You're not a Jedi yet
It's a rant I keep wanting to bring up, but one I just let fall to the side. Let it rest and carry on. Yet there comes a point when any one true person must speak up and point things out when things just seem wrong. One of which is when the guides and source book “SUPER ULTIMATE ALL KNOWING GUIDE TO:" comes out regarding Jedi. Of course the fan base feeds into it, and creates an overwhelming cloud of utter confusion and skewed, and exceedingly limited view.
Let's face it: Lightsabers sell. The fact that the prequels, as crappy as they were, did so well was largely because people were there for Lightsabers. The problem with this is playing up the idea that Jedi are all super elite commandos. They are not, but on the same hand, they are not pacifist temple dwellers.
Fighting comes when there is no other option, but they will fight and when they do, they are good at it. Yes Bushido was a big influence in it, but remember Bushido is based on Zen philosophy, a good example of who you should emulate as a Jedi would be the Buddhist monks of the Shaolin region.
That brings up my second major rant point. The philosophies, the concepts the understanding of “what a Jedi is” becomes a mess. This seems to come from the simple fact that so many of these guides and such are being written by the west, for the west. The intimate and deep understanding of the eastern philosophy originally intended gets utterly lost.
I can't say it's entirely the writers' ignorance, though that may be part of it. It may also be very much done intentionally to over simplify things for the fan base. Gotta sell more replica Lightsabers after all, right?
My best advice: the guides are one thing, but to really get the deep understanding, take the plunge and study more of the eastern philosophies, understand the noble truths, eight fold paths, understand suffering (not the western concept of that word) touching on that larger mind and the birthplace of the order itself will go a long way into really gaining a complete insight in to what it really is to be a Jedi.
Hello Kitty Dreams Restaurant
If it’s one Japanese cultural phenomenon that has spread to virtually every corner of the world, it’s Hello Kitty. China already has a Hello Kitty theme park and even a maternity ward designed after the cartoon character. And as of Christmas last year, downtown Beijing received another addition of this icon - the Hello Kitty Dream Restaurant.
Inside this restaurant is all the Hello Kitty that anyone could ever want. There is literally pink everywhere, from the chairs and tables to the ceilings and floors. Hello Kitty balloons and armies of stuffed Hello Kitty toys are all over the place and all available for customers to purchase if they want. And, of course, the face of the little pink and white cat stares back from nearly every surface.
To add even more flavor, the waiters and waitresses wear outfits that match the restaurant’s décor, consisting of blues and pinks. Even the cooks are dressed in
pink instead of the traditional white.
This restaurant has become incredibly popular, as can be expected. Being constantly busy is one of things that this relatively new establishment is becoming well-known for, despite being able to seat around 70 people at a time. But it’s the theme that brings the people in, for the most part. The menu is designed to appeal to kids in a lot of ways and the reviews of the food haven’t been the best.
If you love the kitty, it’s a great place to stop by at least once, if only to look around for a bit. And China appears to have no plans to stop its Hello Kitty craze, with yet another theme park due to go up in Shanghai sometime in 2014. Give them another 10 years and you may see Hello Kitty-themed businesses on every block.
Driving dogs?
OK, I recently went on a long rant in another blog about New Zealand's over-the-top and flat-out creepy obsession with The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit. I understood it's pretty much the only real thing they have going for them at the moment, but warned them that they needed to go outside and do something new, get out of mom's basement a little. Well, it appears they listened to me and did indeed do something...unique?
What they did once they broke out into the wide open real world seems noble; I'll give them some credit for at the very least. However, at the end of the day perhaps they should just go back to the basement because I fear what they may come up with next.
In an attempt to show they are more than hobbit lovers, they decided to show how much they love their dogs. To demonstrate how seriously they take their four-pawed pals, they recently undertook an initiative to help boost pet adoptions by flaunting how smart dogs can actually be by teaching them to drive.
The training came over a course of seven months, teaching individual tricks such as putting the car into gear, accelerating, turning yadda yadda, and then slowly began to combine the different steps until they got to the point that they felt comfortable enough to put their dogs behind the wheels of a real car. There is a plan to have the dogs and their wheels make a more public showing soon with a national broadcast.
Wychwood Music Festival
The Wychwood Music Festival is an event that has been taking place in Gloucestershire since the year 2005. Though it’s relatively new, it now brings in around 10,000 people each year. This three-day long event will be taking place from May 31st to June 2nd next year and is widely considered to be one of the best music festivals in England for those looking for something a little less party-like and more family-oriented.
More than 100 acts perform yearly across three stages. The type of music one can expect covers a wide range, from the world and roots genres to contemporary, indie and pop bands. Alone with the music are a variety of other things to keep people entertained. There are several comedy performances, a solar-powered cinema and areas set up for those that wish to dance until the early hours of the morning. There are also a wide variety of workshops and seminars, for those looking to add some education to their experience.
Wychwood is aimed at appealing to visitors of all ages, so there are many things for both kids and adults to enjoy. One large area is even set aside specifically for children, featuring such events as the Children’s Literature Festival. And, of course, there is plenty of food and drink (both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic kinds) as well as a market where one can buy crafts and other souvenirs.
The whole event is centered on a camp site, so visitors can enjoy a rest beneath the stars when each day comes to an end. One camp site is set aside for those that like a more peaceful evening, while the other is for those looking to continue their party at the end of the day.
Tickets for Wychwood are, however, a bit pricey. It costs around $160 for an adult pass for the full weekend, though luckily kids under nine are free, making it easy for families to afford the trip. Also, you can save money on your ticket if you convince others to buy their own tickets and join you. If you want to enjoy some music and meet the locals, Wychwood is a great chance to do just that without all the craziness that many music festivals can sometimes present.
PSY apologizes for anti-American rant
Unless you live under a rock, you've probably heard of South Korean pop sensation PSY. His video for the song "Gangnam Style" is without a doubt one of the biggest of 2012. PSY's popularity here in the U.S. has soared in recent months, but his image took a huge hit this week after a clip surfaced that showed him rapping decidedly anti-American lyrics during a show back in 2004.
PSY has since apologized, but should he be forgiven? The lyrics are extremely offensive to me as an American. I'm furious, in fact. I'm not sure if I can cut him slack on this one.
On Friday, the story broke that PSY had, in fact, rapped at not one, but at least two anti-American protest shows in 2002 and 2004. During the 2004 show, PSY performed a song called "Dear American." The lyrics, as I already warned you, are extremely offensive, but I feel everyone needs to know exactly what PSY said, so here goes:
"Kill those f---ing Yankees who have been torturing Iraqi captives/Kill those f---ing Yankees who ordered them to torture/Kill their daughters, mothers, daughters-in-law and fathers/Kill them all slowly and painfully."
Yeah. Forgive? I just don't know if I can. PSY's fame in the U.S. is probably fleeting, and it was even before this story ignited a backlash against him. I mean really, it's not like "Gangnam Style" is all that great, right? If you answered "Yes, yes it is" then stop reading now and just go away.
PSY issued an apology and a lengthy statement in response to the situation, which you can read in it's entirety here. In short, he says he respects that everyone's entitled to freedom of expression and opinions, he went too far using "inflammatory and inappropriate language."
What do you think? Should PSY be forgiven for this? I'm all for freedom of expression, obviously, but even I have my limits, and PSY crossed them.
Barossa Vintage Festival
The Barossa Vintage Festival is a nine-day event that takes place every other year in the Barossa Valley, a region of Australia known for its wine-making traditions. This event is not just a wine lover’s dream, but is also put together to be family-friendly, featuring many things to keep people of all ages entertained. First held in 1947, Barossa Vintage is the longest running and largest wine festival in the country.
The highlight for the adult crowd is probably the wine tasting. There is plenty of great wine to enjoy as well as many vendors selling the wines that one deems good enough to take home with them. There are also wine auctions, featuring sales of some of the rarest and most highly praised wines of Barossa.
In addition, there are a variety of other entertaining things to do. There are musical performances as well as a parade, an air show featuring aerial acrobatics and stunts and a grape treading competition. For those looking to learn something while visiting, there are many presentation and tours designed to highlight the rich history of the region. A market gives people the opportunity to purchase a variety of arts and crafts.
Just a few of the more popular events consist of Vine & Vibes - a gathering featuring music, food, wine and partying; Distinguished Vineyards - tours to check out some of Barossa’s many vineyards; and the Vintage Festival Ball. For the kids there is Carnival Day, featuring lots of activities put together with kids and families in mind, and Town Day, where visitors can learn more about the many villages of Barossa Valley.
The Barossa Vintage Festival is a celebration of Barossa Valley’s history, demonstrating a little bit of all this region has to offer, from the wines to the people to the history and culture. Next year’s event will take place from March 30th to April 7th. If you’re a fan of wine, check out what Barossa has to offer during this festive time of the year.
Anvil Shooting Competitions
The tradition of anvil shooting is one that dates back as far as the American Civil War. According to legend, when the Union armies marched through the South, they wanted to take out their enemy’s capability to work metal.
To do that, they would place gunpowder underneath their anvils and light it with a fuse. Once the powder blew, the anvils would go rocketing into the sky, rarely coming out in any sort of decent shape. Since then, this tactic of war has turned into a competitive event, where people come together to launch their own anvils, seeking greater height.
The championships of anvil shooting take place at Laurel’s Wood Expo in Mississippi each year in April. What was previously an idle way to pass the time turned into an official event in 1994, when one of the co-founders of the World Anvil Shooting Society organized it. It’s been going strong ever since.
There are plenty of specific rules when it comes to anvil shooting, but there are a few basic ones to help the uninitiated understand how it works. Each competitor uses two anvils. They must be made of steel and weigh at least 100 lbs. They are allowed to use up to 2 lbs. of black powder to launch their anvil. A hollow spot beneath the top anvil is where the powder goes, along with a 90-second fuse. The fuse is lit and then you run before it goes off.
The end result is a launch that often reaches more than 100 feet. The person who gets theirs the highest wins. There’s another form of shooting known as Super Modified, for those that think 100 feet just isn’t enough. This tradition lets competitors make their own anvils, customized to reach greater heights - sometimes as far up as 500 feet or more.
This strange Southern American tradition is a great unique event to view if you happen to be travelling through the state of Mississippi in April. Anyone who enjoys explosions and very heavy objects being launched into the air would surely get a kick out of competitive anvil shooting.
Morocco’s Marathon des Sables
Each year in the month of April, the country of Morocco plays host to what is known to many as the world’s toughest footrace. The Marathon des Sables (Marathon of the Sands) begins in the city of Ouarzazate and continues for six days. During that time, the 1000 or so participants will be pushed to their limits as they struggle to make their way more than 150 miles through the Sahara.
The race has its origins in the adventure of a French concert promoter by the name of Patrick Bauer. Back in 1984, he decided to get away from it all and go on a 200-mile trek through the Sahara - a place known for being one of the most unforgiving landscapes on the planet. It was there that he got the idea that such a journey should be a competitive event. In 1986, the first race took place and has continued until the present day.
This inhospitable desert is filled with the kind of terrain that one wouldn’t normally want to run a marathon on. There are rocks, sand dunes, salt plains and more, all in an environment of ragingly hot temperatures and randomly appearing sand storms. Luckily for the racers, they get to take in it 6 stages with a little bit of sleep between each leg. To make the race even more interesting, it’s changed up every year so that no one knows the exact course it will take.
Those running the race have to carry almost everything they’ll need for their six-day journey. Not just food, water and sleeping gear, but other things to deal with the harsh environment of the Sahara, like first aid kits and anti-venom kits in case they get bitten by a poisonous snake. Thankfully, extra water is passed out along the way, or they’d never make it a mile with all that weight to drag along.
Those running the Marathon des Sables don’t do it purely for the glory (though that no doubt factors in heavily). They also do it for charity. Each year, hundreds-of-thousands of dollars are raised. If you’re crazy enough, you too can get in on the blisteringly fun marathon. It’s definitely an experience that one would never forget and would afford you some serious bragging rights for the rest of your life.
Christmas generosity abounds, even with landlords
It really is the most wonderful time of the year, isn't it? I love the holidays, in part because for once, there's no shortage of great news. Maybe the media makes a special effort to find and report on good news more in December?
Whatever the reason, I couldn't be happier to tell you about one such great news story. It's about a Los Angeles landlord who decided to cut his residents a big break for the holiday.
Eventually, the holiday spirit grabs us all in some way. That's apparently what happened to one landlord in Los Angeles, California, this month. A Reddit user posted a photo of a letter he received from the landlord, saying that he'd be dropping everyone's rent by $70 for the month of December.
Before we got our house, I'd been a renter for decades. And in all my years, I've never heard of this kind of thing happening. Yes, it's only $70, but hey that's a lot of money, especially around the holidays. Times are tough, money is so tight for so many, and a generous gesture like this one can make all the difference for so many people. This, folks, is how you make your tenants love you!
The landlord suggests that renters could use the $70 "to purchase a gift for someone special in your life." That's a stellar idea, and one that some tenants will likely follow up on. For others, who might be struggling, it's money they can use for groceries or other bills. It's enough to fund a pretty nice Christmas dinner for a family, too. You can read the entire letter here, thanks to a Redditor's posting.
Santa hats off to this generous landlord for his gesture this holiday season. Do you have any stories about great Christmas generosity you'd like to share? Let's hear them in the comments!
Force-fed dogma over dinner
For the first time in my life, I am facing a bit of force-fed dogma over the holidays. A family member is newly insisting that Christ be kept in Christmas, and when I refused to bow my head in prayer at Thanksgiving—as three other relatives did, mind you—it was deemed “rude.” So now it’s rude to practice your own religious freedom with your own family.
The thing is, we have lots of religious friends—deeply religious friends—who don’t care that we don’t bow our heads when they eat, or even during the prayer before an event like, say, the art show at the church. If it’s okay with all of these people who’ve been raised in religion, why is it not okay with someone who’s “born-again” or whatever?
The worst part is that another relative forced my daughter to bow her head when she wouldn’t. I’ve always heavily insisted on her own choices—whether they be her haircut or clothing or anything else—and the fact that this person did this makes me sick to my stomach. I don’t feel safe anymore. I don’t feel like I can raise a thoughtful, true to herself human being if people around me aren’t respecting my parenting choices. The mothers and fathers in my co-op give me more credit than that—and we are often in the minority among several Catholics and Mormons. If my own family can’t, I’m not sure if the holidays with them will even occur.
This saddens me so much because as much as I want a huge family, I can’t produce one—and I want my daughter to be close to her family. That said, I don’t want her being indoctrinated by others’ beliefs, either. That’s why we homeschool—so she can learn and make her own conclusions and choices.
What do you do when faced with occurrences like these over the holidays? I think it’s wrong to force someone to bow their head to acknowledge a god you don’t believe in. I would never ask these people to smudge my house to cleanse it like we do, or to meditate with my daughter and me if they were uncomfortable. Invite, yes; demand, no. And I definitely would not consider it rude if a “No, thank you” were simply stated, either. I am sure there are families who celebrate the holidays with a mixture of faiths (and non-faiths); how do you work it out peacefully?