A Slacker's Aphorisms: Part 1

One of the interests I have in life is quotes. Quotes that describe the best of us and the worst of us, quotes that are insightful and philosophical, quotes that just rationalize everything. I compiled all of the good quotes I've heard so far in life, from royalty and musicians to artists and fictional tv characters. Even some of my own quotes. I just hope they are as insightful (or fun) to you as they've been to me. Enjoy....

"In the event that I am reincarnated, I would like to return as a deadly virus, in order to contribute something to solve overpopulation."
-The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh

"I'm disgusted with my own apathy too, for being spineless and not always standing up against racism, sexism and all those other -isms the counterculture has been whining about for years."
-Kurt Cobain

"I have never let my schooling interfere with my education."

"Work is a necessary evil to be avoided."

"If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man."
-Mark Twain

"It's important not to take yourself too seriously, ... and I think sometimes people take us a lot more seriously than we take ourselves, especially when it comes to politics. Politics, for me, is a reflection of the world I live in. But love is just as important as politics to me. They both exist in the world, you know? And if you don't reflect the entire world around you, then you're leaving something out."
-Daron Malakian

-"There's a fine line between genius and insanity, but if you know how to walk that line, no one can stand in your way"
-Brian Kendrick

"We need to eradicate the slander that a black youth with a book is acting white."
-Barack Obama, the democratic national convention 2004

"All men dream; but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity; but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act out their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible."
- T. E. Lawrence

"A lot of times nerds are really artist who listen to the beat of a different drummer"
-Roseanne

"Children are the vessels into which adults pour their poison"
(Midnight's Children)

"The only people who see the whole picture are the ones who step outside the frame"
(The Ground Beneath Her Feet)

"Orgasmically joyful"

"What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist"
(From The Swedish "Censorship" Homepage)

"I do not envy people who think they have a complete explanation of the world, for the simple reason that they are obviously wrong"
(From an interview with David Frost (PBS))

-Salman Rushdie

"Poetry is the essence of everything"
-Henri Cartier-Bresson

more to come, watch out for part 2.....

More Elliott Smith

I'm floating in a black balloon
OD on Easter afternoon
My mama told me
"Baby, stay clean, there's no in-between"

But all you ladies and you gentlemen
Between's all you've ever seen or been
Fit poorly and arrange the sight
Doll her up in virgin white

You disappoint me
You people raking in on the world
The devil's script sells you
The heart of a blackbird

Shine on me, baby
Because it's raining in my heart

Sun's rising on a choppy glare
Rain dropping acid bought up in the air
A distorted reality's now a necessity to be free

So disappointing
First I put it all down to luck
But God knows why my
Country don't give a fuck

Shine on me, baby
Because it's raining in my heart
Shine on me, baby
Because it's raining in my heart

Between the Bars

Artist: Elliott Smith (RIP)
Album: Either/Or
Filmed At: 4334 West Sunset Boulevard Hollywood, CA

A message from George Carlin

A year ago today, a hero of mine passed away. He's where I got my sense of humor from, and whom influenced me a lot doing my teenage years.

Some time before his death, he left his words of wisdom for all of his fans and for all of those who are open minded and willing to hear what he has to say...

A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness. We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often. We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less. These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships.


These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever. Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side. Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent. Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you. Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again. Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008)

Bordem

Everytime someone asks how my summer is going I say "It's going fine/well/cool." In reality, I'm so fucking bored it's almost depressing me. I have an internship which allows me to preserve most of my free time, which allows me the opportunities to take pictures, write poems, and hang out with friend(s). I haven't written anything worth publishing and I'm waiting to get a job before I upload any new pictures (I want to buy a new flickr pro account. I have a lot of photos that need uploading). While I have been hanging out with several friends whom I enjoy and adore dearly, I can't escape this feeling of boredom, as if I'm destined to live a life of monotony. Someone please fucking help me!

About Me

The slacking will not be televised.....

Before I begin, yes I lifted the name from Michael Moore's film of the same name (Good film btw). No, this is not a Michael Moore affiliate blog nor do I endorse any of his films, books, products, or any other intellectual property that I'm not currently plagiarizing. I gave this blog that name because of what it means to me. I'm a natural slacker. That's how I operate. Even when I strive to do something
Usually when someone starts a blog, it's for some set purpose like politics or for a "non-partisan" cause or for self promotion. And to be frank, this is no different for there is no such thing as a purposeless blog. And if someone tells you there is, then they're a liar. The purpose of this blog is for the simple selfish reason of being an uncompromising, unapologetic individual because lets face it. In this post industrial society, people are expected to fall in line with the status-quo and act "normal." Something that I simply can't do. And I can't do it because I'm mentally incapable. I choose not to act what's considered normal. I have my own set of values, I have my own style and I have my own personality.

I don't consider myself an artist. I never liked the term nor do I condone the term. I do consider myself a creative person, because its how I express myself and creativity means something to me, which goes back to the purpose of this blog. Everything that I put up here (pictures, poems, links and all) are here because they mean something to me. Not for their aesthetic qualities or to prove some point, and definitely not for the validation of others. That doesn't mean I'm not open to constructive criticism. It means that I'm at the point in my life where I no longer allow others to define me nor my work.
Until recently, I've considered the ultimate slacker. I've been known to be lazy, unproductive, a habitual procrastinator, stupid and with no future. I allowed others to define who i was and I had no true sense of who I was as a human being.....until recently. Some time ago I had to look myself in the mirror, and I realized that I hated what I saw. Not the fact that I was a black male, or my size (although I am trying to lead a healthier lifestyle) but because I had allowed myself to be walked all over to the point where I was nothing more than a self hating loser who didn't even know what confidence felt like. And when you see that in the mirror, you can do two things; change, or wither away into nothing. I chose to change. I chose to allow myself to do what I want, and not do things just to please others. It has been an uphill battle yes, but it's an uphill battle that I've waged for myself, and that I'm happy to say winning. This is why I started this blog, to monitor my own uprising. A place where things that mean something to me can be seen without bias or criticism (that can't be deleted). A place where this slacker can finally rise up and say whatever the hell he wants. So in summation, let the Slackers uprising begin!

Further readings:
A partial portfolio of my written poetic works
My twitter-like micro blog on Artylizer
A portfolio of my pictures via flickr
My Deviantart page

Currently Listening to: Volume 2134

Serj Tankian, Empty Walls

Preview

Under Construction, Coming Soon.