A Stroke of Luck.

As I'm browsing Slate guffawing at their leftist agenda, I find the only reason I discovered this pathetic website (also known as my home page). Matthew Polly. Who is this mediocre being of questionable name, you ask? Why, he's the author of American Shaolin, one of my favorite books. Why do I care about what he does after he wrote the book? Because his travel accounts are awesome, that's why. So, why am I writing a column about a regular author at a magazine that is unimportant enough not to reach the printed medium? Well, screw you that's why. Oh and secondly, because he is no regular writer for the magazine. He only writes well traveled columns, which come every 6 months from him or so, if not more.

This article is about his visit to St. Petersburg, and Russia in general. At the time of this post, this is still ongoing, as he is updating it throughout the week.

One of the things that attract me about this man (not literally, may I add... I don't ride the rainbow) is his writing style. If you bother reading the article, you'll notice I take much influence from his own works, but quite frankly, I'm 10x better then him*.  I try to emulate in some ways, what goes through my mind in a witty and controversial way, although, to be quite honest, he's still beating me. I do not believe I could conceive a sentence such as "Such was her reputation that an urban legend grew that she had died while attempting sex with a stallion, making her the patron saint of both bad girls and horny horses."†

*Ok probably not...

†"Oh and he got into an orgy (Word History: The word orgy has become connected in the minds of many of us with unrestrained sexual activity, but its origins are much less licentious. We can trace the word as far back as the Indo-European root *werg-, meaning "to do," also the source of our word work. Greek orgia, "secret rites, worship," comes from *worg-, one form of this root. The Greek word was used with reference to the rites practiced in the worship of various deities, such as Orpheus and Dionysus. The word in Greek did not denote sexual activity, although this was a part of some rites. The rites of Dionysus, for example, included only music, dancing, drinking, and the eating of animal sacrifices. Having passed through Latin and Old French into English, the word orgy is first recorded in English with reference to the secret rites of the Greek and Roman religions in 1589. It is interesting to note that the word is first recorded with its modern sense in 18th-century English and perhaps in 17th-century French. Whether this speaks to a greater licentiousness in society or not must be left to the historian, but certainly the religious nature of the word has gone into eclipse.)with 8 people one time. And hooked up with incredibly stupidly ridiculously hot people (read people because he hooked up with more hot girls AND boys than you ever will, ever).  Needless to say he was badassedly awesome." Ok maybe I could make a whole insane sentence though.

Yes. That is Mathew Polly. Did I tell you why he wrote the book? No? Well, to summarize, he felt like learning Kung-fu... first hand, from the Chinese... during the 90s.

He is also my inspiration to many things that I now make a habit in life, such as talking to taxi cabs. Polly always says taxi drivers are the best conveyors of a countries situation and the best description of its people as there can be. I believe this to be true, talking to a taxi cab in Argentina, Brasil, America.  His own ethics inspire mine, taking his own word as law, and holding up to his own morals, all while still being informative, funny, and captivating as a person, and as a writer. He was not afraid of chasing happiness at the cost of endangering his Education, Reputation, Life (dysentery is a female dog).

Now go buy his book. If you MUST read it immediately, you can borrow my old, battered copy, but I'd rather you buy it...

Grrr... I'll bite you. Wait what?

Into the Wild

This is the story of Alexander Supertramp, real name Christopher McCandless:

http://outside.away.com/outside/features/1993/1993_into_the_wild_1.html

I ran into this when i was a smaller kid (like 6) and always been fascinated by this story.  Although the story ends tragically, he lived his life to the fullest extent of how he could live life. Some would say burning your money and leaving your Datsun behind and calling your self tramp everywhere you go doesn't sound all that awesome. Those people are stupid, have you ever driven a Datsun? You would leave yours behind too, trust me.

But in all seriousness, this is an amazing story of altruism and happiness, even when leading a simple life. He barely believed in any material possession, and he still managed to live a full life. I do not feel sorry for his death, and in fact like to think he would have liked to die in a manner similar to this. I know he suffered much in his last moments, and that his death is entirely because of his own stupidity (Hey he did drive a Datsun after all), but I can't shake the feeling that what he did was the rightest thing in the world.

Everyone should live a life like Supertramp. Not in the nomadic, leave all temporal possessions behind and die in Alaska kind of life. But people should live the ideal behind his life. Live life to the fullest doing what you truly want, and helping others, being an altruist not an egoist, and pursuing happiness to death. If you do not want to live in society, then don't struggle with it. Let go, never hold on, always take a chance. It may have killed him, but in a way, it saved him. Money, intelligence and security did not make him happy, and he simply let it go like this, though society tells you this is how you live, and if you do not live this way, you will not live period. He proved them wrong, but ironically, right at the same time.

I think his struggle touched a deep problem in society. The fact that we promote freedom and equality for others, that we call for our selves to pursue our own happiness and our own path, however, we hypocritically only present one path, the path for material, even fake happiness. We not only scoff, but hide the possibility of true happiness being found outside the disconcerting greed of the capitalist machine. Maybe it is a misguided path, the one he took. I do not believe in Communism like he did, but I do believe we are entitled to seek happiness the way we see it, not the way we are presented to it, and no one should have the right to stop us, to scoff at it, to try and stop it.  No one should be able to tell us what's for our own good or not, when it is not interfering with any other persons personal freedom. Why should I not be allowed to live in a public street if this is the way i envision happiness? Simply because someone who does not believe it is the way life should be lived, or because they do not find it pretty, I should be forced to comply with them? Isn't that, in principle, denying me my rights to live out of this society?

Then why don't we follow our own principles? Why do we refuse to give the liberties to people who we our selves say they are entitled to? Is it, then, human nature to force onto others our ideas and opinions? Isn't that much like religious oppression? Idealistic oppression? Aren't we supposed to be more like Supertramp, living our ideals without ever censuring others? Aren't we supposed to be against this hypocrisies? Why do those who cope with the struggles of modern society get the say on what others say, the ones who set the rules of right and wrong, and the others get the shaft? Vagrants, in general, do not do much harm. It is true some cause trouble, but that is because they are not by choice vagrants and runaways, but by necessity. There are always troublemakers in any part of society, like for examples 92% of the people in Weston.*

*Probably actually true

I think it is a hive mind idea that vagrants are ugly, foul smelling rejects of society that should be dealt with. But that is the wrong view. If you read the book, or watch the movie, you will know that vagrants and social rejects can form their own beautiful culture, such as the desert culture, and live full filling lives without having to adapt to a society they do not agree with.

On a lighter note, I am glad I live where I live in the time I am living. I very much love society, even if sometimes it feels like I should just go out and be. And I know I will do that, as I have done before, because there is something beautiful about not being attached to the world that one cannot feel unless they abandon any idea of possession. I think all of us should try it someday.

Links:

Into the Wild (movie)

Into the Wild (book): By Jon Krakauer

P.S: Sorry for the lack of Images.

Gilded Age part DEUX

So, I've got the Essay from Jose. It's three pages long, and I will be writing it down on this post tomorrow. So this is pretty much just a reserved space right now. But feel free to read about Duff while you're here, in homage to Jose's blog, which can be found at my bloglist just to the right under the playlist, called True*Rock*NEVER*Dies, which is by the way, an amazing blog.

And just to remind the people reading that plagiarizing this piece is a crime, and I WILL find you, and proceed to lawfully kick your pet chiuaua (not literally, I think that's illegal) as a punishment. All the words and ideas belong to Jose, and you will not use any of it without his permission.

Edit: Essay! (Finally!)

Gilded Age Essay: By Jose (Name omitted)

The "Gilded Age", sarcastically named by Mark Twain, refers to the major growth in population in the United States and extravagant displays of wealth and excess of America's upper-class during the post-Civil war and post-Reconstruction era.It was also commonly seen as a political seesaw that was delicately balanced. In fact so delicate that even the parities themselves were on the verge of split, often because of a few significant economic issues. Competition between the two parties was fierce. Many politicians, fearing the high chances of an easy "political homicide" launched on them, "tip toed" timidly, producing a political record that was often trivial and petty. Thus the presidents of the era, Grant, Hayes, Garfield, Arthur, Harrison, and Cleveland were known as the forgettable presidents. Many argue that governments led by these presidents, particularly the main "Gilded Age" president, Grover Cleveland, supported this era with greed. It is valid to say that these presidents had many unethical policies that were backed at the time by many members of society. However, the presidents of this era cannot be held solely responsible for the widespread corruption that came out of the greed. many of their intentions were not bad at all. It was the people surrounding the president that influenced and misled their presidents for selfish reasons. In addition to members of the general public being corrupt, members of the federal government also participated in unethical actions and should be blamed as well.

With a strong and growing economy, came a lot of wealth and prosperity, and with that came corruption. As seen during Grant's administration, there was a "Carnival Of Corruption." One of them was the Credit Mobilier scandal that erupted when Union Pacific Railroad insiders formed the Phony Credit Mobilier construction company, and then hired themselves at inflated prices to build the railroad line, earning high dividends. When it was found out that the government officials were paid to stay quiet about the illicit business, some officials were censured. Another example of widespread corruption was the Whiskey Ring involving diversion of tax revenues in conspiracy among government agents, politicians, and whiskey distillers. Although there were more of these cases, these two managed to hurt the Republican Party's reputation, and with the delicate political balance, it would not be long until the Democrats were favored and voted back into power for the first time in decades. During this time, voting turnouts reached above 90%, one of the highest ever recorded. This was a time when the public responded to these perceptions intellectually.

Although the public's perspective on the Democrats was that of a lesser corrupt one, Democratic presidents like Grover Cleveland still used the very unethical spoils system. Cleveland replaced thousands of federal employees with Democrats. Although slightly infamous for using the same system that killed President Garfield, Cleveland actually had good intentions to ending widespread corruption and regulating some areas of the economy with new laws. These regulations were necessary because many corporations, feeling that they were above the law, abused the public by bribing judges and legislatures. Railroad kings and Oil barons were manipulators of a huge natural monopoly and exercised too much direct control over the lives of people. The people saw them as robber barons and supported by the government. One way Cleveland and his government tried to restore order was by passing the Interstate Commerce act. It prohibited rebates and pools, required the railroads to publish their rates openly, forbade unfair discrimination against shippers, and outlawed charging more for a short trip than for a long one over the same line. it also created the Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC) to administer and enforce the new legislation. The new laws provided an orderly forum where the competing business interests could resolve their conflicts in peaceful ways. The laws tended to stabilize the existing railroad business. This time congress had actually acted in favor of the greater good instead of the greed.

Although many times, there were measures taken by Congress against the direct abuse of the public, the corporations were too strong. They could use their lawyers to thwart control by the state legislature, plus they had the 14th amendment to back them up. The corporations set everything from the working conditions at the factory to the wages. The public responded socially with the National Labor Union, the first in its kind. They knew that together, they would be stronger and strike more effectively towards higher wages and better working conditions while not getting fired simply because the factories couldn't fire most or sometimes all of their employees that were striking. Many other labor unions followed and rallied for the improvement of the worker's place in society.

As it is shown, the public responded strongly to all these events. In most cases, their perceptions were that most of these presidents actually had good intentions rather then greed. The widespread corruption that was faced during the Gilded Age should not only be blamed on the selfish members of the government, but on the corruption of the public as well. For in a democracy, the government is ruled by the people, and if the people are corrupt, then so is the government. The biggest mistake is for people to stay quiet while being witnesses of corruption. As for the corporations, a lot of wealth can be dangerous in the hands of a few. Corporations are too large almost to become a monopoly should be regulated because they might actually be a threat to the economy as well as society.

Ping-Pong Night!

It's actually not today... It's tomorrow. Then WHY am I posting it one day before? I don't know, why do you care anyways?

Now what could Table Tennis have to do with History? Absolutely nothing, but It's my blog, I don't go around telling you how to do YOUR job, unless of course you're actually working, then I might. But it's not because I hate you, it's because I love you and I want to better you. Or thats what I'll tell you anyways. And in any case, blogging is not an actual job so I'm pretty safe on that one too.

Anywho, Ping-Pong actually has a history.  The sport showed up around 1880s or earlier in England. Rich people would get together after dinner and makeshift anything from corks for balls and books for nets (why not the rackets I do not know. They're British) and pretty much anything that could be held in one hand as a racket, which actually brings light to the fact that kids today can't improvize better then even the richest rich of the 19th Century.  But thats totally out of topic and poor writing, so moving on, as more British subjects got drunk after dinner and arranged games of ping-pong, it grew in popularity, and, as any good British thing, some bastard had to capitalize on it during the industrial age (besides maybe tea, sorry tea!). 

Then comes in James Gibbs. He was a Ping-Pong enthusiast, and on a trip to the U.S, in 1901, he found novelty celluloid balls, and he found them to be ideal for the game, which brings the question, what kind of messed up things did Americans actually need celluloid balls for, and, why would the 1st thing you associate with celluloid balls when you discover them be ping-pong? I guess it was either that or the Brits invading America out of disgust, probably. Wise decision Mr.Gibbs. Anyhow, after that, E.C Goode invented the racket. I mean I'm sure I could elaborate, but the thing is a round stick with two rubber pads stuck in each side. It really isn't a technological breakthrough.

Skipping to 1921, The British, once again taking in every opportunity to claim a sport to their name (Soccer, Tennis, Table Tennis, Suicidal Charges into Russian Turret guns [Thats a sport right?]) created the TTA, Tennis Table Association. But since one isn't ever good enough, in 1926 they created the ITTF, International Table Tennis Federation. I'm sure it was just to put the word international in the same acronym as Table Tennis. Then in 1927, they held the 1st World Championship in London. In 1988, it turned into an Olympic sport. One that no one ever watched because it was excedingly IMPOSSIBLE TO WATCH A 38 MM BALL FLY AT 80 km/h OR MORE ON A TV(Also because the rubber cover was getting thicker, hence increasing the speed of the ball, as well as other things)!

So what did the ITTF do to change this? Recently (the 2000's) they changed the games rules so it is actually watchable. Kind of. The ball width was changed to 40mm,  limited speed sponge thickness, and changed the game from 21 points to 11, as well as not allowing to hide the ball on serve anymore. Doesn't sound like much? Well watch a 1992 Olympic Ping-Pong Tornament video and a 2008 one.

Nope, I can't tell the difference either. Why would you watch Ping-Pong anyways? You creep.

Now if you actually read a whole article about ping-pong history and me ranting about absolutely nothing at some points, kudos to you. I wouldn't have.

Changes

Ok I changed a few things around on the blog (for the one reader reading it [Including my self]), hope you like it! Anyways, some history about the Gilded Age of America, for my own entertainment*!

Edit: Thanks to the contribution of Jose (Who actually inspired the post) I will soon be getting an original essay written by him (all copyrights belong to him, plagiarize it and i will find you, and swiftly proceed to kick you, to the furthest extent of the law of course). Or at least I hope so, it depends on him.

*Yes it is a clothing site. And they make good clothing. Go support our economy, orders of the Commander in Chief.