Wangechi Mutu and Leonora Carrington

Graduation

                                               

                            
                                              

     You're in third grade. You've been told that when you reach 5th grade you'll Graduate and move on to middle school. You look forward to this day. It comes. You celebrate. It passes. You're in 8th grade. You've been told this is the last year of middle school. "You've gotten good grades. You're going to Graduate." You look forward to this. It's Graduation day. You celebrate. It passes. Your in High school, 9th grade. If you do what you're supposed to you will Graduate and go to college. You look forward to that. You do it. You Graduate. You celebrate. It passes.

     You're in college. "If you think critically and get good marks You'll be out of here in know time." says the dean at the orientation speech. You look forward to it. You think critically. You get good marks. You plan for a career. You've made it. It's Graduation day. You celebrate. It passes. You're at work. If you work hard for so many years you can retire and enjoy the paradise that is doing what ever the hell you want to. You look forward to something like it. You work hard. You become president of your company. You retire. You celebrate. It passes.

     Enjoy the moments that lead up to your graduations, what ever graduations they may be. Those moment are big chunks of your life. "Time passes in the constant state." James Blake (Overgrown Album) Just make sure you are happy and content in the moments that build up to the next ones. Always remember you are exactly where you're supposed to be.

Bria Myles and a tropical paradise, somewhere

to be this lovely and slink across the floor

in what I'm assuming are noiseless shoes

in the atmosphere only ocean ephemera

and in your mind a confidence in a gemini

nascence. the art of glittering skin

and looking back at the crowds 

that inevitably follow. 

a model. heavy hair curling 

in her fingers. the green sightless gods

pose no problems and a smile to charm 

her everywhere. it's not something

to begrudge such a curious

and intangible spirit. 

to be a follower 

instead of confident. 

everywhere in this 'verse

lives are trying to teach me a single

lesson

but I still envy the apparent

beauty and luxury 

of this woman in a white dress

and the sunlight loving her 

like it never could me

and the beach 

of course 

must be behind her

waving and waving

a steady source 

to reaffirm what she seems

to already know.

We Need Each Other

                                                    We Need Each Other (Kingdom Hearts 2)

     We sit here alone on the beach, within a dark night. I never thought I’d see you again. Our lives were much simpler on that Island. Do you remember? We’d search for items to make a raft, to stay fed on our journey. I wanted to leave that place so bad. I knew in my heart that there was more to this than just our world. I knew that there was more to me. Well we’d soon see wouldn't we. We’d soon meet ourselves as we made ourselves in these unpredictable moments. Your’e predictable now. I’m predictable now.  On the Island, as kids, we were the same. You know? We had the same goals. We loved the same things. I really did love her, and I love her still. I know you do too. I want you to know that I’ve always loved you. You’re like my brother. Only blood could make us closer. 

     Did you know that I wanted so much to be like you? I wanted to have your confidence, to have your self assurance that everything would always be ok. You’re a prince to me. We sit here silently, now with all the time in the world. There’s a world out there that we made whole, together. 

     Do you remember the day the sky opened up? I walked through that door gladly. I wanted to know what was out there. I wanted an adventure. Nothing could've prepared me for what I’d find or what I’d lose. We’ve both lost so much. I remember when I found you in Traverse Town…ok ok…you found me. I was so relieved to see you, but there was one person missing. One person we needed to complete our trinity. 

     Her name has a home in my dreams. We wanted to find her, but our methods, and my conscience divided us in the belly of a whale. You knew about her current state and I didn’t. You were desperate and alone. I had good company and a purpose more greater than I would ever know. I wish we would have began our journey here, the three of us on this moonlit night. Maybe our Key Blades never would have had to meet. Maybe they would never have to meet again. My two new friends, they love me now as you and I once loved each other. I know that we are like fractured glass now, but it’s time to go home. It’s time to be our trinity once again. I still have that fruit you know. It’s time to return it. What do you say? Let’s go.

my sister is the post-it note to my plain ole note

a friend of mine witnessed my sister on the bus today
i am not sure if she knew he was there but let's assume not
a boy came on the bus with hysterical tears & he sits and sobs
and of course my sister goes to the boy and asks if he is okay
and sits with him until he is okay               first thought:
my sister is a much better person than me
second thought:                                                          duh

For MK: directing

If I had told you a year ago you would be                                       pressing flesh

with pals and patrons

in every concrete stand-alone            in this cowpie town,
would you believe me that
it would be like river-wading,             like stirring plaster in a round and dry bin?
that yesterday’s staples in the drywall would pop out today.        That today’s would
fly across the room tomorrow.          That rain would be sleet, snow would be sliding
as your whimsy drips down your face,      
down your chest and                                                                onto the floor of your office
into a saucer made from paper,                            left overnight to lose its shape. 
In the morning, you peel
it from the floor, dodging office calls and cursing at your rolling chair
as your head hits the bottom of your desk.

If I had told you this a year ago, you still would have looked at me with that distant smile, knowing that the air from time to time would be sweet because you keep the beat, you keep jingling your keys.  You keep the coffee going.  You brighten the eyes of our people.

The Architect's Bridge

                                                     The Architect's Bridge

     Imagine an artist who could have the foresight to formally control the potency of the learning experience brought to themselves when creating art. Think about the amount of distinguished purity the ability to do so would add to one's work.  Well there is such an artist that exists out there and he currently has a show up at Tory Folliard Gallery. Ben Grant is an artist who believes in controlling key formal elements of his artistic growth in order to accumulate a more precise and therefore more exquisite piece of art.

     Grant guides his creation by firmly holding the reins on specific concepts to be conveyed as well as formal manors of construction and display. He creates a sort of bridge for his creativity to cross. The artist recognizes that it can be easy to get lost within the lake of creative possibility and therefore his restrictions makes a bridge for his design ingenuity to theoretically grow purely. 

     Strict concepts such as, his use of the stripe in horizontal, diagonal and vertical ways, the idea that all his pieces will be hung on a wall, or the paintings definitively being modular all contribute to the construction of these marvelous pieces of art at his current exhibit. The juxtapositions of his stripe manipulation within his works makes for a stunning visual piece for the viewer to interpret. These restraints are the bridge Ben Grant is the grand architect.

     Several of the artist's works will be hanging in the Tory Folliard Gallery space until February 1st. There is actually an opening reception coming up  Friday, January 17th, 5pm - 9pm, as well as an artist talk on Saturday, January 18th, starting at 2pm. If you like a peaceful atmosphere to engage with great art you should make your way over to Tory Folliard Gallery and enjoy the wholesome experience.

These Minor Symptoms Throw Me

                                       

     I'm nervous right now. I can't seem to make a calculated move. It's hard to breathe. Am I sweating or am I freezing? My synapses are going haywire. Why did I take that long step? Did you notice? I did. Everything seems clear but jumbled. Did I just say something to you? I did. You just responded. I'm saying something again. How is this happening? I could of said something better than that. My computer is lagging. I don't know who I am right now, in this moment.

     I guess this is my truest self since me, my conscious mind, is lost and no longer in the equation. I'm watching you and I in a movie, from a glass room three stories up, looking down at us, while we carry on. I need a say in this. I want a say in this. You're smiling. Things must be going well...for now. I'm freaking out! Where's the door back into the control room!?!  Too late. Tooooo late. Your walking away. It's only been two minutes but it felt like hours. My mind control center door unlocks. I walk to the seat and resume command. Next time I'll be more brave. Next time I'll be more present. Hey! There is a next time! This was all worth it, because there is a next time with us. Hmmmm...but these minor symptoms throw me.

More Lovecraft phrases

Better to die in the quest
with richly fitted halos
and strange vegetation.
Gaudy land crustaceans
infuse the gloom
with a feminine wizardry.
You take a hysterical plunge
from the pit, you primal
serpent-God, thieving
a native at 2 am.
I conjured up shrubbery
brooding over trees.
You cloven sunfish,
you found me, a wind tossed
book of the sea.

You're Very Pretty

                                                 

     The Weeknd filmed a music video for his song Pretty on his 2013 album Kiss Land. The short film's storyline is wonderfully direct and dramatic. The film opens with The Weeknd's plane landing in, his hometown, Toronto, Canada. He's then picked up by his driver in this very classy Lincoln Continental, after which he goes to a Chinese restaurant for a steaming hot dinner. Meanwhile, his love interest is displayed in between scenes, as taking a shower, putting on her lingerie,  and then picking out her dress. She seems to be getting ready to welcome the Weeknd back into her arms after his long state of being elsewhere. The Weeknd is now seen picking out flowers from a bouquet shop and making his way over to his lady-in- red's house. This is where the plot takes a turn for the interestingly twisted worse.

     We see the damsel welcome a man into her home and begin to partake in a full on sex session. The camera focuses solely on the lady, leaving out the identity of the man. That is of course until we see The Weeknd standing in the front yard firing shots into the bedroom window of his now bewildered and, so tragically doomed, promiscuous Ex-girlfriend. The next scene shows the damsel eloquently stretched across a bed decorated by the blood of her and her lover. The Weeknd then hands the gun to his driver, gets in the car and drives away. The video ends with a shot of The Weeknd sitting in the back of the Lincoln looking collectedly contemplative.

     "Somebody told me it was pointless for me to come back into your arms. They say you've f**ked another man. Finally. I knew this day would come. I hope he made you satisfied. Baby, I don't mind. As long as you know that when I land you're mine." This could be considered to be The Weekend saying "I would expect  you to find a new lover within the year that I've been gone. I can understand that, but what you should know is that when I come home that relationship is over and ours is everything." That was thought to be the case after listening to the song with an imaginary visual. Now with this video, the chance for a whole new interpretation has dropped anchor.

     Now it seems that The Weeknd may in fact be saying "Yes you can choose to have a new lover while I'm gone, but understand that when I come home you will have to pay for your actions." No longer is it this sense of when I return our proximity based, exclusive relationship continues. It's more of a "The next time I see you, your a** is mine." type of deal. In which the case is that you've chosen to betray me and now you'll suffer the consequences.

     He says "You will never feel this pretty, and you will never feel this beautiful. When I make it there." This no longer sounds like he is trying to show the new lover up by reminding her of how good The Weeknd is to her and how good he makes her feel. This can now be looked at as him saying that he will show her what her intoxicating beauty has driven him to do. He could be seen as making a cruel joke by revealing that her beauty has driven a man seemingly mad, and therefore can be measured by such. The Weeknd takes us on seductively, romantic, dark journeys throughout his albums and videos. He makes you wonder. So the next time you hear someone say "You're very pretty." listen carefully. *Wink*

Written by: Jerrod Johnson

Sources: 1.The Weeknd, Kiss Land Album, Sept 10th, 2013
              2. The Weeknd, Pretty (Music Video): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxilwT1sKSo

Announcements: The Japanese Translations will be up today. 日本語と英語を訳するを志します。

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

                                             

     What's a mirror? What is it made of? What's its function? What does it reveal? Some say it's a reflecting surface forming images once the  light off of an object hits the surface. They believe this is the function of the mirror. They say that this is its one job to do. Others believe that the mirror's function is something more ponderous, and I agree with them.

     Of course, yes, the mirror is this architectural break through in which the joining of glass and metals like mercury and lead, this leading to such technologies as  the convex mirror, concave mirror, or my favorite, the transparent mirror (gasp).  It's more though, it's a more valuable tool. Let me explain.

     When you look in the mirror what do you see? Are you checking to see if your tie is straight, or if your bra strap is hidden? Are you looking to see if your pants fit you right, or if there's something on your face? Staring at yourself in the mirror, looking yourself in the eye, you're addressing you. You're addressing who you are at that moment. You're searching for who you were. "Is there any part of my childhood self in me?". You're searching for the you that you want to become. "Is there any chance of me becoming who I want to laying latent in my eyes?" Lastly, your searching for who you are right now. "Am I being myself?".

     The mirror not only shows your physical reflection. If you let it, the mirror will show you your life. It'll show you were you are in life and give you a hint of where you're going. The mirror inspires you to take it to the next level. The mirror can also hold you back. It gives you the chance to second guess yourself, it gives you the chance to zoom in on your "imperfections". The mirror has that power to get you ready for your day, but also to put you one step behind yourself.

     For example, you've looked in the mirror and you like this particular look and so you work it. Your energy is up and you're ready to go. You fly out of the door ready to take on the world. On the Contrary, you go the mirror and you can't get your hair to lay right and now your feeling behind. You're feeling like someone has a one up on you. You don't know who it is, but because you feel off some one just does. Going out into the world you feel this ball and chain tugging on you throughout your day. The mirror, if you let it, can tell you about who you are. It evokes emotions only you can understand. This mirror answers and raises questions only it can pry open. So the next time you're in the mirror take a second and look harder like our old friend Rafiki asks us to do. It's funny that when the function of the mirror was first discovered it was thought to be some sort of magic. Maybe it still is... what do you think?

鏡は何ですか？何を成り立ちますか？何を現ずりますか？人々は面が客体を写し出すと言っています。何人かは鏡の効くがもそっと重いだと思います。

鏡が達成ですが、玻璃と金属を成り立ちます。鏡はとっ鏡や凹面鏡や素通しのなります。鏡はもそっと価値高いの治具です。説き聞かせますか？

鏡をじろじろ見る時、何を見ますか？衣服を様になるが徴しますか？鏡をじろじろ見る時、ごを自身を直面します。私たちは根深いの児を漁ります。私たちは鴣路既往の自我と言っています。私たちは目の中で身の振り方が起こりうるを漁ります。私たちは目の中で可能形を手が届んだと言っています。加之、目の中で真面目を漁ります。私たちは私が真面目を御座るかと言っています。

鏡は息の根を現ずります。鏡が抱かせます。鏡は私たちに事物を苦にしてくれます。鏡が私たちを覚悟を決められます。

Written by: Jerrod Johnson

Sources: The History of Mirrors, Mary Bellis, http://inventors.about.com/od/gstartinventions/a/glass_2.htm

The Bounty Hunter

                                                    　
     
     My character flickers to life in downtown Los Santos. Large skyscrapers, city folk, and automobiles engulf me. I take a look at my map. 10 white dots and various blue mission markers  layer over shades of gray. I notice a white dot goes red. $9,000 bounty. Interesting. The mark is about 6.5 miles away. Understood. 

     I press Up on the D pad to bring out the ifruit, scroll down to Mechanic, and then make the call. I call for the Entity XF. A sports car designed, seemingly to mirror the fastest sports car in the world of 1998, The McLaren F1. I need to get to the payload before the other, mouth watering,  9 dots. This car ought to do the trick. I skirt off in the direction of my prey. I'm driving through the city streets when I notice that I'm headed to the north side. He must be at home I deduct as the red dot emerges within a house icon on the map. I pull my car into a nice little parking spot in front of a high end clothing store a couple of blocks away. 

     I need a more incognito car for this. I hop into a Benefactor Surano and call up Lester. He takes me off the radar for one minute. I have the window. I have to do this fast. I drive as if I am one of the A.I drivers, stopping at stoplights, staying in the right lanes, etc. I pull up in front of the high rise apartment building as the mark exits. Perfect. 40 seconds. I wait for the light to turn green and make a right to follow him as he begins to walk towards downtown. 

     He doesn't notice me, good. 30 seconds. I park the car in a near by donut shop that is half a block ahead in his walking direction. 25 seconds. He passes the donut shop. My nerves are kicking in now. I’ve come to far now to mess this up. I get out of the car and head to the side walk. I walk amongst the vast crowd, amongst this "community", as they yell about their current issues. Whatever. 

     I'm focused, zeroed in on this mark, this red dot that I have devoted my plans and my resources to. This one is mine and mine alone. I hold down L1 and switch the fist icon to a knife. 17 seconds. I am ready now. I begin to run, pushing bodies out of my way while they scream in disgust. I don't care. All I care about now is supersaiyanduck2317. 10 seconds. Times running out. The mark is beginning to cross the street. I step out into the street, me running, him walking. 5 seconds. I slow my pace to a walk, and then press R2. The blade goes directly through his back. I pull it out slowly. What a bloody knife, I think to myself, as he falls slowly to the ground in the middle of the street. The $9,000 bounty on supersaiyanduck2317 has been collected by Kingj2013 reads the lower left screen. You're damn right it has.

街中(Los Santos)で私のこんげを種こき出します。摩天楼やお上りさんにこんげを囲ませます。地図を見ます。十白色網点や青色活量の採点者を成り立ています。一白色網点があかいになります。九十四万五百六円報奨金です。面白いです。的は二里とにぶんお一里をはるかに運転します。分かりました。

ifruit携帯を掴みます。車を運転しなくちゃいけませんから、整備士が電話をかけります。EntityXFの車を選びます。この車はとても早いです。EntityXFはMcLarenF1みたいです。疾く疾く行き着かなくちゃいけません。北の町にいきます。衣料品店で車を留めります。

身をかくさなくちゃいけませんから、平常の車(Benefactor Surano)を使わせります。Lesterに電話をかけます。北の町の中でわ的に住んでいます。Lesterは私の所在地をひた隠します。一寸時間があります。的の家まで怠らずに運転します。的の家で行き着きます。待ています。的は家に出ます。40秒です。的は町中まで歩いていきます。的について回ります。

的は私を見りません。大丈夫です。30秒です。せ点に車を留めます。的は家から私の所在地まであるいていきます。私の車に過行きます。25秒です。今励起状態になります。車を出ます。歩道まで歩いていきます。色々人と歩いています。儘よです。

私は集中的です。活量と血道をあげます。洋包丁を抜きます。17秒です。今、したがります。今、走ています。人々を押し分けています。人々を争い怒られます。儘よです。Supersaiyanduck2317を気にします。10秒です。的は町筋を交わしています。今、私も町筋を交わしています。私は走ていますが、的は歩いています。5秒です。今、私も歩いています。洋包丁と刺し殺します。的は倒れ伏します。ここでたくさん血液です。ビデオゲームの通告はKingj2013は九十四万五百六十円報奨金を取り集めだと言っています。政党です。私は稼ぎ取ります。

Written by Jerrod Johnson

ジョンソン、ジェロドはブログを書きました。

Sources: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/mclaren/1993-mclaren-f1-ar3282.html  

God of War

                                                                         

Kratos is bound by chains, symbolizing the bondage of his mountainous mistakes. His hunger for absolute power on the battlefield inevitably brings him to the receiving of a debt that he would never be able to repay. A man near broken, kneels, depleted by his commitment. This man is at a crossroad. He has two options to give up now and pay the debts that he has been swindled into, or rise and seek pure, bloody vengeance. After the lost of his family, through his blood thirst brought on by his new found powers, he realizes that he was betrayed and that now there is no choice but one. This man chained is pre-rage, pre-revenge, pre-ultimate strength. Within this bound man lay latent the destruction of the world, the destruction of the Titans, and most important of all, the destruction of Olympus. This man brings the universe full circle in the fact that he is pure chaos.

Kratos はなんべんもぬかりましたから、れんきしていります。最上のむしゃにならなくちゃいけませんから、二ならなくちゃいけませんから、借り入れを落手しました。借り入れだから、けが人はひざまずきています。いま、Kratos　は措けている、あるはじょうけんをのめています。かぞくになくなるから、かえりちゅうを思い知りました。復習しておくりました。これのえは直前”Kratos”だから、直前新しいの混迷です。

Written by: Jerrod Johnson

ジョンソン、ジェロドはこのブログをかきました。

Grasping

Us people, it fell down for us with the grasping
with the ability to grasp at the folds of children
with the opposable thumbs, separate from the
direction of our digits, unable to grasp at anything
but the flesh of babies.  can we go to eat without us?
Us people, it hurts to want and not be able to grab.
I want to say I am sorry but I am not too sure why.
I am sure that I haven't held on hard or long enough.
Us people, weighing the pros and cons much later
than the palms scrunching onto the last shark bite.
Maybe we go through the Drive-Thru, getting off the iCloud.
What that hell is going on, when we are all fly-over states,
holding the concept of a better home, in a better place.