We've got to get away from discouraging people to find art that they enjoy and get back to encouraging positivity, love, and support for the arts.

i finally get a moment to myself

chivalry is sexism. GET MAD

As a Soc Major

I understand how humans interact
Human conflicts
How to resolve those problems
Manage people

dont tell r.kelly where my little sister go

...see thats the thing about this feeling. one minute, (insert hype song here) is playing and youre jumping around, screaming the lyrics out, a real rock star. The next minute, the song changes to (insert sad love song here) and you find yourself lying down on your bed, emo as fuck

we dont need no words

im convinced that one of the healthiest things you can do for your relationship is to take a day off from your busy life and dedicate it to your significant other. take a sick day and take your man to see that action movie he joked about dragging your ass to the movies for. get your studying done early and surprise your girl with a mani/pedi date

hip hip hooray hop

If a band is good then it's good. If their music appeals to you then it should appeal to you whether they have one fan or ten million fans.
Unless it significantly changes the music, why should the number of people who appreciate it change how you feel about it? Why is that any less bizarre than - say - disliking pie because lots of other people like it too?
I think it's because when the band is obscure and niche, you feel special by liking them, like you have a secret the world doesn't know about, or you're ahead of the curve and more in touch with things than the average person.
If they then become mainstream (without changing their act and "selling out") then it spoils this special relationship or status you feel, but that's got nothing to do with the band - all that's changed is that you can't feel special any more because you like them... and that's exactly my point about hipsters.
FWIW I'm not calling you a hipster and I'm not implying that that's the only reason you might like an artist - plenty of people have a little element of it about themselves and their attitudes, but hipsters turn it up to 11, and it if often seems the single most important aspect to them.

Reddit's community is so cool

if everyone had a mom like mine

every time i come home my mom gives me a new reason to be proud of her. im soooo fortunate to have her as my parent and the prominent figure in my life. i know that not everyone is as fortunate as i am. i hope my mom knows just how much i appreciate her

Double Standards

My God, this is beautititiful

i prefer the better things

i really hate when i have someone im close to but we haven't had a heart to heart conversation yet. its a lot easier to understand the decisions i make and the way i act after you learn about my past and what makes me tick. its hard to understand the context behind my behavior when you dont know my values and principles and whatnot. theres so much i would tell you if i knew that you would understand what im telling you in the context of me as a whole

when i talk, people listen

TIL that in the old days, in order to finalize a deal, men would grab each other’s testicles to in effect, swear on their balls to honor their deal.

conscientiousness

The effort and meaning is there but it doesn’t manifest itself in a healthy way(or at least in a desired way)
You want to show her that you care and that you’re willing to do a lot for her but by not being spontaneous and frank with her, you’re not being completely honest with her. You’re not showing her your true self

sometimes when i write shit down like this, i forget to really write everything out. so here i am, posting this, wanting to explain it more, give more details, and all that jazz.

there must be another way

yesyesyesyes. just as good as the original. in a different way

im loveing it

people who force their music on you are doing so in the same spirit as religious people who force their religion on you. believe it or not, they truly believe that they're doing you a favor.

on one hand, most religious freaks believe that it's their DUTY to spread the great word that has "set them free" and whatnot. them trying to get you to convert to their religion is their attempt at bringing you to salvation. so in that sense, they're only trying to bring positivity to your life, even if you might find it COMPLETELY fuckin annoying lol.

on the other hand, people who force their music are trying to do the same thing. we listen to the music we listen to because it gets some kind of reaction out of us. it might give us energy, it might slow us down, it might get us through a rough time, it might be our spring break anthem. one way or another, the music we listen to helps us get through our lives. in this aspect, music is similar to religion.

so naturally, we've found something that's fuckin awesome, something that's helped make our lives easier. of course we'd want to share that with others. why wouldnt we want to help others by sharing something that's helped us?

but this is where it gets problematic. similar to how we might find it ridiculous how religious nuts try to push their religion on us, others could find the way we push music onto them bothersome.

this isnt to discourage music sharing. contrarily, music is one of the best gifts you could give to someone. putting someone on to music that they end up loving is absolutely one of the best gifts. i cant help but encourage others to share music that they love.

however, we've got to look carefully at the way we go about sharing our love for music.

and damn, this goes for many other things other than music. but yall get the idea

no reason or rhime

sucka shit. LOL

piano or geetahr

theres a couple reasons why i often turn to video games when im trying to clear my head. for one, it gives me a level of control that you cant get from watching television, watching movies, and other passive activities. being able to control what goes on in whatever video game im playing is huge, especially in times when im uncomfortable with the level of control i have in my life.

also, i can listen to music that fits my mood while i play video games. this just adds, in so many ways, to the way i can release myself while playing video games.

even while listening to music and playing a game, i can step back and think about random shit in my life. this way im sort of distracted and focused on the task at hand. ive always gotten a lot of good ideas while zoning out to music and video games.

im all over the place right now

for now everything just seems so right

"she said it's okay, rubbed my head and told me to relax, laid a n**** down proper like she was recordin tracks, said i know you wanna change the world but for the night please, just reach over and hit the lights please"

this is the biggest thing i look for/need in a relationship. i think that its easy to come by good times with just about anyone but its much harder to find someone who can ease your mind when things arent going the way you want them to. sometimes i need someone who can talk me through the bullshit in my life.

like one night, fresh off an intramural basketball game that my team lost, i couldnt find anyone to vent to about how i fucked up a rebound that i normally get 10 out of 10 times. i realized that it wasnt the kind of thing i could vent about to just anyone and feel like i really got things off my chest. it was the kind of thing that i had to vent to someone who really knows me, understands me, trusts me and cares about me. that kinda shit only comes from a loving, committed relationship. as much as i miss the other things that come with being in a relationship, this has to be the biggest thing i miss.

i promise you im not as emo, simpin, or suicidal as some of these posts would suggest. LOL

now we on the rooftop

some people will tell you to never stop working and to never settle. this is a great point and something more people should take to heart.

however, this line of thinking fails to mention that its necessary to take time out to step back, look at how fortunate you are, look at how hard youve worked for where youre at, soak it all in and enjoy. this isnt necessarily settling; youre simply reaping the rewards of your hard work and being thankful for all the blessings you have in your life

this gave me a good laugh when i really needed one

additionally, women who can touch their elbows behind their back have very good genes

I Fell Asleep Beneath the Flowers

"this is something i actually feel really strongly about. men and women are both so obsessed with maintaining their masculinity/femininity that it limits them."

if a lot of women i know were more assertive as far as approaching men, they'd see a lot more results. if a girl came up to me and made it known that she was interested, i'd be very much impressed; so much so that i'd take care of the rest of the first impression stuff(going out together for the first time, getting to know each other).

if a girl were to approach me and wasn't ambiguous about her feelings(a lot of women have no idea how ambiguous they can be about their feelings), she'd be head and shoulders above every other woman who's not trying to approach a guy she's interested in.

adding on to the line about ambiguity, picture this. a girl comes up to a guy and strikes up a conversation. there might be some slight flirting, but it's ambiguous. they have a good time and enjoy talking to each other.

later on, the guy assumes she was interested. maybe he makes a move on her, *like a man should.* however, the girl is disgusted, and she can't believe that she "can't approach a guy without him thinking that she's into him. men are such DOGS!"

or maybe the guy enjoys the conversation but thinks maybe she's not really interested, she was just being social and wanted to make a friend. he doesn't make a move(which btw, is what guys are *supposed* to do). the girl, who actually was trying to make a move, is disappointed, even mad, that the guy didn't catch on and try to make a move. now the guy is made out to be clueless and not a man because he didn't do the *manly* thing and make a move.

Ladies, life is too short. Go introduce yourself to the guy at the bar who's been checkin u out all night. He's probably wishing u would. The same goes for guys, of course. But I think a lot of women get caught up on the man making the first move.

-Mayer Hawthorne

this is one of the reasons why im not a big fan of gender roles. i believe we've got to realize that we're more alike than we are different and that encouraging gender roles limits us more than it empowers us.

she said its okay, rubbed my head and told me to relax

i like to write about random things im thinking. simple, funny things usually go on twitter. more lengthy, personal affairs go on this blog. still, there are things that i want to write about that have no place on the internet. but i still want to share these things with people. i feel like sharing these things would be beneficial and hopefully even therapeutic not only to me but to my listener.

everybody gets a nice autographed picture

as a pacifist of an almost militant level, it would take a lot for me to physically harm someone else. i dont discriminate against sexes, races, sexual orientations, or for any other reason really. if i were at this particular incident, i wouldnt hesitate to lay these women out. i dont believe in the philosophy that "you never lay hands on a woman." this is a prime example of where it'd be perfectly fine to do so. if you think you could simply push each of those women off and effectively defend the woman theyre attacking, you've got to be clueless

Living in a World of Fools

I often wonder "is this as good as my life is gonna get?"

It's a sad thought but luckily my life has gotten progressively better. I hope that if it ever does go on a permanent decline, that I'll have properly enjoyed the highs of my life

Lovin It

im a fan of 9th wonder and little brother. im not the hugest fan. i listen to them on and off. but when i listen to a song that i havent heard before from them, you just knowwww its them.

Angels Cry

It's 420, but I don't smoke and I never do drugs. Never even tried it because it's not worth it to me, above the influence 21+ years & going. I'd RATHER GO SHOPPING! Call me straight edge, I don't care, DON'T JUDGE ME. :)

from a friend's post on facebook

we've got to get away from this kind of thinking.

not the idea that drugs are bad and we need to avoid them. whether or not you partake in that kinda stuff is a personal decision that no one else can really touch. however, telling others "dont judge me" while youre passing judgment on others is just soooo hypocritical.

its not my place to talk to this particular friend of mine about how i feel about this kind of thinking, but we've got to discourage this kind of thinking. it only brings more and more negativity

btw, what does it mean to "judge" someone anyway? theres such a negative connotation to it. is there a context where you could use it in a positive way? lol

no fairytale conclusion yall

its a damn shame how i cant make connections with some of my guy friends because theyre too far gone with maintaining an image of masculinity. i knowwww i could get really deep with them on some really good stuff but their masculinity serves as a roadblock

I Just Can't Make That Block

This and more at Love Letters From Dope People

What is This? This, this.....i dunno.

DAGNABBIT

Beauty in the Breakdown

ive been in a very simpin mood lately. picture me alone in my dimly lit room, singing/crying/sobbing along to frou frou's "let go."

then 10 minutes later, staring blankly at my wall while kanye's "blame game" comes on.

yet another 10 minutes later, picturing me with a girl, watching fireworks while "all of the lights" plays.

finally, another 10 minutes pass and i realize that what i want is a girl who'll "rub my head and tell me to relax" like in j.cole's "lights please."

i'm gonna look back at this post in a few months and want to light myself on fire lolllll

In The Cut

i think that im a very independent person. independent meaning i value and require space and time to be alone.

i realize, acknowledge, and even covet a loving relationship. but sometimes when im just starting to talk to someone i like, and we start playing the games that *are* necessary between two people who might like each other, and those games require some time, effort, and energy, i often think "fuck this. i don't need this. im fine by myself. i don't need to go through this unnecessary bullshit." i imagine that ive pushed some people away from me and even friend zoned some people as a result of my lack of effort.

i hate it when people post things like this

he lost his soul

one thing i try to do as much as i can is to try and experience a whole range of emotions. i wanna feel the worst of the worst and the best of the best.

i wanna know how it feels to be truly heartbroken. ive felt heartbreak before but i want to feel it a million times worse than i did

Not All Nice Guys Go Unnoticed

My friend says this is me. amor de mi vida

Overworking My Heart

My friend Ryan Esteban is a fuckin beast.

I'm Just In Awe Of What's In Front Of Me

Sometimes I feel like I'm not very unique. When I feel this way, I end up doing random/stupid things that make me feel less like I'm not setting myself apart from others

They Say Success is the Best Revenge

He's got a good grip on this art shit. Crazy how soooo many people don't understand these things

I've Been Found Out So Now I'll Never Explore

I often find myself in conversations with people who are much more witty and funny than I am. I end up saying things that are absolutely not funny nor witty. I'll catch myself and start tensing up, not wanting to taint the conversation with my boring remarks

I Was Strugglin To Get In, Left Waiting Outside Your Door

Get That Poop Out Of Here

”It’s very rare that I feel small around anybody, especially a woman that I like is just.. I am in a confident position right now. She is an amazing woman that made me feel nervous, man. She made me feel small, she’s an overwhelming being. Like she’s beautiful, talented and her personality is almost like scary. And for the first time a woman just brought back that feeling from when I was 17 or 18 and I appreciated so much, because you get into this position that sometimes you just get numbed to all those emotions that used to inspire you to write”

Let Us Go

struggling to find a good balance between my confidence and insecurities. too much of either is bad, obviously. its really bad for building relationships to be all insecure like this.

Addicts Arise When I Arrive

I can do this voice.

If Imma Do It, I Gotta Change The World Through Her

I'm not attracted to women who are have what I call the princess complex. They feel entitled to certain things because of their gender. They expect to be protected and taken care of by their significant other. I cant stand this damsel in distress frame of mind and try to keep my friends from falling into that line of thinking. I think we should all work to be independent and not be dependent on others.

That being said, we are all dependent on others for many things. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't strive to be efficient, functional independent people.

I agree with feminists on a lot of points because in the end, i believe that we share the same goals. We both want equality. People who have this princess complex aren't working towards independence or equality. They expect to be handed things that others have to work hard for.

Imma Keep Flirtin

My spring break anthem. Another one of those perfect "riding round the city on a sunny day, bumpin music with the windows down" kinda song.

You socked me in the balls and ran off

Lykke Li - I Follow Rivers from The Line Of Best Fit on Vimeo.

dammit i wish learning guitar was as easy as i thought it would be. i havent touched my guitar in damn near a year. i still dont know how to do anything with it, other than look like a complete idiot.

"Love is the Only Thing That Can Save Us All"

My Life My Life My Liiiiife

VCA 2010 RACE RUN

full screen this and try to imagine trying to hold in all that adrenaline

Hesher

hahahaha

;(

this brings me back dammit. long drives to LA for those damn family parties hahaha

Like and Move On

CUTE

Cat Days

I think it's bad to tell someone that they'll find someone who "loves them for them, flaws and all," without including the caveat that they should still continue to improve and become a better person. It'd be sad to take that advice to heart and stop trying to progress and become an even better person, all because they have hope that they'll find someone who "loves them for them." Becoming a better person greatly increases your chances and options as far as who you choose to get into a relationship with.

I Hope She Cheats On You

"I've argued this with a lot of people in my life. When people say God blessed me with a beautiful jump shot, it really pisses me off. I tell those people, 'Don't undermine the work I've put in every day.' Not some days. Every day. Ask anyone who has been on a team with me who shoots the most. Go back to Seattle and Milwaukee, and ask them. The answer is me -- not because it's a competition but because that's how I prepare."

Ray Allen on his shot. I'm guessing he's an atheist haha

Never Have I Ever

given a girl flowers
cried over a girl
bought jewelry for a girl

Look At How We All Turned Out

I think it's crazy that in a world that's slowly growing in tolerance(gay rights, religion, etc.), we're still widely intolerant of music and other arts that we individually don't enjoy.

If you want to create a nasty debate in a college crowd, you don't bring up religion or sex. You bring up the Black Eyed Peas or Soulja Boy.

Neil deGrasse Tyson

This guy is a motherfucking beast.

How'd It Get Dere?

Bill O'Reilly Teaches Kids About Science -- powered by Cracked.com

i know i know!

Pandora

I want to find a genre of music that in indestructible insofar as it is considered "good music", it can withstand being popular, and it is loved by everyone.

Your favorite music, despite how great you claim it to be, cannot withstand being popular. It can't get past the radio. Guaranteed.

TIL

One theory about what humans find attractive in the opposite sex is as follows. Attraction has everything to do with evolution and the desire to successfully reproduce. Women want men who are physically able. The stronger, faster, more agile, the better. That's men whose muscles are bulging, who run the fastest, who win competitions are the most attractive.
We find women who have big boobs, skinny waists, and curves attractive. Bigger boobs equal better nourishment for our behbehs. Skinny waists and obvious ab muscles show that they are in shape(or at least are not out of shape). Curves, specifically wider hips, are attractive because the wider the hips, the more room for a behbeh to maneuver around in the womb.

Okay, okay, I learned this a while back and I probably got it wrong somewhere along the way. But I think it's pretty interesting

acid anger
A ci danger

sasuga

call me ryan the rookie or that guy rye rye

You Can't Hide

More often than not, listening to Lauryn Hill/neo-soul makes me bow my head and wave my hand in the air like I'm in a Baptist church in the south

Culture Group

I'm taking an extended hiatus out on a sailboat.

Tuesday Morning Quarterback

An interesting take on gift-giving

Gift Strategy for the Holidays 2011: On Christmas Eve, The Wall Street Journal advised readers to give chocolates or wine for the holidays because they will be consumed and "won't contribute to your recipient's household clutter. Laura Leist, president of the National Association of Professional Organizers, says dealing with extraneous gifts is one of her clients' biggest organizing challenges. People often don't have the space to store gift items but feel too guilty to give them away."

Half as many would be twice as good!
This statement threw me for a loop on several levels. The minor level is economic. Economists maintain that cash is the ideal gift because it causes no waste, of resources or of money value. If I spend $50 to give you a battery-powered nose massager, and to you that gift merely becomes clutter in the back of the closet, $50 has been wasted. If I give you $50 cash, you will spend it on something you value as worth $50.

What hit me over the head, though, was that in a nation where one person in eight lives in poverty -- in a world where 900 million people live on $1.25 or less a day -- "dealing with extraneous gifts" is such a problem for many Americans that a trade association exists to help them cope with this dreadful burden. While many suffer, others complain of receiving gifts they lack room to store. This is deeply messed up.

Practically everyone believes Christmas has become excessively materialistic -- too much focus on piles of junk recipients don't even want, much less need, coupled with (for Christians) hardly any mention of the original spiritual significance of the day and (for those who celebrate secular Christmas) hardly any mention of the less fortunate.

Cash gifts solve the economic objection, but flunk on sentimental value. If family gift giving consisted of everyone exchanging boxes containing $50, economic efficiency would rise but the gift ritual would seem a waste of time.

So here is TMQ's suggestion for the 2011 holidays -- give the gift of receipts for charitable donations. Give money in your recipient's name to any charity, school or arts organization. Wrap the receipt in pretty foil paper. You're not wasting dollars on some hunk of junk your aunt doesn't even want; you are doing something good for the world. You can feel good, and the gift recipient can feel good.

This from a column that I regularly follow during football season.

More at Tuesday Morning Quarterback

We Can Do It All

http://primaxstudio.com/stuff/scale_of_universe/

I feel a tad bit irrelevant

Goooo-uh-whoa Slow

Joe Budden's Tips For Living With Your Mate

Love this article. Interestingly enough, all of these tips can be applied to friendships imo.

Clip Our Wings Before We Fly Away

There are soooo many things I've never experienced before. I hope to look back on 2011 and say that I narrowed that list down by a lot.