tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19412409219748629902023-12-16T02:18:54.897-08:00The Eccentric RealistBy J.J. González. Life lessons and tips on writingJJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-37626916272094979052020-07-11T15:16:00.001-07:002020-07-11T15:16:46.579-07:00Short Story Giveaway + Cover Reveal<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CSFGB2N" target="_blank"><font size="5"><b>Click here to buy The Darkness: A Short Horror Story</b></font></a><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXTwWfx84yUuXzYwX48-2WUFF8LAwAo-8lJGhYDghFAmNQjBE9YxVf6tbnHYBZgc0OhrDdYDvRLsY5NVOMdtfS2DnI1EIRxCa-NOJ2Ec0dZC6PIivzF25Tm-M_kRA75-zwbVr32I8os/s2560/THE+DARKNESS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtNXTwWfx84yUuXzYwX48-2WUFF8LAwAo-8lJGhYDghFAmNQjBE9YxVf6tbnHYBZgc0OhrDdYDvRLsY5NVOMdtfS2DnI1EIRxCa-NOJ2Ec0dZC6PIivzF25Tm-M_kRA75-zwbVr32I8os/w391-h625/THE+DARKNESS.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><b>The Darkness will be free tomorrow Sunday July 12 to Monday July 13</b></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><b>Make sure to get your copy!</b></font></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><font size="5"><b><br /></b></font></div><div><br /></div><div><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><strong>Night turns to day and everyone's afraid to leave their sanctuary, and yet, something threatens it. </strong></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;">A standalone horror story shrouded in mystery, where the unexplainable happens and neighbors are forced to trust each other. A slow burn that'll chip your sanity away. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><i>Just because you can't see anything there doesn't mean it's not dangerous.</i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><i><br /></i></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;">Illustrated by the author himself, see a world that has been reduced to nothing but an oasis in the dark. What recourse do you have when then those you're supposed to trust turn their backs on you?</p></div>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-24547442267681050042020-07-07T14:20:00.005-07:002020-07-07T14:43:48.506-07:00Failings of the Mind out now!<div><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08CGPBCGD" style="text-align: center;" target="_blank">Click here to purchase it on Amazon. </a><span style="text-align: center;"> </span></b></div><div><b><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></div><div><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSO6SGOj7jF14RRWEC_Cs98pEs0s54Nx9PVMsZkwaCc7QQ8XZRQ1aUPo6ov0RAwpA57KgGM9mQp3DoBgqMpYrBULKam53j2cQPP0lyz7wamgpMxLww7ExJqGpTRNQoTvAc_Q8g5VlvPs/s2560/Failings+of+the+Mind.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtSO6SGOj7jF14RRWEC_Cs98pEs0s54Nx9PVMsZkwaCc7QQ8XZRQ1aUPo6ov0RAwpA57KgGM9mQp3DoBgqMpYrBULKam53j2cQPP0lyz7wamgpMxLww7ExJqGpTRNQoTvAc_Q8g5VlvPs/w391-h625/Failings+of+the+Mind.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></b></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;">I hope you enjoy it. If you do, leave a review and tell your friends, every little bit helps!</span></div><div><span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="background-color: #eeeeee; font-size: 14px; text-align: center;"><font color="#333333" face="arial, sans-serif"><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">What can you do when the familiar turns into the unfamiliar and all the rules that you believed to be unbreakable are shattered right in front of your eyes? </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">12 unique horror stories that include ghosts, possession, existential crisis, desolate hellscapes, cursed families, and more. Whether you're looking for a thrill or a way to lose your grasp on the familiar, there's a story that'll touch a nerve for you. </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Illustrated by the author himself, you can explore a world where that which was meant to live only in myth and folklore comes to life, and the basest of mankind's instincts are trifled with by ancient oddities.</p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Dare to see the worst mankind has to offer, and how even that can be too low for those who've long wandered an uncaring universe. </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">Stories include: </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• A Scent of Vanilla </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Skin </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Solipsism </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Visions of Hell </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Ichstab's Loch </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• The Consumption </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Fear the Living </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• The Abyss </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Heartbeat </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• The Witches </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• Breathless </p><p style="font-weight: bold; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: start;">• The Old Man</p></font></span></div>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-66337913510537018982020-07-06T17:10:00.000-07:002020-07-06T17:10:23.994-07:00Short Story Cover+Title Reveal!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopVV1CPz3Irof2pYbYQA7ik16SeREnpdeVubpvokuc5eqQV8gReqW3KNC8IfT1Qcfw0eycTMLyklUVppFKMOlHjlSKSnr6-QPetAVQ23aT4-TZIl-s7eZOMgQRoQGhRnO2XeXT-lhqrc/s2560/Failings+of+the+Mind.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2560" data-original-width="1600" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhopVV1CPz3Irof2pYbYQA7ik16SeREnpdeVubpvokuc5eqQV8gReqW3KNC8IfT1Qcfw0eycTMLyklUVppFKMOlHjlSKSnr6-QPetAVQ23aT4-TZIl-s7eZOMgQRoQGhRnO2XeXT-lhqrc/w391-h625/Failings+of+the+Mind.jpg" width="391" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The book's already in review and should be up in the next few days. I wanted to share the review and title of the book. Failings of the Mind, because when you're afraid, your head's the last thing you can rely on. </p>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-45732858792860808802020-07-02T14:25:00.004-07:002020-07-02T14:34:07.425-07:00I'm publishing a Short Story Collection on Amazon + PREVIEW<div style="text-align: justify;">Hi. It's been a while since I posted here, with life and college getting in the way, but I've since graduated and have had more time given the pandemic forcing me to stay indoors. Fortunately, I like writing and had a few short stories with similar themes already written, so I'm currently editing them into a collection, which will be uploaded to Kindle soon. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The following is one of the short stories that will be included, so if you enjoy it, check back soon so you can get the rest. I'll make a new post to let you know. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><h1 style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN">A Scent of Vanilla<o:p></o:p></span></h1><div><span lang="EN"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSOXjt3KHXXb0g4c5HasM3qPlzpw4esWrw3DEyuVeDknM2WXACVamOH3isfa2Dn1tvm4g9-i9tzcBQQ3Em5JaU9XhWPfqnvuFwEqF2befI3Y37n43HUN7SIeM9lJ_2t308bcEGjZioT0/s1102/Sample+short+story.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="735" height="625" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSOXjt3KHXXb0g4c5HasM3qPlzpw4esWrw3DEyuVeDknM2WXACVamOH3isfa2Dn1tvm4g9-i9tzcBQQ3Em5JaU9XhWPfqnvuFwEqF2befI3Y37n43HUN7SIeM9lJ_2t308bcEGjZioT0/w416-h625/Sample+short+story.png" width="416" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> I
met her at the fair, right after the sun went down behind the hill and twilight
turned to night. Her pale face shone under the white shroud of the harvest moon,
and even in the darkness, her tattered, black dress stood out in the crowd. She
faced me, but I could feel her eyes on the back of my head, no, she could see
right through me.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“I’m Selma,” she said, with a tone cold as
the chills she gave me every time my eyes met hers. It was exhilarating. I gave
her my name, and she gave me her hand, bright next to mine, and we explored the
fair together. There was a gallery of odd folk going about their performances;
a strongman lifted half a car with his bare hands, a pinhead pierced his skin
without a single flinch, a contortionist bent her body like water, yet none was
such a spectacle to me as the pale girl herself.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> Her
vanilla fragrance permeated everything around us, and every breath I took drove
me ravenous. As a shark smelling blood, I was ready for a frenzy. She knew it;
I was but an open book to her, free to peruse as she desired, and all I could
do was wonder whether she was a lioness, stern but loving, or a mantis, ready
to devour me as soon as she was done. Whatever the case, I couldn’t resist her.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">There was a pack of boys who were raised by
wolves. One of them caught her fragrance and approached us with curiosity, but
when he came close to us, he panicked and hid under the table, whimpering for
somebody to come save him. The rest of the cubs didn’t dare approach us after
seeing their brother’s confidence crumble, but they did pull him from under the
table. They had better self-control than I did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“I want to know what your fortune is. Let’s
look for the gypsy, she’ll read your tea leaves,” Selma said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Oh, you can’t believe that. What do the
stars have to do with what goes on in our inconsequential lives?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Been there, done that, but I’m curious for
your sake. You never know what the heavens have in store for you, and I’m
hoping it’s good.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“What about you? Ran out of destiny?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Go on in,” she said, not even acknowledging
my question, “I’ll wait for you out here.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> I
entered the purple tent, careful not to knock down any of the beady curtains,
and sat down in front of the gypsy. “I hail from faraway lands between the
Hindu and the Caucasus, and it is understanding the night sky that have let me
and my people survive, for the battle is already won if you know your destiny
beforehand.” She took water from a bucket and poured it in a bronze pot, then reached
next to the shrunken heads for leaves. “You smell nice, what is that, vanilla?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> “I
like -”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> “Oolong
tea, I know. What I don’t know is what the leaves will say once you’re finished
drinking, so that’s where you’ll have to help me, boy. Even though the kettle’s
boiling, I feel nothing but cold tonight. Curious. Here, drink up, and do it
quickly, for the moon is large but the night is short.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> She
tipped the cup into my lips, which were burned by the scalding tea. Even with
the fragrant drink right under my nose, all I could smell, all I wanted to
smell, was her. Before I set the cup on the table, she snatched it and swirled
it around, letting the leaves set where they may. “This has been coming, though
I wasn’t sure when to expect it. Boy, you will see death tonight, and that’s
all I shall say. Now get out of my tent.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Wait, am I in danger?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Do you believe you are?”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“A sheep may believe he is safe next to a
wolf, but that won’t save him from a predator.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Wise boy, but this is not the issue
tonight. Go.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> Selma
and I sat down next to the food stands, facing the wheat fields beyond the fair
grounds. We held hands and ate cotton candy, enjoying the heavenly bodies that
revealed themselves to the naked eye. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Where are you from?” I asked. I couldn’t believe
I went my whole life without knowing her; the only thing that would make sense
to me was that she came from out of town. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“I’m from around here,” she said, “I like
to spend my nights around the fields, though I’m not really a morning person. I
like to watch the crows sleep; they usually gather on the branches of those
willows over there.” She pointed to the hills behind the field. “We can head
over there right now, watch them rest if you want.” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> We
walked all the way to her favorite resting spot, next to the Crying Caves,
under the Mother Willow. Its branches were adorned in black bark; the tree was
dead ever since I could remember. It never broke down. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Lovely night to watch a murder,” she said,
and we sat on a patch of grass. The wind flowed uphill and caressed our skin as
it flew to the sky, and it rustled the Mother Willow’s crows, who were in their
deep slumber. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“I imagine you see a lot of stuff if you’re
around here every night. Are the stories true?” <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN">She nodded. “On a
night, just like this night, many years ago, a girl lost her way, and by chance
ran into this cave, forced by circumstance, be it a stalker, a storm, a wolf, even
her own father, depending on who you ask, and of course, the poor little thing
couldn’t deal with the cold and died from exposure. Ironic, isn’t it? If she
was technically indoors. And it’s ridiculous, this is a small town, someone
would’ve come to look for her. Someone should’ve. I’ve never heard cries, out
here, at least, not my own.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> She
stood up, dusted herself off, and gave me her hand to hold, beckoning me to
explore the Crying Caves with her. There was eagerness in her dark eyes, though
her smile only involved her lips, but caves were dangerous even in the day, whether
they were haunted or not. And we knew better than to come around here. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Nobody’s gone in there,” I said. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“Better yet, nobody can harm us.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“What about wild animals? Even if the cries
are a pack of foxes, we’d be imposing.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN">“We won’t,” she whispered, and she helped me
up. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> Once
inside, light was but a distant memory, yet I couldn’t bring myself to let go.
Not even the wind flowed in here, my feet felt nothing but bare
rock and dust, and after a few minutes, not even the ground registered. We were
alone in the world and I felt nothing but her touch. I was overwhelmed by her
scent, her essence, it was as if vanilla grew off every wall, in every nook. I
had to have her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> “Kill
me if you must, but take me, Selma, cherub or harlot; if I’m certain of anything,
the last thing you are is human.”<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN"> I
had never been loved by a woman like that before, and I’ve yet to live it
again. By the time we were finished, my energies were drained, my body was
cold, and I shivered until I slept, without letting go of her. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN">I felt her hand on
my chest and awoke with a whisper. “Thank you,” she said, and the first rays of
light entered the cave. I was laying on a mound of vanilla pods, and next to
me, a skeleton in a tattered black dress held me with its coarse face pressed
into my ear. </span></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span lang="EN"><br /></span></p></div>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-66286025940916148962018-09-10T16:44:00.001-07:002018-09-10T16:44:04.869-07:00An Introduction to Suicide<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhY7wGHfX8aW8Kr8ukq6bgAQ1VGj9LLUzIRNBYfs1Ojm2Z9JWb3XZvVS4NZ2UpSRlSKJ99CnbspuAsAhL4yg4dJ9SaJ_bkGgeX5xlhwMy6uP2Oje1ymrqI-1sow8CXYuGjx7YhxzvbL4/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjhY7wGHfX8aW8Kr8ukq6bgAQ1VGj9LLUzIRNBYfs1Ojm2Z9JWb3XZvVS4NZ2UpSRlSKJ99CnbspuAsAhL4yg4dJ9SaJ_bkGgeX5xlhwMy6uP2Oje1ymrqI-1sow8CXYuGjx7YhxzvbL4/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's World Suicide Prevention Day. This morning, a high school student went out with a self-inflicted gunshot, which sent ripples through the city. It's clear that we have to talk about this, but you can't slay your enemy if you don't understand it, so I'm going to help you understand a bit of what it's about. It's still a taboo subject in most places, and it's uncomfortable to talk about because it implies suffering, which we don't like to deal with. That's all right, that's instinct, but you're going to have to forego that instinct for a little while.<br />
<br />
Let's talk numbers first. I'm going to refer to the statistics on suicide in the United States, but note that this will vary per country. The rate is 13.32 per 100,000 individuals, which gives 123 suicides per day, of which 51% are done with firearms. men die by suicide 3.53 times more than women, with white males being 70% of total suicides, and with the highest rate being those in their middle age. If we look at the numbers in Mexico, we'll see that around 80% of suicides are men, which makes a greater ratio between man and women than in the U.S. Keep in mind that women attempt suicide more, but they tend to use weaker methods like pills, while men typically use more efficient methods which get the job done.<br />
<br />
The great question is: Why? Why do something as irrational as suicide, something which goes against one of the pillars of our existence: The will to live? We're meant to do our best to survive, after all, so wouldn't this be the very last thing that we'd try to do next to literally anything?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KtEuxZ8SiktlPeP7NJiwnsAPpX6qLB0LTMKu33qSGzpfivsPCntoGv9nMQd6OeMLtnvG8Y3Wy3jvh-DvBJ5LQyWA_uBuQSIP0VzSiQAyZw2NCY9Yiklhxu9QUzXhOvlrejvmrGSi5iM/s1600/https_%25252F%25252Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%25252Fuploads%25252Fcard%25252Fimage%25252F29757%25252Fe6c94c0e4ba84a7b987c2e6c2143b048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="534" data-original-width="950" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9KtEuxZ8SiktlPeP7NJiwnsAPpX6qLB0LTMKu33qSGzpfivsPCntoGv9nMQd6OeMLtnvG8Y3Wy3jvh-DvBJ5LQyWA_uBuQSIP0VzSiQAyZw2NCY9Yiklhxu9QUzXhOvlrejvmrGSi5iM/s320/https_%25252F%25252Fblueprint-api-production.s3.amazonaws.com%25252Fuploads%25252Fcard%25252Fimage%25252F29757%25252Fe6c94c0e4ba84a7b987c2e6c2143b048.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
We like to explain things that are hard to feel empathy for by separating ourselves mentally. Nobody likes to think that they have mental issues of any sort, so they'll be quick to say that suicide is almost exclusively a mental health problem. It's the same sort of logic that makes you think the Nazis were beasts who couldn't possibly be human when the truth is that under the right circumstances, you could've done the same. What Carl Jung called the shadow self is uncomfortable to face, especially if it's comprised of mainly your negative aspects. Would you admit yourself a beast, or prone to suicide if you were troubled in some manner?<br />
<br />
<i>“What man actually needs is not a tensionless state but rather the striving and struggling for some goal worthy of him. What he needs is not the discharge of tension at any cost, but the call of a potential meaning waiting to be fulfilled by him.” Victor Frankl </i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXDrgMaVm3hvi5xad-pDavgGVeQT1HCxnxo1yUuKZdXLalFkxEtCDRRcPOn3-vBDKvw4nTcJipXVCAxVvn5QurQ7MdkS4TEcr_pzkmn42PZwevvJr4FiQiYcSjluzz3dgKejpBmQmws8/s1600/RobinsoloCamcrop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1597" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOXDrgMaVm3hvi5xad-pDavgGVeQT1HCxnxo1yUuKZdXLalFkxEtCDRRcPOn3-vBDKvw4nTcJipXVCAxVvn5QurQ7MdkS4TEcr_pzkmn42PZwevvJr4FiQiYcSjluzz3dgKejpBmQmws8/s320/RobinsoloCamcrop.jpg" width="319" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Currently, there's a popular sort of meme which goes into depression. You go into Twitter, and it looks like half of the population wants to have sex and half the population wants to die. There are different degrees of suicidal thought that range from passive to active, with the most passive being something along the veins of "I'd rather be dead" to the more active being "I'm going to kill myself at 'x' place and 'y' time", with memes about depression being passive, just not the bare minimum.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Keep in mind that most people aren't actively looking to die, but developing an indifference to staying alive. </h3>
<br />
Sometimes you're poking fun at yourself, and sometimes it's a cry for help. Part of it is the fact that it's becoming more socially acceptable to express your grief, part of it is a coping mechanism, and the truth is that humor is what gets a lot of taboo subjects into the public spotlight in the first place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOUtf-kte15o4UB7hO3c8T-sh_mcFBM0KVwlEH-W4OuCZkgUIN_cY25K3u9aQakPDih0UebscP8pw7kxER_e_vtUUMNWDSU0Vu8Ua6G55QVuzKrNCK1MLYFndhmQMrcBH1ZJ10_sScug/s1600/33bwbk81xcn01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1144" data-original-width="1280" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisOUtf-kte15o4UB7hO3c8T-sh_mcFBM0KVwlEH-W4OuCZkgUIN_cY25K3u9aQakPDih0UebscP8pw7kxER_e_vtUUMNWDSU0Vu8Ua6G55QVuzKrNCK1MLYFndhmQMrcBH1ZJ10_sScug/s320/33bwbk81xcn01.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There's also the social reality to consider. It's a common situation now that people make less money than their parents, sometimes by a wide margin, and what seemed to be the American Dream is slowly slipping away.<br />
<br />
Picture this: You're not reading like a rockstar, but you've got family, friends, a nice enough job, you make enough to live comfortably. You're waiting for the next season of your favorite show, or maybe the second part of Infinity War, there's music you like, books you enjoy, all in all, you're living in a relatively good situation. Then you find out that you get a terminal illness that won't be noticeable to you at all regarding physical symptoms, and that you don't really have any way to fight it, and the truth is that you're not really affected by the news. That's the mental state that you'll find a lot of people in.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrtt6iebNIT_GCio8toc6U1F6TCWd9UgonnMQtclLqzNSkYtt_Ht2MAT5IerGdp4EgjfiUc9u_JgO4IcDsnqEd0FlcIr64auD7IX119K2Nwt7J-9n156k7_4eTgZ4ozJ5cLw7Cd1kzpg/s1600/547772604_640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="360" data-original-width="640" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkrtt6iebNIT_GCio8toc6U1F6TCWd9UgonnMQtclLqzNSkYtt_Ht2MAT5IerGdp4EgjfiUc9u_JgO4IcDsnqEd0FlcIr64auD7IX119K2Nwt7J-9n156k7_4eTgZ4ozJ5cLw7Cd1kzpg/s320/547772604_640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Maybe you'd think that person's missing love. So, what, he or she goes to a bar, festival or whatever, and find a life partner there? Maybe on tinder? Maybe travel and find someone abroad? It's not exactly easy, and for most men, overrepresented in the statistics, about 80% of them, any sort of chance at love would be a blessing, and it wouldn't be optimal.<br />
<br />
Maybe we look to the future, but what do we see? A planet that's been ravaged by humanity for the last century? In my city, we get to see our mountains bombed for making cement, and we have to live in a nearly consistent dust cloud, and the guys who pocket the money get to see their children develop leukemia and other diseases. Maybe it'll eventually be worth it on a personal level, but all we've got for a crystal ball is a shitty present that was sold to us as a bright future.<br />
<br />
If the point of living is "just to live", then is that really a point? Jordan Peterson, one of the most intelligent people, recently come upon the public scene with the strength of a typhoon, speaks a lot about the purpose of life, which can be summarized as "find the heaviest cross you can find, and bear it". This can explain why you'll see suicide as a more common problem in the developed countries, as the third world usually doesn't have time to ruminate on their mental health issues and, rather, has to focus on actually surviving.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XGHKObjWgP83q-vsrD_4yEsceFpnIzCWeZxDoCQ5Sp8jOD_sIP8mWu1ZA-yVJ9AT8AInin7PW06fk-qDkfnAYVjbJrKWDAU3nYdjbqsBXvqBuu1DJ61dUtxxkRg0UzB-I4kwa-XzaPY/s1600/C_aV7PHUQAAf9Rr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="698" data-original-width="984" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7XGHKObjWgP83q-vsrD_4yEsceFpnIzCWeZxDoCQ5Sp8jOD_sIP8mWu1ZA-yVJ9AT8AInin7PW06fk-qDkfnAYVjbJrKWDAU3nYdjbqsBXvqBuu1DJ61dUtxxkRg0UzB-I4kwa-XzaPY/s320/C_aV7PHUQAAf9Rr.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The feeling of rather being dead, which can easily escalate into "I'll kill myself like this at this time", grows common as people come to be more isolated from the rest of society. If you can't find your place, and if you feel as more of a burden, an annoyance, than a boon, then you'll inevitably try to change that, whatever the cost may be, without considering the possibility that you indeed are loved by others who, at the very least, don't mind having you around, and would more than likely be devastated were you to leave them in any way, shape or form, especially through the permanent path of death.<br />
<br />
What do people have to look forward to? If you're young, it's usually something akin to "at least forty more years of hard work", and all the time you'll probably feel something is missing. God is dead, but what substitutes him? The state? Corporations? What's left but powerlessness and dread? Why do you think escapism is so popular? Why the post-apocalyptic genre is seeing a revival, not as a fear of some Cold War rivalry, but as wishful thinking?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnngmpoyh8OADY50_WlHzoLV61NNdjL1kCXxQg8mZK7bjptuwy4kfbx5QRWo7Z976qsnPcLJyuC4BuzRyi10k6OzKT5uIcMn7Q7UWLMdk48_lZ7Y2i6iJjs1f-GsQ5go6E4xjwlZ9pAbc/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnngmpoyh8OADY50_WlHzoLV61NNdjL1kCXxQg8mZK7bjptuwy4kfbx5QRWo7Z976qsnPcLJyuC4BuzRyi10k6OzKT5uIcMn7Q7UWLMdk48_lZ7Y2i6iJjs1f-GsQ5go6E4xjwlZ9pAbc/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Even the present is a shitshow, especially with the advent of social media meaning that you're going to end up comparing yourself with everybody else's highlight reel, and the "Fear of missing out" will hit you like a freight train, with the unfortunate reality that you will end up missing out on some things because you're not a god, you can't be omnipresent.<br />
<br />
If you can understand the mentality behind the last few paragraphs, then you can take the first steps to solve the problem. There's a whole slew of other problems, be it economic, social, romantic, what have you, that will contribute to a person's indifference to living or active death wish, and it'll take a systemic change to get rid of all that baggage, which means that it's more likely than not that this either takes a long time or doesn't get solved at all. I'm not here to tell you what to do; there's already a lot of good literature on it. I'm also not here to preach about the nature of suicide as a psychological or sociological phenomenon, but I do hope that reading this gave you a bit of insight into the mentality of the majority of those suffering from suicidal thoughts. Understanding the problem is the first step to solving it.<br />
<br />
Further reading:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://afsp.org/about-suicide/suicide-statistics/" target="_blank">U.S. suicide statistics</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.mexicosocial.org/index.php/81-arts-destacados-home/294-suicidio-uno-de-los-retos-del-2018" target="_blank">Mexico suicide statistics</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm_2zmX6Akc" target="_blank">Jordan Peterson on fighting depression</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm_2zmX6Akc" target="_blank"><br /></a></div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-4547236717182626492018-07-07T07:24:00.000-07:002018-07-07T07:26:09.222-07:005 Ways Modern Life Makes Us Sick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t4rkHNXw-fh1fIAnwIzuYF_EpVFmAThKBywDXsJXmWoM3hFeX69UuBBjojlw-SYzO1eN8wfzqplrusgXGw1_AtNKhrFug-_w-2hYy-W1nPFYVYtiNHSqYgn9J_PAgeNvVN2HiMipfzA/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t4rkHNXw-fh1fIAnwIzuYF_EpVFmAThKBywDXsJXmWoM3hFeX69UuBBjojlw-SYzO1eN8wfzqplrusgXGw1_AtNKhrFug-_w-2hYy-W1nPFYVYtiNHSqYgn9J_PAgeNvVN2HiMipfzA/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
It's a no-brainer that the way we live nowadays is so different from our more primal days, so much that, were any of us taken back to those times, death would be more likely than survival. The same could be said about the reverse, but the lifestyle that humanity used to have was better suited for us. After all, we'd evolved around it.<br />
<br />
When speaking of illness, there are two factors to consider, the physical and the mental. If we're dealing with a hierarchy of needs, though, and there <i>is </i>a hierarchy for everything, then we see that, to survive, the physical must be taken care of first.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: Lights on</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WreEDvEzrvvSON7cRCVpvEqeS86QIwyYNmQu34fhGZIRXpVnqjeKbWFm5r2Q1Eux7b057gul5Kn_my9S4LNuznq0_tFAfqd5TMUoudsFg6nTNMO1w_cRXy-mUQJcx33aujFDryHLQyk/s1600/5a165789fc7e93c8048b4569.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="506" data-original-width="900" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1WreEDvEzrvvSON7cRCVpvEqeS86QIwyYNmQu34fhGZIRXpVnqjeKbWFm5r2Q1Eux7b057gul5Kn_my9S4LNuznq0_tFAfqd5TMUoudsFg6nTNMO1w_cRXy-mUQJcx33aujFDryHLQyk/s320/5a165789fc7e93c8048b4569.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
One of the main things that we lost with the arrival of civilization and technology is that of the natural cycle of the day, from campfires and torches to the screen on your cell phone. The world is getting brighter, and it's less expensive as we go along. Places which have never been lit are getting illuminated, and where there is light, it can shine far into the night depending on how late businesses close.<br />
<br />
There are a few unintended effects on the environment beyond actual pollution. Insects can get attracted to buildings and leave their ecosystems. Sea turtle hatchlings go towards the light and can get snatched up by predators before reaching the sea. Trees bloom out of season, which leaves them vulnerable.<br />
<br />
Humanity also pays a price. We sleep later and with less quality because melatonin is disrupted by artificial light. In fact, the way we rest has changed, for we used to sleep in two periods of around four hours that were separated by one hour or two of a near-sleep state, and it's a pattern that we acquire when we remove light pollution.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4: Just five more minutes</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Speaking of sleepless nights, it's one of those issues where the health benefits are insurmountable, and at the same time, it can be devastating if you don't get enough. With our fast-paced, high-pressure lifestyle, some of us can barely find the time to sleep, and even when we do, we can struggle to get there. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You'll have a harder time focusing on simple tasks, and that goes for general function in your brain, and that can lead to accidents if you're not careful. You'll be forgetful. Your mood will be volatile, so mind your manners. Since your hormones are all messed up, you'll also be hungrier and it'll be harder to control yourself. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There have been recent findings that sleep deprivation can also induce suicidal thoughts. Granted, this is if you already have depression, but it's like adding gasoline to a fire that you're trying to put out, especially considering that some depressed people have a lot of trouble getting to sleep in the first place. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
3: Pour some sugar on me</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-mLV7v9lJ1IN5NZrla6fC90dy1JiqnTj1QDR3wsobrR76KZlJzcnIPdm1EYHdcjRGWyflNyCa49bhMKtMGaIthISt2fKpyjZfhK5m0Qg01-rNX-6-jI7Ns-jUlVDrslkw9_fqtmXmsY/s1600/How-Much-Sugar-Is-In-Your-Food_blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="850" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5-mLV7v9lJ1IN5NZrla6fC90dy1JiqnTj1QDR3wsobrR76KZlJzcnIPdm1EYHdcjRGWyflNyCa49bhMKtMGaIthISt2fKpyjZfhK5m0Qg01-rNX-6-jI7Ns-jUlVDrslkw9_fqtmXmsY/s320/How-Much-Sugar-Is-In-Your-Food_blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist and then convincing it to eat more sugar. If you live outside of the United States, then this isn't as much of a problem, but it's still an issue. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1819573" target="_blank">A study published in JAMA</a> found that adults who consumed over 10% of their daily calories from sugar were at a higher risk of heart disease and other conditions. Main sources of sugar were soda, juice, desserts, and candy. They also found that the more sugar you consumed, the more total calories you ingested in the long run, which seems like a no-brainer until you remember that sugar in itself has addictive properties. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The lack of protein, fiber or any other nutrient that could come with sugar is also worrying. Empty calories are to be avoided if you <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-lose-weight.html" target="_blank">want to lose weight</a>, after all, or you'll still be hungry after finishing even a full meal if you're not careful. The average American eats over three times the daily limit for sugar, so it might be a good idea to check your habits and see what you can change about them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
2: Just a little mad</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
As society gets better at remembering everything you do, it's less likely that you can lash out and get rid of any negative feelings in a quick manner. Instead, what most people do is hold it in. There's a sweet spot which will help you think more rationally, but it's hard to stay there. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anger is bad for the heart, and I'm not being metaphorical. Heart disease has a correlation with pent-up anger that never sees the light of day. If you can use it to be more productive and actually face your issues, then you'll get resolution and the effects on your health will be the opposite. This goes beyond any cardiovascular disease, for example, strokes can come from anger. Your immune system is affected as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anxiety and anger go hand in hand. If you have Generalized Anxiety Disorder, then this just makes it worse, and more difficult to handle. Depression comes as a next step, and their relationship is pretty much the same. Try and find a way to let your rage and grudges go, and you'll find yourself just feeling better and living a longer life. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
1: Idle legs are the devil's plaything</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYjFcr3-zSBW9TixPwznbGjl6JkNwfvgBhzZXITr62MGq6mas_lXoHw9ECmzxiiQW5SceeEFEP-OCAmvGVGCAygoPE2B94hyphenhyphenXyrvVDLjuSUFwvcV6UvfVu9AbQOJ94gDU1sw98aqun50/s1600/sitting11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="705" data-original-width="940" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMYjFcr3-zSBW9TixPwznbGjl6JkNwfvgBhzZXITr62MGq6mas_lXoHw9ECmzxiiQW5SceeEFEP-OCAmvGVGCAygoPE2B94hyphenhyphenXyrvVDLjuSUFwvcV6UvfVu9AbQOJ94gDU1sw98aqun50/s320/sitting11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Sitting. It can be comfortable, especially if you're overweight, better than just standing around all day, right? Well, no. It's not just about the lower amount of calories that you burn when you're on your ass, or its correlation to obesity, or its correlation to high blood pressure, or its correlation to high blood sugar, or its correlation to high cholesterol levels, it also puts you at risk for cardiovascular disease. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're sitting over eight hours a day with no other physical activity, then you're just as likely to die as an obese smoker. Try to change small things about how you go through your workday. Get a standing desk. If you can't, take a rest from sitting every half hour. Stand up while watching T.V., talking on the phone, reading a book, playing games. Just the amount of<a href="https://lifehacker.com/standing-for-3-hours-a-day-on-weekdays-is-like-running-1447078889" target="_blank"> calories that you can burn </a>alone is reason enough to get off your caboose and walk around a little, even if it's just in circles.<br />
<br />
There isn't any way we could revert back to the system that we used to have before modern life kicked in. The truth is that this has been gaining momentum for thousands of years, and it's likely that we'll come to adapt to it biologically given enough time, but meanwhile, it's a good idea to get a natural rhythm of sleep, watch your anger, and just stand around for a while instead of sitting around all day. </div>
<h3>
Further reading:</h3>
<div>
<a href="http://time.com/5033099/light-pollution-health/" target="_blank">Light pollution and health</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1819573" target="_blank">Sugar study</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.healthline.com/health/sleep-deprivation/effects-on-body#1" target="_blank">Sleep deprivation</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.psypost.org/2018/06/bad-nights-sleep-linked-suicidal-thoughts-following-day-people-depression-51389" target="_blank">Sleep deprivation and suicidal thought</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/ways-anger-ruining-your-health/" target="_blank">Anger and health</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/sitting/faq-20058005" target="_blank">Sitting and health</a></div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-42075880574411899042018-07-04T13:35:00.001-07:002018-07-04T13:38:05.667-07:00An Introduction to Synesthesia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B0BifPhr0-DrV5NR4g87T5whq8rX7SQHAplJ2MVI9QSjjchefx-WDdA8xXtmP5Pb8HQ41CD-HMyPjgf1-bIn-g6hcRYGNViTrJhMwsNjjlvYNzY2skScndp0MqPFllzi3wSYoTif6-8/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_B0BifPhr0-DrV5NR4g87T5whq8rX7SQHAplJ2MVI9QSjjchefx-WDdA8xXtmP5Pb8HQ41CD-HMyPjgf1-bIn-g6hcRYGNViTrJhMwsNjjlvYNzY2skScndp0MqPFllzi3wSYoTif6-8/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Synesthesia is pretty close to a superpower. Think about sense. How we process the world impacts the way life itself can feel. Go to a concert with a blind person, deaf, and normal person, and they'll all give you wildly different accounts of what they went to do. That goes for just about anything. Sight, hearing, taste, smell, touch.<br />
<br />
Our senses can work together to paint a vivid picture of the world, but for most people, this is superficial. Food will taste better if you can smell it. You can predict how some texture will feel by sight alone. If you're in the wild, you'll rely on your sense of hearing because, by the time you actually see a predator, it'll be too late. We have more than those, of course, but today we're focusing on people who have a deep synergy between them.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfNsb9nCKLnqUy9N_mjfD0IkGyHd5qSKYfuzl_dxEHKHOkseVrSIsXRXoZIDjOPEAf2O9k1ydaldtbWxMCelc9zVOnWdSQHPDj0m3NQFRmCLnbs7jfjOoTOsK5xayFBGsICZRNRRivc/s1600/texture-background.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTfNsb9nCKLnqUy9N_mjfD0IkGyHd5qSKYfuzl_dxEHKHOkseVrSIsXRXoZIDjOPEAf2O9k1ydaldtbWxMCelc9zVOnWdSQHPDj0m3NQFRmCLnbs7jfjOoTOsK5xayFBGsICZRNRRivc/s320/texture-background.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Imagine running your hand over this bad boy</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
This is a tough one to diagnose, mostly because it's not a condition which gets in your way that much, and you could not even realize you have it until you realize that other people don't. Since it's something that always happens to you, then it never really seems off. Though some think of it as some sort of handicap, the truth is that synesthetes see it as a better way to perceive the world and even use it in organizational or creative endeavors.<br />
<br />
There are two main forms of synesthesia. Projective synesthesia means that you see actual colors and forms when stimulated, and associative synesthesia you have a strong connection between the stimulus and whatever sense it triggers.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cgJWoQXTecMLH4jSQWh7MvzjlOBpUWz38Cm5S-UCP6keqEZ9BbB1ZL0brezRHm2GTKcC4Uj3m7JRNEuzMxOAaGaBUXKBZnzD7ERFUHlyjv-QS9JBHmAMjEhxWhCryVJS81RfrZNgO0Q/s1600/Creative-3D-colored-alphabet-design-vector-02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8cgJWoQXTecMLH4jSQWh7MvzjlOBpUWz38Cm5S-UCP6keqEZ9BbB1ZL0brezRHm2GTKcC4Uj3m7JRNEuzMxOAaGaBUXKBZnzD7ERFUHlyjv-QS9JBHmAMjEhxWhCryVJS81RfrZNgO0Q/s320/Creative-3D-colored-alphabet-design-vector-02.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Seeing a letter or a number with a specific color or shade is the most well-known display of synesthesia, but there can be other variations. You can associate color with sound, for example, or you can see music projected on a "screen" in front of you, and even have a preference for a certain shape. Some see numbers as a point in space so 5 can be further than 8, but that'll be closer than 2. One of the least common forms of this condition is actually getting physical sensations that come from sound.<br />
<br />
One of the more interesting ones has to do with sequences. You can associate a certain day of the week with one form of personality, some number might be a tranquil old man, some letter might be an irritating woman, but it's not been studied much.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBBOPoucMGjTatZuyeVAsdw5jdtqKmpn3Kb-RT5cgF8NRbIvZigjUp6R5mGekyqrHfAX6WHjjA4TfuIFYgRqlqB3X1xVIhN9SQYmBe4j-WwnS_LN3AjNbCXIkB9lmSVM08pvH4PUMXEg/s1600/hamlet_with_synesthesia_by_thegizmocalamity-d50mdki.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="900" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBBOPoucMGjTatZuyeVAsdw5jdtqKmpn3Kb-RT5cgF8NRbIvZigjUp6R5mGekyqrHfAX6WHjjA4TfuIFYgRqlqB3X1xVIhN9SQYmBe4j-WwnS_LN3AjNbCXIkB9lmSVM08pvH4PUMXEg/s320/hamlet_with_synesthesia_by_thegizmocalamity-d50mdki.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A particularly strange one could be called an intense case of empathy if I've ever heard of one. Imagine that when you see somebody being tapped on the shoulder, you'll feel just as if they were tapping you. I wasn't kidding about the empathy either, it's been found to have a high correlation with this sort of synesthesia.<br />
<br />
There are many more, at least 80 forms, if current research is to be believed, so it's likely that most of the population does have some variation of this, albeit one that's unknown or not highly researched. If you ever find yourself associating sights and sounds, numbers and colors, touch and shapes, or anything that isn't actually related, then pay attention, you might have some form of synesthesia.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Further reading</h3>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0262516705/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0262516705&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=2f4b045b93b06a90ae48e16fb5b404e3" target="_blank">Wednesday is Indigo Blue</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/synesthesia" target="_blank">Psychology Today</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.sciencemag.org/news/2018/03/synesthesia-s-mysterious-mingling-senses-may-result-hyperconnected-neurons" target="_blank">Synesthesia’s mysterious ‘mingling of the senses’ may result from hyperconnected neurons</a>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-47660994891789392412018-06-30T13:39:00.001-07:002018-06-30T13:39:18.176-07:005 Ways Your Mind Can Trick You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji14HJawpGSCJKqV882in7xzAznH9e3qBt8IOIzZykd4HaSE78okJ8G9-oDPdhhbT9DYAPrWctvHmZy0uWNFhIY4VrE4f9FXVi9I-Nhr7SLqsRwN9QVfDpBEn2B_BPp-XVADvXzALnYYs/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji14HJawpGSCJKqV882in7xzAznH9e3qBt8IOIzZykd4HaSE78okJ8G9-oDPdhhbT9DYAPrWctvHmZy0uWNFhIY4VrE4f9FXVi9I-Nhr7SLqsRwN9QVfDpBEn2B_BPp-XVADvXzALnYYs/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Fallacies exist in every way, shape, or form, including the cognitive, which is the type we're focusing on today. They shouldn't be confused with logical fallacies, which you can either use to fool your opponents or avoid it to be a more legitimate debater, rather, these are tricks that your mind plays on you.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The mind is designed to make decisions as quickly as possible with the input that we have available. These mental shortcuts can be handy, especially in dire situations, but sometimes our mind just can't cope with different issues such as some overabundance of input, social pressure, or emotions. It's the same as stereotyping. Your mind needs to act quickly, but this can come at the expense of the best results from time to time. Here are a few ways your mind can trick you. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
5: Confirmation bias</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vt8y0y8Am8VfZEALKdtI9X3MAssPRkvA8hXSZZazEuwELqCH00i3demiSdOdnh1BJU8bhOjdMYs9O3B25NHK8mvtUIjI7Eww-ab-mvza_1bWXgQfmlJv2rQE7lvKVGFMNkf48kfZm1k/s1600/parties.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="219" data-original-width="476" height="146" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9vt8y0y8Am8VfZEALKdtI9X3MAssPRkvA8hXSZZazEuwELqCH00i3demiSdOdnh1BJU8bhOjdMYs9O3B25NHK8mvtUIjI7Eww-ab-mvza_1bWXgQfmlJv2rQE7lvKVGFMNkf48kfZm1k/s320/parties.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
If you have some ideology or worldview, it's more than likely that you've fallen for this fallacy before. Facts are facts. Sometimes we can't get ahold of them all, but two plus two is four and that's always going to be the case. That doesn't mean we don't interpret them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Confirmation bias means that you'll generally prefer information that will confirm your beliefs, as well as ignore that which contradicts them. The United States, with both sides of the political spectrum defending their two candidates who have their own faults, while completely ignoring those faults, is an excellent example. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
4: Self-serving bias</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
"Thank God that the first twin survived, but damn you, doctor, for having let the other one die." That's the sort of sentimentality that this bias serves, but it's applied at an individual level, so when bad things happen, you'll blame others, but when good things happen you'll attribute it to yourself. You won blackjack because you're good at counting, but you lost that other hand because the damn dealer rigged the game.<br />
<br />
There's what you can and can't control, and though sometimes you can come out on top due to your own merits, there are in fact many things that can propel you to greatness that <span style="background-color: rgba(246, 213, 217, 0.804);">are </span>beyond you. That's not a bad thing, though, that's life. The same goes for failure. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
3: Actor-observer bias</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_xULSoNuY8vYye1ewB6QVLK5DHRMQNFvIygpjq99FZx1DyAV3t4segv7gD2tg0udXRyk8cjMfxLQkl87Apv7l0XGGhKxbGLnhwlcN8TjnXk2LrDY9OcJDZPadzdofu-Bew-3iRn98nA/s1600/QE-e1465575773188.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="257" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK_xULSoNuY8vYye1ewB6QVLK5DHRMQNFvIygpjq99FZx1DyAV3t4segv7gD2tg0udXRyk8cjMfxLQkl87Apv7l0XGGhKxbGLnhwlcN8TjnXk2LrDY9OcJDZPadzdofu-Bew-3iRn98nA/s1600/QE-e1465575773188.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is the polar opposite of the last fallacy. You attribute your own actions to external causes but you believe that everybody else does exactly what they mean to do. You've got a bad lung because your parents weren't ever fit, but Jimmy can't run from one end of the street to the other because he's been smoking since high school. </div>
<div>
<br />
You may want to keep this in mind whenever you're out on the road because most cases of rage come from believing that the jackass in front of you is swerving or driving slow on purpose when there could be many more reasons that he's driving like a prick. He might be late, sick, or otherwise unaware of your presence. </div>
<h3>
2: Anchoring bias</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
A handy tool for any good negotiator, this means that you'll be anchored to the first piece of information you get as a reference. If I tell you that my old beat up Honda goes for 13,000 dollars, then you'll think that I'm giving you a sweet deal when I sell it to you at 11,000, when the average price could very well be 10,000. This goes beyond business, though, and you can use it for any situation in which you need to be persuasive. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
1: Optimism bias</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoV6KYIgZur14uADkI7Ly8O0siuLPV6p9CaFh81-Rvg6wTetQjSCG0DtCTCWtSFmNkyiqGFfVyusrouK5uOWx30fBcfIUkk7ftfsZF2rLosu0g9ylKc0q5Q0tb32qTmMhA-_XNp6rvQzc/s1600/C7YOBvVWwAEITLA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="408" data-original-width="700" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoV6KYIgZur14uADkI7Ly8O0siuLPV6p9CaFh81-Rvg6wTetQjSCG0DtCTCWtSFmNkyiqGFfVyusrouK5uOWx30fBcfIUkk7ftfsZF2rLosu0g9ylKc0q5Q0tb32qTmMhA-_XNp6rvQzc/s320/C7YOBvVWwAEITLA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is the mentality that you get whenever you enter a contest, go gambling, or play the lottery. You believe that things will go better for you than for anybody else, which can be too much optimism for your own good every once in a while. How long will you live? How smart will your children be? How successful will you be? If it were up to any of us, better than anybody else, but the reality is that averages exist for a reason; most people are around that point. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you're not going to check yourself with your doctor, you stop wearing your seatbelt, neglect your savings, or sabotage yourself in any other way, then beware, and build good habits again, because nobody's safe from misfortune. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Whenever you make a split-second decision, stop and think why you did so, and what factored into it. Chances are that at a second thought, you'll find that your logic had some sort of error and it'll be better to reevaluate your choices. Don't let your mind trick you, and you'll be better off for it. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-49957078451768183872018-06-29T14:37:00.000-07:002018-06-29T14:37:12.885-07:00Yet Another 20 Prompts to Kickstart Your Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJWKDTREqH6De94WLtF-ZrhmsajK2q_AhdOTLwptw_pSjGSjtJZ1aqDYUlIMFOgmm7EkiPHMAoX5OxhwAZ-N_NvU05zEUjfZPp7LB-KzCtLbdU_ViwOql6rIKkGtZkPT7niFbAfhu-fI/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIJWKDTREqH6De94WLtF-ZrhmsajK2q_AhdOTLwptw_pSjGSjtJZ1aqDYUlIMFOgmm7EkiPHMAoX5OxhwAZ-N_NvU05zEUjfZPp7LB-KzCtLbdU_ViwOql6rIKkGtZkPT7niFbAfhu-fI/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So it's Friday and you've got nothing to do, so you might as well sit down and crunch a good story. The hard part is coming up with something to write about, fortunately, here are some more writing prompts just in case you need a little bit of inspiration.<br />
<br />
You can also check out the <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/20-prompts-to-kickstart-your-writing.html" target="_blank">first </a>and <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/06/20-more-prompts-to-kickstart-your.html" target="_blank">second </a>parts of this series by clicking on the links<br />
<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Make your character as miserable as humanly possible</li>
<li>Write about some place that you avoid in real life</li>
<li>Take a story with common tropes, and make them stand out from the rest</li>
<li>Make two characters with the same name, and distinguish them only through dialogue</li>
<li>The whole world uses the same currency now</li>
<li>Establish a character's greatness, and destroy it by the end of the story</li>
<li>Take an everyday habit of yours and make it a horror story</li>
<li>Everyone can only speak in rhyme, and they hate it</li>
<li>The universe hates your character and always stacks the odds against him</li>
<li>Aliens have invaded, but humanity can barely comprehend them</li>
<li>Write about a glitch in the Matrix</li>
<li>Make a villain who is actually the good guy</li>
<li>Attach your emotions to an inanimate object</li>
<li>Invent a story behind your favorite sculpture</li>
<li>Take a great concept that was wasted on a bad movie or game</li>
<li>Write about your favorite trip</li>
<li>What is the opposite of a Mary Sue?</li>
<li>Think of an ideal time, and write why it wasn't</li>
<li>What if we didn't use oil as fuel?</li>
<li>Nuclear winter, how does the world survive?</li>
</ol>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-83048408935605462762018-06-27T09:25:00.001-07:002018-06-27T09:25:17.594-07:005 Folk Horror Stories From Mexico<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PNZUY8LF4zRE2WdmQsWW-HClozI93VahuPKlADkcIj9oaVlOeMmcrQIfAGOA5phUdC8Kr5ZBSYGovLlqIm5gopUiI5R4ipF61Ccl8GJq0w79GItQl3CyVghO7w4HZoELlN1U8yadEtY/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9PNZUY8LF4zRE2WdmQsWW-HClozI93VahuPKlADkcIj9oaVlOeMmcrQIfAGOA5phUdC8Kr5ZBSYGovLlqIm5gopUiI5R4ipF61Ccl8GJq0w79GItQl3CyVghO7w4HZoELlN1U8yadEtY/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
A caveat, a lot of these horror stories are shared throughout Latin America and even back in Spain so some of these may have other versions in other countries. Seeing as we just lived a horror story in our game against Sweden, it seems only appropriate to share the ones we have.<br />
<br />
Horror is the gift that keeps on giving. Everyone has their own boogeyman to deal with, and some excellent storytellers, like Guillermo del Toro, have given the world a taste of what we can come up with given enough imagination. Here are a few of the stories that we've inherited from our strange past.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: El Chupacabra</h3>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cDeCsRusInHzSz9OxhFiK_OqW1VBhEC10xaQ5vZZ0bG0cXIpJ9bhFEn67Dys3V2ltcWKQQ8W05f7I-LrAJzRYAcT3RcPlNjrR1x07qM_IwC4YeScKgbtNINA-0OrQ2XS85BG4Zy7Czk/s1600/naked-bear-Alliance-DPA-Photoshot-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1071" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2cDeCsRusInHzSz9OxhFiK_OqW1VBhEC10xaQ5vZZ0bG0cXIpJ9bhFEn67Dys3V2ltcWKQQ8W05f7I-LrAJzRYAcT3RcPlNjrR1x07qM_IwC4YeScKgbtNINA-0OrQ2XS85BG4Zy7Czk/s320/naked-bear-Alliance-DPA-Photoshot-facebook.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's a naked bear, but you get the idea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
We're starting off with a simple concept. This is one of the more famous tales, and there have been "sightings" all across the continent, including in the southern United States, and it's not uncommon to see news from even reliable networks concerning the possibility that it chose to attack a farm.<br />
<br />
This beast is said to be like a vampire and a lizard, which comes at knight to suck all the blood out of the cows in the fields, though he could go for small animals. Now it turns out they could be <a href="https://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/10/101028-chupacabra-evolution-halloween-science-monsters-chupacabras-picture/" target="_blank">particularly bloodthirsty foxes</a> suffering from mange.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4: El Coco</h3>
<br />
Also known as Cucuy, Cuco, and anything you could think of along that vein, really, this is the region's actual Boogeyman. He's particularly useful for parents, as he's what comes to get you if you misbehave, and there are variations in how he's portrayed, from a man with a hollow pumpkin for a head to a fanged creature.<br />
<br />
I used to take things literally so I thought he was a flying coconut.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3: The Ghost Bus</h3>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbtxVVVlasPl_aMde34_pMtCNioCOPPkstG4s1hBolgVoPnTBa8NY-en38fCtgH36Iekb4wZycjDhrsGqIv96idKoRgV6Hz3E-3k2WDG0mT27htg0KUjh0Hij7bB8siGAuSH4H236RMM/s1600/rusty-abandoned-bus-and-sunrise_25083-147.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="417" data-original-width="626" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbtxVVVlasPl_aMde34_pMtCNioCOPPkstG4s1hBolgVoPnTBa8NY-en38fCtgH36Iekb4wZycjDhrsGqIv96idKoRgV6Hz3E-3k2WDG0mT27htg0KUjh0Hij7bB8siGAuSH4H236RMM/s320/rusty-abandoned-bus-and-sunrise_25083-147.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The old highway from Toluca to Ixtapán was pretty dangerous. Though most of the highways have sharp turns due to the mountainous terrains of the country, this one was surrounded by an abyss. The night this bus took the route, it was raining and darker than usual, and the driver, careless as he was, went too quick for the old brakes to work. Some died then and there, a few others died from the wounds or from the bus catching fire, but there was nobody around to help them.<br />
<br />
Nowadays, an old, but well-preserved bus will appear on the highway, and if you hop on, it'll take you close to where you're going. As you're getting off, the driver will tell you not to look back until the door is closed, lest you stay in the bus for eternity as well, but if you do turn around before, then you'll see the bus and its passengers as they were after the crash, and your ghost steps back inside.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2: The Girl in the Graveyard</h3>
<br />
In Guadalajara, many who have gone to visit their beloved departed claim to have seen this girl. This began in the 30's, when a family took their girl to the cemetery to say goodbye to a family member so she could learn about the concept of mortality, despite others' wishes.<br />
<br />
When they returned to their home, after weeping for the recently deceased, they forgot to realize that they hadn't brought the girl with them, yet when they returned to the cemetery, she was nowhere to be seen. They asked around with their family and the police, but nobody saw her. When they went to bury somebody else, it turned out that the girl had tripped and bumped her head, which led to her death, but if you bring toys to the cemetery she'll be glad to come out and play.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1: La Llorona</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG9770_0XE1d-MsxARxdpr78EjHEXoX_2cOTxF27yGuE1cNjPU_jNGgs7wNnkFuW2XjHpR1-YGMIo0NyD3fRuJM8iG6U7JiLw36hKviFlsoTjENgY1rLDSkN5f1vLyknIS4BuplgMfTQ/s1600/leyenda-de-la-llorona.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="543" data-original-width="1000" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrG9770_0XE1d-MsxARxdpr78EjHEXoX_2cOTxF27yGuE1cNjPU_jNGgs7wNnkFuW2XjHpR1-YGMIo0NyD3fRuJM8iG6U7JiLw36hKviFlsoTjENgY1rLDSkN5f1vLyknIS4BuplgMfTQ/s320/leyenda-de-la-llorona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
You can't have Mexican legends without mentioning this one. This is probably the most famous of them all, and for good reason.<br />
<br />
Some say this was a common indigenous woman, others say she was the Malinche herself, but it always speaks of an affair with a Spaniard from which three criollos spawned. As the Spaniard was ashamed, he avoided her, but she needed somebody who was willing to take care of the children, so she kept insisting for him to stay. Still, he abandoned her and married another Spanish woman.<br />
<br />
Enraged and deeply saddened, the woman took her three children to the edge of the river and, embracing them with all the strength she could muster, drowned them, then ended her own life to avoid dealing with the guilt.<br />
<br />
Ever since that day, people see the pale ghost of a veiled woman calling for her children. Some say she walks, some say she floats, but all of them say they hear the same lament. There's also a version for children which, like the boogeyman, is told to make sure they behave, as if they don't, the woman will mistake them for her own children and take them with her. Some also say she's an omen of death, similar to a banshee.<br />
<br />
Whether these stories are based on things that actually happened or not, Mexican folklore tends to involve feasible acts so as to make them hit close to home. We do have monsters, sure, but most of these things could have been believed at some point. I find that fascinating. We'll explore other regions and their own horror stories, so be sure to check back.JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-66533456283248391302018-06-23T12:57:00.001-07:002018-06-23T12:59:53.187-07:005 Ways to Make Weight Loss Easier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2wQcbQDledOG84jKoVDqsHHAo2x0kOXQrC7v2whv_WhWCGklAi7xL32FK-vgj88WGT-dgL2U57TJ04-bD-CeZ9loORNn0TYb02sB6uVcVsE_YGAB35vPUPEpS6agcxpwQmGey5YjQ1Q/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim2wQcbQDledOG84jKoVDqsHHAo2x0kOXQrC7v2whv_WhWCGklAi7xL32FK-vgj88WGT-dgL2U57TJ04-bD-CeZ9loORNn0TYb02sB6uVcVsE_YGAB35vPUPEpS6agcxpwQmGey5YjQ1Q/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Most people who try to lose weight will fail. It's my intention to help you be part of that small percentage of people who do get to succeed. Motivation, as I've mentioned in other posts, isn't what will get you through to losing weight, rather, discipline, which is more consistent. The problem with discipline is that it's like a muscle. Exert it too much, and it'll fail.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The trick with dieting is that you have to organize yourself in a way that will help you need less discipline than usual when you're controlling what you eat. This can go from the types of foods you eat to how you eat them, and many other factors. Let's go through them. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
5: Change your mindset</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Some people go on these extreme diets which involve restricting yourself for a week to the point of exhaustion, and after having lost a couple of pounds, usually water weight, they go back to eating like they used to, none the wiser. It's not unknown for some to compensate and actually end up gaining more weight. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When you get into losing weight, you have to realize that it's a lifestyle. It's for the long term. Gradual changes or cold turkey don't matter, if you can stick to it for a month, then the next three will be easier, and so on and so forth. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Try not to look at your changes as something negative. You'll miss out on some food, sure, and some drinking, but in the long run you'll be healthier and feel better for it. That's considering that you're doing this in a healthy manner. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
4: What can you do?</h3>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy62l8U0RXkllzbOQpu3Or9dhgaEzkLwPj5ksTB4xPb2SXsr4rem3gS9WouB9PAmDCsAq65IJ7plL0moFMiyrezfF2IECe_vYuM1uQaRN8ZPpWYwSDughQZoEu67xVVvj8bAbza6iwL7Q/s1600/201208-omag-quiz-half-empty-glass-600x411.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="411" data-original-width="600" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy62l8U0RXkllzbOQpu3Or9dhgaEzkLwPj5ksTB4xPb2SXsr4rem3gS9WouB9PAmDCsAq65IJ7plL0moFMiyrezfF2IECe_vYuM1uQaRN8ZPpWYwSDughQZoEu67xVVvj8bAbza6iwL7Q/s320/201208-omag-quiz-half-empty-glass-600x411.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Do you see the glass half full or half empty? Part of what separates the men from the boys is that the men are grateful, and instead of complaining that they don't get to eat the supersized french fries at McDonald's, they can realize that the quarter-pounder isn't that bad, and the chicken is even better. You can eat fries, by the way, just don't go overboard. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although this is a part of changing your mindset, it's important to highlight this point, most of all because the origin of your actions will affect your outcome. Yes, restriction is a part of dieting, but that's not a bad thing by reasonable measures. You can't do it all the time, though. That's why the industry advocates cheat days, which should really be called cheat meals because a bad day can stall your whole week. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
3: Mind your hunger</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Part of extending your disciplinary willpower means that you'll have to reduce your suffering one way or another. I like chewing gum, diet coke, and drinking a lot of water throughout the day. It keeps me perpetually satisfied. Not full; you need some actual protein for that, but it gets me through the lows. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a strong correlation between eating quickly and being overweight. It's a well-known fact that your stomach and your brain need a while to synchronize and let you know when you've had your fill. Some people advocate intuitive eating. Stop eating when you're full and only eat when you're hungry. If you've gotten to the point where you're at a healthy weight for somebody two or three feet taller than you, then your intuition probably isn't as finely-tuned as you'd wish. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
2: Get rid of temptation</h3>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cL2ZD0n2dnjCLY9obsYvF49MuvJbVOGKLjZTq7n2sJ4dv7fkTYKc1rQofn9XUda17ioUaQN-n5I5HrWSmKjnohW4cZvF-Ztff4aItWh4Rwor6yz4iE3XoxErisL5DbN1ruLk13Wx9Zo/s1600/kick-junk-food.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="693" data-original-width="1000" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7cL2ZD0n2dnjCLY9obsYvF49MuvJbVOGKLjZTq7n2sJ4dv7fkTYKc1rQofn9XUda17ioUaQN-n5I5HrWSmKjnohW4cZvF-Ztff4aItWh4Rwor6yz4iE3XoxErisL5DbN1ruLk13Wx9Zo/s320/kick-junk-food.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Easier said than done, but you can say that for anything worthwhile. If you have any junk food that you binge on, like chips, pretzels, or nuts if you eat them by the handful, then get rid of them. Before you cook, measure your ingredients and by the time the food's done, you can't overeat. There are certain foods that you can prepare en masse, and you can have something good for the entire week, like a few big chicken breasts going towards sandwiches and other recipes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You can also make healthy food more accessible. Get a big vat of greek yogurt, some frozen berries, and throw them in a bowl whenever your sweet tooth's itching. If you want something salty, you can get some sweet potatoes chopped up and ready to throw in the oven, or some squash to salt and throw on the pot. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
1: Don't worry about the scale</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw554k91zybZafoepfyJJ0G_FSS7w1wS-0bLEwQ9no2kbayAHCZlQlUbgkH0GSfsJ9GRDYMsfCSISMxD1LhpppoV0FBjDITd319-e4QqCvW-eifbvioXIKTaJoGen3DxstZhk9MVLIfJQ/s1600/is-it-time-to-consider-bariatric-surgery-1481805118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="836" data-original-width="1254" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw554k91zybZafoepfyJJ0G_FSS7w1wS-0bLEwQ9no2kbayAHCZlQlUbgkH0GSfsJ9GRDYMsfCSISMxD1LhpppoV0FBjDITd319-e4QqCvW-eifbvioXIKTaJoGen3DxstZhk9MVLIfJQ/s320/is-it-time-to-consider-bariatric-surgery-1481805118.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The most frustrating part about losing weight is probably the numbers. You wake up one day, and you've reache a new minimum, and the next morning you found that you gained three pounds, even more if you're unlucky. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Pay attention to your clothes. The way they fit you is telling, although it's not the end-all-be-all of progress. You can also see the pictures that people take of you, and you'll notice that those ugly pictures you were tagged in are getting better and better. It's not like your friends became great photographers from one day to the next, but the material improved.<br />
<br />
If you follow this advice, you'll find that you won't run out of discipline in the short run. You still have to make an effort to maintain it for the long run, but that shouldn't be much of a problem, the important thing is beginning and keeping at it. Don't know where to start? <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-lose-weight.html" target="_blank">Read this.</a> </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-68474798100718777522018-06-20T10:12:00.000-07:002018-06-20T10:12:13.524-07:005 Native American Horror Folk Tales<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUzpPlzj_kwl_0HfHMJXQnpDWeLGjBJXnZvGhO9SbF1f-L1n4kHoGBUOlzRE-mNlX7V3NRe16NlHDqsEn9DICs92ytZ_EPZ8_uuTH3mCxLsD_PRp4aiCKmuHlKbmliZn9IUf1DGuo-sU/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifUzpPlzj_kwl_0HfHMJXQnpDWeLGjBJXnZvGhO9SbF1f-L1n4kHoGBUOlzRE-mNlX7V3NRe16NlHDqsEn9DICs92ytZ_EPZ8_uuTH3mCxLsD_PRp4aiCKmuHlKbmliZn9IUf1DGuo-sU/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Native Americans are a vastly diverse culture, despite many grouping them into one homogeneous group, and from the many tribes that have gotten to exist, we're bound to get some good stories. They're human, of course, so they have the same fears that we do, with a different way to express them. Here are some of their more interesting tales.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: Kanontsistonties: The Flying Heads</h3>
<br />
This one sounds almost likes something Junji Ito would have made up. These cannibalistic monsters came to exist because of a famine which wiped out most of a tribe. The young ones wanted to flee, but the elders were against the idea and would rather perish in their own land than leave it behind, so the young ones killed the old men.<br />
<br />
To dispose of their remains, they decided to decapitate the bodies and offer them to the gods for forgiveness, so they did, but one of the young chiefs entangled himself among the heads and drowned with them in the lake, and since then, the monsters appeared. As for how it was solved, there are two versions. In the first, one head saw the woman roasting nuts in a campfire, and when she took them from it and ate them, he thought she was consuming hot coals and fled from her apparent great power. In the other version, he stole coals thinking they were acorns and flew away in pain.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4: The Skinwalker</h3>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee_pwYKTYdxxgjZOWc9PkqaMJXo_Hv5s70oCvgSJg0DMXM1S-B-Hf5IUbhfbY22AWnMk6f2h7S8ofdvWsC3r_EVZmiD-6aUZe3aOF-Tpr4K2d05ePNqA786r2ASmKq3dBM8hiPzkHK6U/s1600/Artist_Interpretation_of_a_Skin-Walker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="270" data-original-width="480" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjee_pwYKTYdxxgjZOWc9PkqaMJXo_Hv5s70oCvgSJg0DMXM1S-B-Hf5IUbhfbY22AWnMk6f2h7S8ofdvWsC3r_EVZmiD-6aUZe3aOF-Tpr4K2d05ePNqA786r2ASmKq3dBM8hiPzkHK6U/s320/Artist_Interpretation_of_a_Skin-Walker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Navajo version of the werewolf, the skinwalker is usually a shaman who can take the form of any animal, mostly wolves, birds and bears, but if he stays in that form for too long, he can lose his humanity. There are some videos claiming to have caught them on camera, and they're usually a featured villain in creepypastas, but I wouldn't worry much about running into one of these. After all, I don't live close to the Navajo.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3: Skudakumooch, or the Ghost Witch</h3>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_zfCEr32kZgoyWLebbn_1TKzMf27LN0TqgIJ7iO2UuxqMKkm0JErWY6yYU-bt8UJmLJhz_F3HW457hMEGh3GkA4hgLRBglV75Lcg2W390y4HWGvRaFmoE5TatHKD3shfW6f5DxiCvoM/s1600/meosujnjc1ny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_zfCEr32kZgoyWLebbn_1TKzMf27LN0TqgIJ7iO2UuxqMKkm0JErWY6yYU-bt8UJmLJhz_F3HW457hMEGh3GkA4hgLRBglV75Lcg2W390y4HWGvRaFmoE5TatHKD3shfW6f5DxiCvoM/s320/meosujnjc1ny.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Wabanaki tribes often tell the tales of the ghost witch, said to be born from the body of a shaman who practiced black magic, every night she goes out with the intent to murder and devour any humans she may come across. They can be killed with fire, but don't make eye contact or you'll be cursed.<br />
<br />
One particular account tells of an old witch who was hanged from a tree, in a burial grove. That winter, an Indian and his wife came along, and the woman, seeing the hanging bodies, felt that sleeping wouldn't be the best course of action. The husband went to sleep anyways, and when the fire went out, the woman heard gnawing. She tried to wake the man to no avail and thought him sound asleep. That morning, she turned him around and found his left side to have been devoured, with his heart gone, so she went to the nearest lodge, told her story, and though nobody believed her, they then found his body under the witch's body in the tree. The corpse had fresh blood on its face.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2: Teihiihan: Cannibal children</h3>
<br />
These are seen throughout Latin America as cannibalistic dwarves, but as the Cheyenne spoke of them, they were child-sized humanoids that were stronger than they seemed and attacked in large numbers. It took an alliance of various tribes to wipe them out completely. They're known for managing incredible feats, including firing arrows as long as ten men and as thick as one.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1: The Wendigo</h3>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABovg3AUgMgnVqqbbArIRzkt8vmhe4bqfhL7ucT1-o22Avt1cjdtdahqdm4CVzc9OaG3yW3tvy_G6fIJKV0pxZasI1LUqTTU4iClYDWxS9ELgLMLAXBe6I9g7uMC6oyUSoJd0l3DUCrQ/s1600/Wendigo-beast.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="496" data-original-width="845" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgABovg3AUgMgnVqqbbArIRzkt8vmhe4bqfhL7ucT1-o22Avt1cjdtdahqdm4CVzc9OaG3yW3tvy_G6fIJKV0pxZasI1LUqTTU4iClYDWxS9ELgLMLAXBe6I9g7uMC6oyUSoJd0l3DUCrQ/s320/Wendigo-beast.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The greatest of the Native American legends, with the most widely-known version being that of the Great Lakes, the Wendigo is a humanoid or a human possessed by an evil spirit, with unending desire to consume and destroy humans and their environments. It's usually associated with the taboo of cannibalism because eating babies is wrong, ok?<br />
<br />
It's usually described as having thin skin pulled against its bones, eyes deep in their sockets, looking like a corpse on the prowl, and they're usually associated with the winter as well. Others saw them as giants that grew as they consumed, so they'd never be full. Some see them as the result of greed. It's said that you can identify the wendigo because they'll look like living, rotting carcasses,<br />
<br />
They've been featured in video games like Until Dawn, and they're also one of the more famous cryptids, about as famous as the Mothman. There's also creepypasta surrounding them, in case you want something that hits your nerves a little harder than the traditional Native legends, some of which is excellent.<br />
<br />
With the number of peoples that you can group in the Native Americans, the truth is that we've barely scratched the surface in the stories that they offer. You can spend a lifetime studying just one tribe, imagine the possibilities. Meanwhile, want to read more horror folktales? Check this one out on <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/06/5-japanese-folk-horror-stories.html" target="_blank">Japanese legends</a>.JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-89509789642064021212018-06-16T07:57:00.001-07:002018-07-07T07:07:56.604-07:00The Monkeysphere, or Why Society Doesn't Seem to Care<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MNLvXsy5u5hX2F9q4wSp7ehL3cTEuqg8TGHGmReolj-VYmQ4zGejxWQ7E4iUE8axftS5opAH2a7fC-s2e2AvUWofLaZNeIROJidTZBpC1Fh6D6PTbm_ANWOm-fBsvmbRlELCnxTca7U/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1MNLvXsy5u5hX2F9q4wSp7ehL3cTEuqg8TGHGmReolj-VYmQ4zGejxWQ7E4iUE8axftS5opAH2a7fC-s2e2AvUWofLaZNeIROJidTZBpC1Fh6D6PTbm_ANWOm-fBsvmbRlELCnxTca7U/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sometimes it can feel like the universe is against you when the truth is that the universe can be pretty much indifferent. This applies to nature itself, which will function as it has for millions of years without us, and humanity, which hasn't evolved in preparation for high-speed, high-pressure lifestyles and coexisting with many other people, be it millions or even just thousands.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before we were domesticated by the Agricultural Revolution, we had to function as nomads, hunting, and harvesting until whichever spot we inhabited ran out of resources, and so we'd wander around an area in a cycle. This meant that there couldn't be too many people in the same place at the same time unless you wanted to risk running out of resources too quickly.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6O1VYtzz78kAI34vR2sYQHHrGE0CAD9tVYPD2QKhvNiF909uJTV3r4ldVyjb0qsw_piK-FehY1bxnKPPpNWm-JBdsGVwjdHqGcDybWD0PQFm0HkeROfr5BTORZrnotJ2xLzvJe_uzuQ/s1600/nomads-the-levy-walk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU6O1VYtzz78kAI34vR2sYQHHrGE0CAD9tVYPD2QKhvNiF909uJTV3r4ldVyjb0qsw_piK-FehY1bxnKPPpNWm-JBdsGVwjdHqGcDybWD0PQFm0HkeROfr5BTORZrnotJ2xLzvJe_uzuQ/s320/nomads-the-levy-walk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
So, imagine one person. Say it's a man, thirty years old, tanned skin, dark hair, average build. You don't need to wonder much about what he does, as he's just a hypothetical man, but what if I asked you to imagine one hundred different people at the same time? Though each person in that crowd would be just as human as the first one, they become a mass. Indistinguishable from one another. Nay, indifferent. Would you care if one of them left? How many would there have to be for you to stop caring? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Fret not, that number has been determined. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Monkeys, curiously, can manage to survive in groups of about 50. They have small brains, so they can't really handle any tribe bigger than that, otherwise, you'll see power conflicts and tribes splitting. A British anthropologist named Robin Dunbar took their brains and compared them to those of humans, which are bigger, of course, and our greater capacity for memory meant that we could survive in tribes around <b>150 </b>people, and this was the size of roaming groups way back in the day. </div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoennHj1xj-XJVM_urjSM3hIHk92_wDlrKNBZgA1Efeitk87iS-OEHl1oCse3CccJyDXiC4aSeYtZq9c_mwYMlZqvX9uvVWxl-0V9oJmPU8kyVHB5tkEbTdarLxgk6Kw8WLy4HZGxYSxU/s1600/Monkey_and_Human_Skulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoennHj1xj-XJVM_urjSM3hIHk92_wDlrKNBZgA1Efeitk87iS-OEHl1oCse3CccJyDXiC4aSeYtZq9c_mwYMlZqvX9uvVWxl-0V9oJmPU8kyVHB5tkEbTdarLxgk6Kw8WLy4HZGxYSxU/s320/Monkey_and_Human_Skulls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Would you go out of your way to make some stranger's life easier? Say you're eating at a restaurant. You pick some stuff off the table and onto your plate so the waiter doesn't have to linger more than he has to, but you're dealing with a single waiter.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now imagine you're at a wedding or any other gala. You generally won't care, you'll leave your glasses and food on the table, sometimes you won't even mind the spills, and why? The staff that's attending you is an amalgamation of penguins and you won't find much of a difference between one or the other, so why would you care if they have to make a bit more of an effort? </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Maybe you're more empathetic than the rest, and instead of seeing the security guard as that thing that stands there in the front of the building, or the cashier as that thing which takes your money and gives you an item, you do take the time to treat them well. That doesn't mean you don't have a limit. Usually, you'll be more preoccupied about your family, friends, and some group of people, be it coworkers, classmates, students, and anybody outside of that clique you've formed becomes an outsider to you, sort of like a two-dimensional character.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nlhLt80nwLunHuzdzaQvdW5DGU4-ggztyf9C8zah3xGSz3aYBERjmM4IKZFca3ao3yHZbgzDg2AY2-N3iXr6yiuEmYnfCwTnOQqCle19jcEY4eja2t9TKLdUgLd7kQxcAIZi9AOqvCA/s1600/DunbarsNumber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="324" data-original-width="600" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6nlhLt80nwLunHuzdzaQvdW5DGU4-ggztyf9C8zah3xGSz3aYBERjmM4IKZFca3ao3yHZbgzDg2AY2-N3iXr6yiuEmYnfCwTnOQqCle19jcEY4eja2t9TKLdUgLd7kQxcAIZi9AOqvCA/s320/DunbarsNumber.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
It sounds like a small issue, but the ways it affects society cut deep. One death is a tragedy, one million deaths are a statistic, which means that you might feel just a little bit down with a mass shooting in the United States, you'll be almost indifferent to a chemical attack in Damascus unless you're very interested in geopolitics, but the death of a family member will hit you hard, and this goes for everyone, not just you. Imagine if you truly cared about everyone. You'd go insane. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Monkeysphere affects your actions as well. You're not going to screw your neighbors over because you know that you'll have to deal with them eventually, but you'll gladly ignore that the waiter forgot to charge you that second soda because why should that be an issue? This is also why religion can function so well, whichever god you worship is personal.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0eVGQmFol-EFHK1bxitvkyT-5fxtRcGyHHbQB_T4nGACsDoWkUMHw47NHuzKmHunY2ZUHOc0XSm6GUfm25nduHPLeJZt9tbQhgqE7mXpjte-Wce3erCN8d8s1gwyM7oHdf7ckdOKfVc/s1600/godadam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="217" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0eVGQmFol-EFHK1bxitvkyT-5fxtRcGyHHbQB_T4nGACsDoWkUMHw47NHuzKmHunY2ZUHOc0XSm6GUfm25nduHPLeJZt9tbQhgqE7mXpjte-Wce3erCN8d8s1gwyM7oHdf7ckdOKfVc/s1600/godadam.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Think about something you really hate. Corporate. The government. Nazis. We tend to make them entities in our minds, some sort of faceless monster when really they're just organizations made of people. A hunter and a farmer are good because they bring food to a community. Monsanto and Chinese fishing companies are evil because they take it to the extreme, and though they perform the same function on a national or global scale, we can't help but see them as things. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Stories are also affected by this. Let's take Star Wars as an example, specifically, the Empire. Stormtroopers are the faceless henchmen, a dime a dozen, bad aim, and they all look exactly the same, so when one dies, who cares? Then are the officers, who also look samey, except for Tarkin, who takes his place as the more badass of them all, and why? because <i>he destroyed a planet just to prove a point</i> and he can tell Darth Vader what to do.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVUlp2yvlP2K7cMmAFTrVEagAJUq78xtITpk7lIQAGhSapDaRTCQPO1MKBh_B32gP4KZHPt3i5lw5o2Et7Odf71-quJchnBrxVP64ZulAZOSl9C-Xw8Q3ykM0Nlisw7_dDpMPC2Rqr0/s1600/starwars-tarkin-vader.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1600" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBnVUlp2yvlP2K7cMmAFTrVEagAJUq78xtITpk7lIQAGhSapDaRTCQPO1MKBh_B32gP4KZHPt3i5lw5o2Et7Odf71-quJchnBrxVP64ZulAZOSl9C-Xw8Q3ykM0Nlisw7_dDpMPC2Rqr0/s320/starwars-tarkin-vader.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So, who cares about Darth Vader? Everyone. Since the first moment he stepped into the screen, he was kicking ass and taking names; anybody who ran into him died. Every time we learned something new about him, he came closer to our Monkeysphere. He ceased to be a mask and became a person. He became human. And the more human we saw him as, the more compelling a character he was. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Does all of this mean that you simply won't have sympathy for most people? Yeah, pretty much. You're a valet parker, you scratch a car, the first course of action will probably be hiding it as best as you can and using any plausible deniability if you're asked, and that's more often than not a big if. You're a mayor, and you can get 200 thousand dollars if you make a certain deal with a businessman who wants to build some infrastructure. The city might be the worse off for it, but not by much, and though 200,000 is a lot for one person, it's nothing if you split it between a million people. Take that sort of sentiment, imagine it happening all the time, everywhere, and you'll more or less understand why society is the way it is. </div>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ4Df4RpfVTZJ3KI1Y83MHDRy80A_Br0SYG_S2YTDe4ZymNGLQ2FgB91biBpbv6ZfZLlJdsnQfq1f-olH_CMEa8nzeKMYdbx_X7sOQyg1bWALfkf3qaQs-I_1EFIa2xNln0dLfln6PbE/s1600/reloj-maduro-tissot-cl%25C3%25ADmax.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvZ4Df4RpfVTZJ3KI1Y83MHDRy80A_Br0SYG_S2YTDe4ZymNGLQ2FgB91biBpbv6ZfZLlJdsnQfq1f-olH_CMEa8nzeKMYdbx_X7sOQyg1bWALfkf3qaQs-I_1EFIa2xNln0dLfln6PbE/s400/reloj-maduro-tissot-cl%25C3%25ADmax.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Ideally, we could find a way to pocket ourselves into groups of 150 people and roam the world again, while retaining most of our commodities. This is impossible, though, and this is why there always seems to be a war or some other sort of conflict going on in the world, and so it shall be until we either evolve some more of just die off. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The sad part is that modernity does seem to affect us adversely. <a href="http://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders" target="_blank">According to the World Health Organization</a>, around 300 million people suffer from depression, somewhere around 200 million more suffer from others, and around 75-85% of them don't receive any sort of assistance for their conditions. <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-are-12-rules-for-life.html" target="_blank">It's harder to find meaning </a>when you're one in a sort of strange mass as society is.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkC2C6EdGQvBJ70rVYzb0TS40sPzDiIldlyhyphenhyphen1nvtyk3uqSOK8QSqA7rZdSC5DQxMnXwxFMTesXf5lQV_piVbRXHT5jvFPmCji28KZyFmwKWUPxfER-9JS8_yJ9V4jljLVydfutMubKk/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="238" data-original-width="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglkC2C6EdGQvBJ70rVYzb0TS40sPzDiIldlyhyphenhyphen1nvtyk3uqSOK8QSqA7rZdSC5DQxMnXwxFMTesXf5lQV_piVbRXHT5jvFPmCji28KZyFmwKWUPxfER-9JS8_yJ9V4jljLVydfutMubKk/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Social media has caught wind of this, more or less. You'll notice that you're always going to be talking to the same people, and though you can see who else is online, you won't really check it out unless you have way too much time on your hands. Some even say that having more than 150 friends on Facebook is superfluous, but we can't resist the dopamine rush of getting likes. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Remember, the issue is not about the physical space that we occupy, but the cranial space, which means that, no matter how many people you can remember if you put your mind to the task, you'll only be able to maintain a certain number of relationships, and amongst those relationships, <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-is-pareto-distribution.html" target="_blank">some will be much more important to you than the rest</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So when you go out there to the world, I won't ask you to just try and see every single person outside of your Monkeysphere as more than a mere thing, because after a certain point it either becomes impossible or you go insane. Rather, whenever you get screwed over, I want you to realize that it's a result of the same mentality that you have and, should the places be flipped, you'd probably do the same. Try and be a better person, definitely. Now that you understand a little more of how the world works, you can go ahead and thrive in the indifference of it all. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Further reading: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/science/maria-konnikova/social-media-affect-math-dunbar-number-friendships" target="_blank">The limits of friendship</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.mattbrezina.com/blog/2010/02/social-networks-the-monkey-sphere-and-moores-law-of-human-relationships/" target="_blank">Social Networks, The Monkey Sphere, and Moore’s Law of Human Relationships</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.cracked.com/article_14990_what-monkeysphere.html" target="_blank">What is the Monkeysphere?</a></div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-3302519871403626972018-06-13T13:05:00.000-07:002018-06-13T13:18:23.943-07:00Should you lose weight for vanity?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM2muwdSBY5zwHHOi-DIeWXcgHLQpe3RmuA5tIzLKARIDLXQkSUYb84MlERcqMKNL6ITiW_oePA_9c_rj4BgjFJplq7Lje9lRtj88G2KoDcu5Rq10LQFIu2fOLrY2Fsqh0m60yY12URk/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwM2muwdSBY5zwHHOi-DIeWXcgHLQpe3RmuA5tIzLKARIDLXQkSUYb84MlERcqMKNL6ITiW_oePA_9c_rj4BgjFJplq7Lje9lRtj88G2KoDcu5Rq10LQFIu2fOLrY2Fsqh0m60yY12URk/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When you ask people why they want to lose weight, they'll usually tell you that it's for some health reason, or they're just looking to spend less on food. True as that might be, it's usually a secondary objective. Most people who want to lose weight want to look good.<br />
<br />
Is that a bad thing though?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqyBlLemRrqYit0E_fPd55FVYJ_IvcFQMA-plbkHDG19oafMqlMFa6s23mJAMfxIxAEWEPs6vpStvH-kE8ifwDkPSLNT2QWIrPW1crmrWy2kMKoycmRLKN3MrbOPN5JW-Y3OAwmdsitA/s1600/why-are-you-like-this.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="583" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAqyBlLemRrqYit0E_fPd55FVYJ_IvcFQMA-plbkHDG19oafMqlMFa6s23mJAMfxIxAEWEPs6vpStvH-kE8ifwDkPSLNT2QWIrPW1crmrWy2kMKoycmRLKN3MrbOPN5JW-Y3OAwmdsitA/s320/why-are-you-like-this.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The fact of the matter is that anybody can empathize with you. Everybody's been picked on for their looks, skinny, tall, short, whatever, but if you're fat, at least you have the means to fix that. Perhaps your former significant other broke up with you and that was the straw that broke the camel's back, so hard that you had no choice but to go on a diet. Maybe you want to fit into your nice clothes again. God knows that leather jacket looked pretty good on you five years ago, so why not make the effort to fit in it again?<br />
<br />
It may sound like a case of vanity, and perhaps that goes against your personal values. For some people, this sort of mission represents some false virtue that should be avoided. Does intention affect the results?<br />
<br />
No. Maybe it affects how you measure progress, but the results will be the same. It's like making fun of Dungeons and Dragons and finding out that you sarcastically learned how to roleplay as a charismatic bard or whatever. The intention wasn't the ideal one, but the results were the same.<br />
<br />
The thing is, whatever motivates you won't matter much at the end of the day. If you're losing weight, you're doing yourself some good, and unless you've depleted the vast majority of your fat reserves, to the point where organs like your liver or brain can't function well, then you could probably stand to burn a little bit of fat. This can be because of the endless health benefits, with less pressure on your back, a better heart, and better skin being just the tip of the iceberg or the other pros that can be brought into your life, like the Halo Effect. It's no secret that being attractive can open doors for you, and that's just part of human nature.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uQwlyNndfGx9DXA_4ej46tDZaWgcuaeDKFcPpn4dJDZvFywhfUj-g__tbMXa_9T4XGI6xguLBgUqZs1FmFrlXcaLv8DOfD64t5kEDTMercBGPVIngATUkmPjyDtEIaQ5FwfjEj4uLZU/s1600/whenyoulosefat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="757" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7uQwlyNndfGx9DXA_4ej46tDZaWgcuaeDKFcPpn4dJDZvFywhfUj-g__tbMXa_9T4XGI6xguLBgUqZs1FmFrlXcaLv8DOfD64t5kEDTMercBGPVIngATUkmPjyDtEIaQ5FwfjEj4uLZU/s320/whenyoulosefat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
When you think that your six-pack would look better on your abs than in them, be it just to look better, spite someone, or win a challenge, any of that literally doesn't matter because at the end of the day you're doing yourself a great service by being healthier. So what if there's mischief in your mind? The end result is being a better version of yourself, and perhaps with the discipline you have to apply, you'll improve on the inside as much as on the outside.<br />
<br />
That's the key to making it. You'll be motivated for selfish reasons, but the only way you can remotely hope to reach your objectives is by building discipline each and every day. You can have cheat meals, and they're very helpful for your motivation, but they must be the exception rather than the rule.<br />
<br />
So go ahead. You want your muscles to get out of their protective adipose armor? Want to look like a man instead of a fertility goddess when they see you from the side? Want to spite your ex? Maybe there's a coworker you just don't like, and you want to look better than the douchebag, go ahead, I don't care, you'll be all the better off for it. Just be healthy while you're doing it. Don't know how? <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-lose-weight.html" target="_blank">You can start here. </a>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-72977321680432310122018-06-11T10:17:00.002-07:002018-06-11T10:17:27.477-07:005 Japanese Folk Horror Stories<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIjcX57RpbxyTezZdMDKCNh1EwnDShDI2ACdEIgPRSvLV_OU7oByNKFkTV1fBIj_hWvB55fA3RsJptvRhL0Qs_Pwlz9X2IYxKfkZHVoWtxk3AShz33D6d_uy7olZORRmBLIUGZIT-giA/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHIjcX57RpbxyTezZdMDKCNh1EwnDShDI2ACdEIgPRSvLV_OU7oByNKFkTV1fBIj_hWvB55fA3RsJptvRhL0Qs_Pwlz9X2IYxKfkZHVoWtxk3AShz33D6d_uy7olZORRmBLIUGZIT-giA/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Looking from the outside, one could imagine Japan as a foreign world. Their culture is vastly different than anything conceived in the West, likely due to the long distance and their isolated nature, which gave them time to develop something different. They're still human, though, and like humans, have the same root fears which birth their stories. Here are a few of them.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
5: The Ghost of Oyuki</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs5-Rj8wuQO-pwy-uPGXN-W3Y8A1323Rc9NiJrovZm84ZlN4I8J4on5_dfv1gzEnf1is4khf3Zkiz3ubYflrUPuk9qo9awIsPJ6it9joA3S-Rd1doJ6GaXldFkZZWHuyEWGnoXq_U1b8/s1600/maruyama_okyo_the_ghost_of_oyuki.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="220" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIs5-Rj8wuQO-pwy-uPGXN-W3Y8A1323Rc9NiJrovZm84ZlN4I8J4on5_dfv1gzEnf1is4khf3Zkiz3ubYflrUPuk9qo9awIsPJ6it9joA3S-Rd1doJ6GaXldFkZZWHuyEWGnoXq_U1b8/s640/maruyama_okyo_the_ghost_of_oyuki.png" width="166" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a famous painting of a female yurei, which is what they call their ghosts. This one was painted by Maruyama Ōkyo, founder of the Maruyama-Shijō school of painting. According to the inscription, the artist had a mistress at the Tominaga geisha house, who died young, and he, naturally, mourned her death. One night, the woman appeared at the foot of his bed, and he couldn't get the image out of his head, so he painted her as he saw her, pale with black eyes and long, disheveled hair. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
4: The Speaking Skull</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Back in 1300, from a temple in the Nara prefecture called Kanko-ji, lived a monk named Doutou. He did well for his community, even paying out of his own pocket to have a bridge constructed, so he was loved by the people. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
One day, Doutou walked across the valley with his disciple, Manryo. On the path, he notices a skull that had been covered in mud, bitten, scratched, and nearly broken, with only bits of flesh left hanging on. Saddened by the abuse the skull came by, Doutou commanded his disciple to take it high up the path and prop it up next to a tree. Manryo did as he was asked and hid the skull with branches. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Later that year, a man requested entrance, having come down from the mountains to see with his own eyes that who they called Manryo. Once they met, the man told him that he was greatly indebted and that, having brought nothing, if Manryo would follow him home, he would be repaid. The disciple didn't understand, but given the enthusiasm, went anyways. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before him was a great feast, and the man told him to eat up and began to devour the food himself. Manryo wondered what he'd done, but the man wouldn't answer and would shove food down his mouth if he tried to ask. Once he was full, the man's face changed and he beckoned the disciple to flee with him, for the brother who had murdered him had arrived home, and Manryo managed to put the pieces together.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He was unable to run, though, and when the door opened, he saw not the brother but his son and mother, who was surprised herself and asked what a monk was doing in her house. He told her the story, and when he looked over his shoulder, found nobody there. The mother listened with shock, though, and was angered at having had one son kill the other, and so she took her grandson to be forgiven for his father's sins. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
3: The Hunger Gods</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMFRsaASt3HYFXy1-MVfr6Ec4HgbWG5BSXSuZ1ARv_MnXg98Pge9wpAfVTPIDhqKYX4M15DEHgoih4p34TDrPpRAVPgM6HAAAU5_z4AgBz4IAhZI2pjp88IgrHMQSDWQMtrG8fS_3Gs/s1600/hidarugami-mizuki-shigeru.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="614" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtuMFRsaASt3HYFXy1-MVfr6Ec4HgbWG5BSXSuZ1ARv_MnXg98Pge9wpAfVTPIDhqKYX4M15DEHgoih4p34TDrPpRAVPgM6HAAAU5_z4AgBz4IAhZI2pjp88IgrHMQSDWQMtrG8fS_3Gs/s320/hidarugami-mizuki-shigeru.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The Hidarugami are said to be the spirits of those that have starved to death in the mountains. Due to the lonely and suffering nature of their deaths, they turn to vengeful spirits and wander looking to make others suffer.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you run into a Hidarugami, you'll suffer strong hunger, fatigue, and numb limbs, you won't be able to move and you'll collapse. If you're killed, you join their ranks and wander the mountains looking for hikers to murder by starvation, but you can prevent this by eating a mouthful of rice or grains. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are variations of this ghost through Japan, with the ones in the Shiga prefecture forcing you to rip people's stomachs open to search for undigested food, in the Mie prefecture, they'll also attack livestock, and in Kochi, Nagasaki, and Kagoshima there are small shrines that are said to ward them off from attacking. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
2: The Inviting Ghost Hand</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You wake up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, for a glass of water, anything really, and out of the wall, a ghostly hand sticks out, beckoning you to come. When you walk into the room, though, it's empty, and you most likely encountered somebody who died in that very room but had little strength to manifest itself. Usually reading a prayer at the closest temple in their name will fix the issue. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h3>
1: The Blind Female Musician</h3>
</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLbTfUcATgEpf-Iw4kuQ902NwTjOwTeRE0CrSXOht9WcpjwZmDD4800y7HzpCKsVWVh-5rIFp6MZeAjuxCixue7DholgIwJq0-0nMR1agr3o1J7dN5EzyFzSDCXKc9YXQGq4nlO373gk/s1600/50c2f4e8e6d875f82ce1393a4db505be.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="882" data-original-width="469" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqLbTfUcATgEpf-Iw4kuQ902NwTjOwTeRE0CrSXOht9WcpjwZmDD4800y7HzpCKsVWVh-5rIFp6MZeAjuxCixue7DholgIwJq0-0nMR1agr3o1J7dN5EzyFzSDCXKc9YXQGq4nlO373gk/s320/50c2f4e8e6d875f82ce1393a4db505be.jpg" width="169" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Although ghosts by themselves can make a story dreadful, this one's true horror. This was in the Kyoho era. A samurai named Kanji was making his trip to the capital at Edo when he stopped at an inn along the way, and from his room, heard the most beautiful voice in his life. It came from the next room and belonged to a goze, a blind woman who made her living from wandering the country and playing her music. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He imagined she must be as lovely as her voice, so he hid and ravaged her. She wasn't easy on the eyes, though she was pretty happy thinking she finally found love, and so the man traveled with her briefly, before pushing her into a ravine, thus murdering her. He went on and never looked back. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The next year, he made his trip to Edo, and when he stopped at a temple in the mountains, she appeared to him. "I have no eyes, but I see you now," she told him. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He was dragged from his bed to the graveyard. She stopped, embraced him and pulled him into the earth. The monks heard noises and followed the trail, and after getting their shovels, dug into the grave, where they saw Kanji's body wrapped by a woman's corpse. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Japanese horror is different from Western horror in the sense that it's more subtle. There are fewer monsters, per se, and more spirits of people who died in gruesome manners, so their apparitions are their final emotions repeating themselves through history. We'll go through folk horror from other regions, so stay tuned. Meanwhile, be nice to people and pick up the skulls you find in the middle of the road (or don't if you don't want your fingerprints at a crime scene); you never know when you'll need to get along with a ghost.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Further reading:</h3>
<a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/06/why-we-love-horror-and-how-it-came-to-be.html" target="_blank">On horror and how it came to be</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/creepy-japanese-urban-legends/jenniferlennon" target="_blank">More stories</a><br />
<br />
This blog's owner is pretty knowledgeable on Japanese Folk Horror<br />
<a href="https://hyakumonogatari.com/2013/10/18/10-famous-japanese-ghost-stories/">https://hyakumonogatari.com/2013/10/18/10-famous-japanese-ghost-stories/</a></div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-17268843911919692752018-06-09T13:43:00.000-07:002018-06-09T13:43:16.107-07:00What this? 10 Words You Can't Translate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmfOLtGfrtQa8beVex998kne8VIfB15UMQyEsWkod1ObPHHosYrxgeeqJ3pMPcAGqtPrT20SQVL-FOgqDkOnllsFDbeqqkifVPXO0_wAt7EYiLQO31ObxFOQxMaHW4Mgg5xSlPmMtcRo/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmfOLtGfrtQa8beVex998kne8VIfB15UMQyEsWkod1ObPHHosYrxgeeqJ3pMPcAGqtPrT20SQVL-FOgqDkOnllsFDbeqqkifVPXO0_wAt7EYiLQO31ObxFOQxMaHW4Mgg5xSlPmMtcRo/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Language. Not entirely unique to humanity. Though we share the non-verbal with the rest of the animal kingdom, the ability to communicate precise thoughts through spoken or written words is unique to us. It's thought that some of the deepest thoughts by the greatest philosophers couldn't be fully expressed to us because there just weren't any words to express it, a terrible tragedy, to say the least. If you're not going to learn another language, which you should, then at least you can get an edge on your psyche with these emotions that just can't be put to a single word in English.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br />
<h3>
10: Sehnsucht</h3>
"The inconsolable longing in the human heart for we know not what"; a yearning for a far, familiar, non-earthly land one can identify as one's home. If that's what the Germans coined, then the answer probably isn't over there.<br />
<br />
Although you can translate this word as simply "longing", or more literally to "long addiction," it's the specificity that makes the word special. If you're ever homesick for a place you've never been to, then there's probably not much you can do to get rid of that feeling except somehow get busy. Hiraeth in Welsh is pretty similar, or fernweh in French.<br />
<br />
<h3>
9: Mamihlapinatapai </h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYwkS82QjoooLWqjazNtpPM-0Q-F7042ZAZLExepiiyzWWIvycDWH7AhiPHWNPgibyI1BVW15GtSDhHcA6HsKW4xQ6o_2Fjd87Sqh3lpr7tTmJSmErdwlQVNmrqfrl4pgOhlSUSlQEB8/s1600/Signs-of-Sexual-Tension.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="456" data-original-width="792" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxYwkS82QjoooLWqjazNtpPM-0Q-F7042ZAZLExepiiyzWWIvycDWH7AhiPHWNPgibyI1BVW15GtSDhHcA6HsKW4xQ6o_2Fjd87Sqh3lpr7tTmJSmErdwlQVNmrqfrl4pgOhlSUSlQEB8/s320/Signs-of-Sexual-Tension.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
What a mouthful. "Two people looking at each other, each wishing that the other will begin an action that they both desire but are unwilling to suggest or begin themselves." Oh, that one burns, doesn't it? Probably hits too close to home for some of you guys. Certainly did for me.<br />
<br />
<h3>
8: Załatwić</h3>
<br />
"It will be done but don't ask how." It does sound like something a Polish man would say. This implies the use of bribes, charisma, networks, or anything else at your disposal to get a job done. The closest you will come to this in English is "taking care of it", but that implies a more sinister tone than our Eastern European friends would imply.<br />
<br />
<h3>
7: Maskrosbarn</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuut73C2fC2INsMcwMU6Sd_xl-_aRs3tbzdFZGdy19gOu1Gpmljp-_SnK1ZgRnmv_M3IbvV7NcyPX9z0R30Z2JuSVLUTwjdjJqqcQeSQ-KHmZP-TQ6Jb8epMYrEi4GVIsh-lENKTHTXc/s1600/BO5mmmlCYAA4lqX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="337" data-original-width="599" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZuut73C2fC2INsMcwMU6Sd_xl-_aRs3tbzdFZGdy19gOu1Gpmljp-_SnK1ZgRnmv_M3IbvV7NcyPX9z0R30Z2JuSVLUTwjdjJqqcQeSQ-KHmZP-TQ6Jb8epMYrEi4GVIsh-lENKTHTXc/s320/BO5mmmlCYAA4lqX.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
From Swedish. "Dandelion child" if you take it literally, but this is a kid who went through a tough childhood but still came out on top. Mexico is enjoying a show about just this kind of person right now, Netflix's Luis Miguel, so if you're interested in that kind of scenario, there you go. It's certainly an admirable trait.<br />
<br />
<h3>
6: Sharmā jī kā betā</h3>
<br />
Mr. Sharma's son. If your parents ever compared you to some other kid, especially when they were disappointed with you, then you'll understand what the Hindi are going on about. Nobody likes that guy. No one.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: Yahourt</h3>
<br />
This one's from the French. A foreign song that you sing despite not speaking the language, just by imitating the sounds. This can apply to anything foreign that you try to imitate, though. I imagine that they also get a taste of their own medicine with their songs that are known worldwide that few foreigners actually know the lyrics of. I'm looking at you, Piaf.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4: 被自杀</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5ankEH7q7kJNQB54shOq7Gajzd2_EF2asdRiH_a7tvkxZOIdVJKp9jn_kXQeJbxeCLikK5hTqSe76hnq5FImdqcF5PiglFNzNoCP5An1u5c_C6MbVXcXVBFsY14KYq94hfXQ-E81JNo/s1600/Black_Pearl_plank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ5ankEH7q7kJNQB54shOq7Gajzd2_EF2asdRiH_a7tvkxZOIdVJKp9jn_kXQeJbxeCLikK5hTqSe76hnq5FImdqcF5PiglFNzNoCP5An1u5c_C6MbVXcXVBFsY14KYq94hfXQ-E81JNo/s320/Black_Pearl_plank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Yeah. "Suicided" in Mandarin. Nowadays, actions that are forced upon you are given a passive ending, which gives you words like consumered, which means scammed, or vacationed, meaning you were either layed off or given forced vacations. Suicided, then, is a person who's been ruled as a suicide under very mysterious circumstances, kind of like the joke they make in the U.S. about finding leakers who killed themselves with two gunshots to the back of the head.<br />
<br />
<h3>
3: Estağfurullah</h3>
<br />
Turkish. The closest we can come to this is the concept of "Impostor's Syndrome". When someone gives you a compliment, but you know (or feel, most of the time) that you're not worthy of such compliment, you say this word as a reply, rejecting it, but at the same time, thanking them. The literal translation would be "I seek forgiveness from God" in Arabic, which is a common plea for forgiveness, and can be used for many contexts including this one.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2: Mikkabouzu</h3>
<br />
You ever know a guy who would start a project, and give up pretty quickly? Either he'd forget, or he was pretty lazy, but this would be a tendency. Mikkabouzu is what the Japanese gracefully invented to call them out, a word which means the "Three-day Monk". Sure, it's a quitter, but a certain type of quitter.<br />
<br />
<h3>
1: Bulemielernen</h3>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUzlWMHPPAW-UOJ6M8wp1EVg3xBz5h3n7uT63QFGjbiI_tZAZ8L5ur9iwK8RPT9S01shiqZy5G0FdrMO6pse14bisznlJGjnAHcyA3hRqYwBo1qJMCwX9oP4zvxM-ULWcRn7piuQA-4g/s1600/45558_lmw_new_stress1_100411o-e1457592051142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUzlWMHPPAW-UOJ6M8wp1EVg3xBz5h3n7uT63QFGjbiI_tZAZ8L5ur9iwK8RPT9S01shiqZy5G0FdrMO6pse14bisznlJGjnAHcyA3hRqYwBo1qJMCwX9oP4zvxM-ULWcRn7piuQA-4g/s320/45558_lmw_new_stress1_100411o-e1457592051142.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Give it to the Germans to just put random words together and pinpoint a real issue. Bulimic studying is what they call cramming for exams and forgetting everything the day after, this extra step being important for the distinction. Nothing short of a mental binge and purge. In French, that's called bachoter, in Polish, they call it the 3 z's, for "zakuć, zdać, zapomnieć" or "to cram, to pass, to forget". In Spanish, we call it machetear, but that's more like cramming then cramming and forgetting after.<br />
<br />
Looking into other languages can be quite the learning experience, so make sure to go and learn from them. It's nice to learn to see life from another angle, to frame your mind a different way so you can see things that you couldn't, or at least, name them. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-74942700623595866242018-06-08T10:07:00.000-07:002018-06-08T10:07:59.433-07:004 Things Nobody Tells You About Losing Weight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsSU8gV0oO1Sm3WA-6FWyNrWFWcIxMVrN32ZKa4qAVw32do91lPjC0DQhkqNu__jYAgmOjBY1nuExH-DIBsnQtXCPNF12rvG3fyuPmPfz2U7cqdvb3MXJh0gPyR5QlHeSep8jrButamA/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsSU8gV0oO1Sm3WA-6FWyNrWFWcIxMVrN32ZKa4qAVw32do91lPjC0DQhkqNu__jYAgmOjBY1nuExH-DIBsnQtXCPNF12rvG3fyuPmPfz2U7cqdvb3MXJh0gPyR5QlHeSep8jrButamA/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Losing weight won't solve all of your problems. It certainly helps to be skinny and sad rather than fat and sad, so there's that. Besides the countless health benefits that you may receive because of this lifestyle change, though, there are a few that are negative, or if somehow positive, can carry negative connotations.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Your butt will hurt</h3>
<div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNJdT89dp44Dfrn9jVwl_Dpw39fd1h5OzyICWoGzHKHyrprWFC645WyvO2rVKMCSxoXTm6_DqOdZex_Z0siGZhrqDZLjYZTp-NEjX1k28SLcdXGtb7GNRYgZf1TwzuZdh3LL-9C8Zubw/s1600/Uncomfortable_Chairs_7a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="585" data-original-width="468" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioNJdT89dp44Dfrn9jVwl_Dpw39fd1h5OzyICWoGzHKHyrprWFC645WyvO2rVKMCSxoXTm6_DqOdZex_Z0siGZhrqDZLjYZTp-NEjX1k28SLcdXGtb7GNRYgZf1TwzuZdh3LL-9C8Zubw/s320/Uncomfortable_Chairs_7a.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You're probably used to sitting around on any hard surface without much trouble, and that's good and all, but it's not so fine when you lose your cushion down there. Suddenly, you're going to need more comfortable seating options because that rock just won't do it anymore and you'll be hurting your tailbone, so carry a pillow. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
You'll get colder</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEOpwcEhOVjy9nbHwZlhfwdaPqaj6mnK1nyeJS9mz1Zz_zusAbPtp0ISMzx6yxk66ZzdHlwFpCmMCGfgz78yPqmzsXY4xllO6e-KN4O9LQh60htBHRoNBjMVa8djfTuma_SiSh9pdVW0/s1600/Cold-Weather-Movies-082215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="545" data-original-width="970" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKEOpwcEhOVjy9nbHwZlhfwdaPqaj6mnK1nyeJS9mz1Zz_zusAbPtp0ISMzx6yxk66ZzdHlwFpCmMCGfgz78yPqmzsXY4xllO6e-KN4O9LQh60htBHRoNBjMVa8djfTuma_SiSh9pdVW0/s320/Cold-Weather-Movies-082215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
This is excellent for making it through the summer. Make sure to drink some water, though, as it can still be pretty brutal on your hydration. When winter comes, you'll have to buy a good jacket to get through it because your insulating capacity just won't be the same, and you won't be the guy who can brave the cold weather with just a t-shirt. On the plus side, you'll look better in a jacket now. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
You still have to fight your cravings</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's not like once you're thin that's it. Your hormones haven't changed much, and even if you've been eating well for half a year or more, those are still new habits replacing life-long ones most of the time, which means that you'll have stronger instincts that can pull you back to your old life if you're not careful. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are ways to make this easier on yourself, of course, which we'll go through, but the fact is that until your body's hormones have adapted, <a href="https://www.futurity.org/weight-loss-obesity-1139872/" target="_blank">which is estimated to be after a year of maintenance</a>, you'll have to deal with the hunger.<br />
<br /></div>
<h3>
People will treat you differently</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzEVMtbGdyK6A2tKViPkYH_zYJTyu6k23KGHqPHChYmjE-VsXd_7V-G6OQk0IbEmfm4LOo_CBHwdESF2nUD4UCpHyyAWJg1r0tNMNS2e7i_Gfy5BmL32dKqNDOexpjhODpcZ1IKHxIFg/s1600/2014-06-20T185421Z_01_TOR354_RTRIDSP_3_USA-MUGSHOT-CALIFORNIA-5435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1113" data-original-width="908" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQzEVMtbGdyK6A2tKViPkYH_zYJTyu6k23KGHqPHChYmjE-VsXd_7V-G6OQk0IbEmfm4LOo_CBHwdESF2nUD4UCpHyyAWJg1r0tNMNS2e7i_Gfy5BmL32dKqNDOexpjhODpcZ1IKHxIFg/s320/2014-06-20T185421Z_01_TOR354_RTRIDSP_3_USA-MUGSHOT-CALIFORNIA-5435.jpg" width="261" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
This shouldn't come as a surprise if you think about it, but it still hits you pretty hard. It's no secret that attractive people can get by easier in life, and like in<a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/what-is-pareto-distribution.html" target="_blank"> any system where future success depends on previous success</a>, you'll form a virtuous cycle that will bring you more success. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, you can take it as a sad thing in that you haven't changed much on the inside but people will treat you better, or some others as a viable threat, but if you stick to that mindset you can get pretty cynical and that's no good thing either. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Instead, see it as a sign that the habits that you've built have given you good results and that you have objectively improved, and what you see on the outside is only a reflection of the hard work you've done, which is exactly how you should view it. That's not to say that you should be unempathetic to other fat people; that's a trap that some who've lost weight fall to, rather, let them know that they can do it as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Besides, being thinner means that you'll have more room to get your foot in the door when it comes to dating, which isn't a bad thing at all. That's not all there is to it, but it helps, so go get 'em. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you don't know where to start, then <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-lose-weight.html" target="_blank">read this post</a> which should put you in the right direction, or if you're thin, then read this to avoid putting on the kilos. Get a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00F3J9G1W/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00F3J9G1W&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=7c92236547845debdfa358bf31268620" target="_blank">body scale</a> and a <a href="http://food%20scale/" target="_blank">food scale</a> as well, for you're going to need those if you want to take your efforts seriously. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-32772320730981030132018-06-07T10:23:00.000-07:002018-06-07T10:23:15.217-07:0020 More Prompts to Kickstart Your Writing<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/20-prompts-to-kickstart-your-writing.html" target="_blank">See part 1 here:</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p-yyRS1ee1AQJy0D18JzoDxxP0HWQuXhmxJEDpXP3jdtg5m5n7bZwrqr-dhcj8kUliMUCw7r_TrlJwTxFZ_IblJLBvwtcEWrFbo6BbMThruU_zMfEXH9mPYdwcMfhiy5TsK0hWQQjjM/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3p-yyRS1ee1AQJy0D18JzoDxxP0HWQuXhmxJEDpXP3jdtg5m5n7bZwrqr-dhcj8kUliMUCw7r_TrlJwTxFZ_IblJLBvwtcEWrFbo6BbMThruU_zMfEXH9mPYdwcMfhiy5TsK0hWQQjjM/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
So I've done this before, but sometimes you need more ideas for your stories, something that can hit the spot. No problem. Remember, limiting your options will force you to be more creative, so give these prompts a try.<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Choose a vowel and avoid using it</li>
<li>Write a palindrome</li>
<li>Make your own Battle Royale game</li>
<li>Describe the life of a merchant</li>
<li>The first object to your left is now bound to your soul</li>
<li>Tell your father's story</li>
<li>Take a character from a book and put him in another environment</li>
<li>Survival story</li>
<li>Something scary that doesn't scare you</li>
<li>What's the Devil afraid of?</li>
<li>Take a poem and turn it into prose</li>
<li>Take a story and turn it into a poem</li>
<li>Read the news, create a fictional account of an event</li>
<li>Alter your country's history</li>
<li>Make the world understand a tyrant's reason for existing</li>
<li>Create a new continent</li>
<li>What would life be like if mild magic existed?</li>
<li>Imagination is now a currency</li>
<li>Write a religious text explaining the creation of the world</li>
<li>Make a story based on a song</li>
</ol>
<div>
I'll be posting more of these so stay tuned for that, if you haven't checked the other post, <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/20-prompts-to-kickstart-your-writing.html" target="_blank">you can see it here</a>. Let's hope you can make a good story out of it. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-73406668519893607712018-06-06T08:16:00.001-07:002018-06-06T08:20:17.470-07:00Why We Love Horror and How It Came To Be<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkSA8jqNRy9eXAZ93F2Hz-7osYKW8CN3efvIQm-k3oN9ePz18GL5Rd6UMtATYKtHfX8AJYtYZOfN2jDlXn2KTONMvKSwAiHuf_Xmlq1fmjQGruRVeiecgxYwssWpBksReC-zQutyo5LY/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxkSA8jqNRy9eXAZ93F2Hz-7osYKW8CN3efvIQm-k3oN9ePz18GL5Rd6UMtATYKtHfX8AJYtYZOfN2jDlXn2KTONMvKSwAiHuf_Xmlq1fmjQGruRVeiecgxYwssWpBksReC-zQutyo5LY/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
“The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown."</h2>
<div>
You've been afraid of the dark before. Your door's open, and you're afraid of looking through the doorframe and find someone, or something, lurking in the hallway. You tuck your feet into your bedsheets so they're not exposed, you bury your face so you don't see those things which look like monsters in the darkness, and you don't turn to look at the window because that's where anything could stalk you, watch you sleep. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Horror is one of the oldest forms of storytelling that humanity shares. <a href="http://flavorwire.com/542150/the-horror-genre-is-older-than-you-think-a-new-history-from-homer-to-lovecraft" target="_blank">The oldest recorded horror story elements come from Homer</a>, one of the more ancient Greek writers. You'll rarely find a culture without some sort of folktale that they either made or borrowed from someone else. Nowadays there are some things you'll find everywhere. The ghostly hitchhiker that kills you if you leave it stranded, and disappears after a couple of blocks if you pick it up, the specter that stayed on Earth because of unfinished business, a deal with a devil, a monster that kidnaps disobedient children. And these aren't limited to stories; the Lumière Brothers were the first to show a <a href="https://youtu.be/knSXkvluA8o" target="_blank">dancing skeleton</a> in 1885. The next year, Georges Meliès took it upon himself to record the first <a href="https://youtu.be/mw8bzC33CGY" target="_blank">https://youtu.be/mw8bzC33CGY</a>actual horror film, a little over three minutes long, that manages to portray bats, witches, trolls, and many other elements. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These stories can be cautionary, sometimes carrying some sort of moral, like Edgar Allan Poe included in <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1435154460/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1435154460&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=f880da06d8f0dae82d5780eb99ca988d" target="_blank">his best stories</a>, or they can be made up just so kids keep their noses out of your stuff. There's something fascinating about the genre, though, as most people will be drawn into it by some deep-seated curiosity of the taboo and morbid that will pull anybody in, be it old, young, man, woman, brave or cowardly. The funny thing is that something different will scare each person, but that something different tends to be a manifestation of the unknown. </div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUmZ4zg-FgaxG00Ik6P1qptLLtxaAqwxwqynIkP2shxDl6R57eyKyzFs7mnkv3oQqpLkEh7g2ElZcRNqTOsrFOhgVYygCZUKs6mMnogsSitlDuxLIbkMS97uU59YXVU_tpWqwa8AEc_8/s1600/black-and-white-morning-foggy-forest_free_stock_photos_picjumbo_HNCK0599-2210x1474.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixUmZ4zg-FgaxG00Ik6P1qptLLtxaAqwxwqynIkP2shxDl6R57eyKyzFs7mnkv3oQqpLkEh7g2ElZcRNqTOsrFOhgVYygCZUKs6mMnogsSitlDuxLIbkMS97uU59YXVU_tpWqwa8AEc_8/s320/black-and-white-morning-foggy-forest_free_stock_photos_picjumbo_HNCK0599-2210x1474.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
The fascinating thing about horror is that it tells us something about human nature, and what we're truly afraid of. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The origin of horror stories</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The more notorious ideas in horror come from ancestral fears that humans have had to deal with. Different subgenres come from different things that we've had to deal with during more primitive phases of nomads and being hunted. This is why there are few horror movies in which the monster is a modern weapon like a gun or a rife, which can certainly be used, but in itself doesn't scare us much. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Take werewolves and vampires as an example. They're the manifestation of a fear of disease, as their bite is practically an STD, but then look at how they've been transformed into a sexual creature, and there you have the Victorian idea of purity and corruption. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Speaking of Victorian ideas of purity, another fascinating tale is that of the witch. A woman who signed a deal with the devil, she dances naked in the woods and performs rituals by blood sacrifice and satanic symbolism with her sisters. Mistreat her, and she'll curse you. Convene with her, and you shall be barred off from Heaven. </div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuww5MAXed1PJRBYE8bVz8CeLBa4N2hBUZEdNCxL6y_CvUoG39A0Dov8nhgC5mJhsKE8aZtLtkgGHHFWa_o2Ki4eWua0MGi0ce8Dt2WQYtKtuluHdLHDOQxtE3Uy0Q8j45LSAFhiLK8U/s1600/pexels-photo-604694.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWuww5MAXed1PJRBYE8bVz8CeLBa4N2hBUZEdNCxL6y_CvUoG39A0Dov8nhgC5mJhsKE8aZtLtkgGHHFWa_o2Ki4eWua0MGi0ce8Dt2WQYtKtuluHdLHDOQxtE3Uy0Q8j45LSAFhiLK8U/s320/pexels-photo-604694.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Perhaps you're afraid of ghosts. Where did they come from? Some say that in the last Ice Age, whenever a nomad died, his breath would leave his corpse, and that mist is what we thought were spirits. Maybe somebody heard his house settling in the evening, a door creaking, and finding nobody else, assumed that some disembodied soul moved things around while he was asleep, just to spite him, and invented the poltergeist. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There's a scientific theory that would explain why we see things out of the corner of our eyes at certain places. <a href="https://books.google.com.mx/books?id=qdafQQ8fb8gC&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=Vladimir+Gavreau&source=bl&ots=lRWA2A2USB&sig=kuKAV9ztDg03w8raLGIkFkY_kXQ&hl=en&ei=BqGqTLL5G4rfnQen-5DYBg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Vladimir%20Gavreau&f=false" target="_blank">Vladimir Gavreau</a> noticed one of his assistants bleeding out of his ears, and looking for the reason, tried holding vibrating metal pipes next to his (unaware) assistants' ears. Vibrating metal pipes with the right length and girth could cause some pretty nasty effects from mild discomfort to actual pain, and sounds between 7 to 19 Hz would induce dread and fear. They even tried blasting these vibrations at a crowd in a concert, and one out of five of the people in it felt fear they couldn't explain.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkkZNrHc4so_KXRyx2d9G2tSeWI-X134CHyrQtgSvsSu27mY_3_BybVoWN65n8fBD1I38_StUanD1cp7FJhSkk83IyifWUM9nyYaTLcV1_UsbFLEYVvBOK1ZButVIC64PNBAOSgM9f7E/s1600/ra0761-slick-stick-web1_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1000" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfkkZNrHc4so_KXRyx2d9G2tSeWI-X134CHyrQtgSvsSu27mY_3_BybVoWN65n8fBD1I38_StUanD1cp7FJhSkk83IyifWUM9nyYaTLcV1_UsbFLEYVvBOK1ZButVIC64PNBAOSgM9f7E/s320/ra0761-slick-stick-web1_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pictured: The source of horror</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Anything that can cause these vibrations in nature tends to be big and powerful, which explains the fear. Make the frequency strong enough, and people will see things out of the corners of their eyes, sometimes even for minutes, as the vibrations are strong enough that eyeballs will be affected, even if you can't consciously feel it. If you go to a haunted house and are able to measure the vibrations, chances are that it'll be close to 19 Hz. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ghosts can come to be simply from psychological factors, though. Take darkness, shadows, isolation, and a fear of it, and your mind turns vulnerable. Give them motivations, and you can even have empathetic characters, or make them forces of nature like the Japanese do and they become this unstoppable entity which will either haunt you or hunt you for the rest of your life. They certainly have earned their place in horror. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another common fear is that of clowns, and this one exists since before Stephen King, so it's not something new either. This also goes into the fear of masks. I remember as a child watching <i>Courage the Cowardly Dog</i>, and the episode which most unsettled me was that of <i>The Mask</i>. There were uglier monsters on that show, but the fact that I couldn't see what was behind it meant that I couldn't even finish the episode because there was so much dread built in me that I felt sick. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That's a great part of it. You can't see what's behind the mask, or in the clown's case, the makeup. As a social animal, we depend on facial cues to know what a person's intentions are, otherwise, we're left blank, and a mask gives us this sensation of the uncanny valley: Something which seems close to human, but isn't quite so, which also taps into our aversion to abominations, which could be a reiteration of the fear of disease but more in the vein of "healthy people don't look like that". Leatherface and Jason Vorhees are both an excellent example of combining the fear of masks and of abominations.</div>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0xsXjHueQr9bjwyjR8xJ9Pd1M4GdiL-UXNk3l3g5Vk-Bq2oneZkxyKcfPEPj86sLZndZVOLkO1OvYPh0v5sXRy6uNzmVY7_zG8rSSlFeXP9BuK9Q-oT2m7wb_i0JRKV7OM_Msm-dV3Q/s1600/220px-Musee_de_la_bible_et_Terre_Sainte_001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ0xsXjHueQr9bjwyjR8xJ9Pd1M4GdiL-UXNk3l3g5Vk-Bq2oneZkxyKcfPEPj86sLZndZVOLkO1OvYPh0v5sXRy6uNzmVY7_zG8rSSlFeXP9BuK9Q-oT2m7wb_i0JRKV7OM_Msm-dV3Q/s1600/220px-Musee_de_la_bible_et_Terre_Sainte_001.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Zombies are a more recent phenomenon. Although there have been tales of necromancers and mummies, their first true iteration was in Haiti where some people were believed to be dead and reincarnated as a mindless minion (instead of stoned out of their minds) by a voodoo witch. Frankenstein's monster is also a classic example of this, although he was an intelligent zombie. Scenarios involving the undead tend to involve apocalyptic scenarios, and that's where the psychological factor comes in: We're a society which sees frequent economic and humanitarian crises, and zombies are a metaphor for the economic and social breakdown of mankind. The fear of disease is still there, but the ramifications are different. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Cosmic horror was created by <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0143129457/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0143129457&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=8f28885b3e3c1e8bcce8dea17ec695f4" target="_blank">H.P. Lovecraft</a>, and this one taps directly into our fear of the unknown. The basic concept is that humanity in itself is insignificant in the universe, and we're surrounded by elder gods and eldritch abominations which could accidentally wipe us out, let alone purposefully, and any character who runs into these tends to go insane.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurlp2KtiwXjbA7ppXu3zar25_4-P1Ck94K8UdV0G_KQUO4DTGs42AF_VN3POdneRoBPff6oDHH55hHu1Dnj_usHq1yAVz-l7-IcfyYghm3gEBCvulAZ79Im1Q6a50nb0lqc4KKGH8ZU8/s1600/cosmic-horror-conclusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="346" data-original-width="259" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurlp2KtiwXjbA7ppXu3zar25_4-P1Ck94K8UdV0G_KQUO4DTGs42AF_VN3POdneRoBPff6oDHH55hHu1Dnj_usHq1yAVz-l7-IcfyYghm3gEBCvulAZ79Im1Q6a50nb0lqc4KKGH8ZU8/s320/cosmic-horror-conclusion.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The current trend in novels and movies is horror turning psychological. Many of us don't fear the monster under our bed or the one in the closet, and we know enough about medicine and survival to stave off the other fears. Rather, as we run out of things to fear, our minds betray us, so we have to be careful of ourselves. Suicide rates go up and mental disorders are more widespread, because of a combination of better awareness and the high-speed and pressure lifestyle that's encouraged nowadays which takes a heavy toll on the mind. Culture can be a reflection of the times, and this is a strong manifestation. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So what is it about reading and watching horror? Is it the thrill? The catharsis? That one's been a theory since Aristotle himself. Is it the fact that whatever happens on screen can't get to us? We do want to be frightened, otherwise, we'd see these movies once and be done with it, and the fictional factor is important, for you'll find few people willing to watch actual gore. There's also an empathy factor. People are curious to know that what the people around them feel the same as they do, and that's almost always the case when the stories tap into our deepest fears as a species. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We'll be delving deeper into this topic with other posts, as it's certainly fun. Horror has brought us some of the best stories and some of the best thrills; it's a genre I'm deeply fond of. Stay tuned for more, maybe watch a nice scary movie, and try not to look over your shoulders while you're at it. They don't like being seen.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Further reading: </h2>
</div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201510/why-do-we-watching-scary-films">https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-excess/201510/why-do-we-watching-scary-films</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://flavorwire.com/592727/the-psychology-of-scary-movies">http://flavorwire.com/592727/the-psychology-of-scary-movies</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://filmmakeriq.com/courses/psychology-scary-movies/">https://filmmakeriq.com/courses/psychology-scary-movies/</a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/09/the-curious-appeal-of-horror-movies">http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/09/the-curious-appeal-of-horror-movies</a></div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-27388278930304840122018-06-04T05:59:00.000-07:002018-06-04T06:17:07.242-07:007 Lessons From The Art of War <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKuOGPaF8-jzxiqQZZHb84lVqMfYI1o-urAtzKtLtGOsAcIimh4kHVA9kFqTY_h9wPrIkNQVJc27Tmb1icBDBt8nhNtQTCIaG-1gPt7hcZswk0WmXqPFMp5Dw66od5ro1AYPQqydTSzM/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEKuOGPaF8-jzxiqQZZHb84lVqMfYI1o-urAtzKtLtGOsAcIimh4kHVA9kFqTY_h9wPrIkNQVJc27Tmb1icBDBt8nhNtQTCIaG-1gPt7hcZswk0WmXqPFMp5Dw66od5ro1AYPQqydTSzM/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Sun Tzu's <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/081331951X/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=081331951X&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=62de4b64f0019ec66e52392961ec82e0" target="_blank">The Art of War</a></i> is one of the earliest examples of a genius sharing his thoughts to the world through the written form. More than that, though, it's still a book that can help you out, if you know how to apply its lessons to your own life, as not all in war is about war.<br />
<br />
<h3>
7: Appear weak when you are strong, and strong when you are weak</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CgtxxOKCcLQwlojgRpiGIXeSKs1XidxYaVI0y9d3SgieuzOpEhxBFJf8weX8hHYqiK9ftAZFjR1eGwpQii_0vXOjBXVMvRwLkUbOdwA1GYc6abe7H0_ByzpsuJcEPJacW2dhts5LxsQ/s1600/bfa3edbdfe69578d056c3308a1cc2fa3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="500" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CgtxxOKCcLQwlojgRpiGIXeSKs1XidxYaVI0y9d3SgieuzOpEhxBFJf8weX8hHYqiK9ftAZFjR1eGwpQii_0vXOjBXVMvRwLkUbOdwA1GYc6abe7H0_ByzpsuJcEPJacW2dhts5LxsQ/s320/bfa3edbdfe69578d056c3308a1cc2fa3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Although projecting your strength can be useful for certain situations, it's better to be ambiguous about it. If you wonder how the Soviet Union managed to make it through the Cold War without being destroyed, it's because they managed to convince the United States that they were a powerful military force, stalling long enough to develop a nuclear program. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
For the flip side, appearing weak when you are strong will make your enemies underprepared for any confrontation you may have. It's better to be humble about what you can and can't do. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
6: Know the enemy, and know yourself</h3>
<div>
The actual quote is “If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle.” </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a testament to the virtue of preparing for any situation you'd have to face. You (preferably) don't go into a job interview without knowing what's going on with the company, and you always go hiking with more provisions than you might need, just in case. Not preparing enough will leave you exposed to surprises. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
5: In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmDZv5OMNohmPTTie7Cz0Cj790VxR7187nYEM1NxXcIiFtUDE_z_5fJFVE1tgiynM2neJiSE5KTmALColxl4X8LmrOCGy7qSo2G1jRF5kl50E6oCQorenYOMeFS1yNXlgVHYT_KKSV_0/s1600/oscar-schindlerjpg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkmDZv5OMNohmPTTie7Cz0Cj790VxR7187nYEM1NxXcIiFtUDE_z_5fJFVE1tgiynM2neJiSE5KTmALColxl4X8LmrOCGy7qSo2G1jRF5kl50E6oCQorenYOMeFS1yNXlgVHYT_KKSV_0/s1600/oscar-schindlerjpg.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
Oskar Schindler is a prime example for this. He was an average man who grew rich through the business of war and then used that to free the prisoners that he could afford. Had it not been for his cleverness in the midst of chaos, he wouldn't have been able to do such a feat. You can find examples of this everywhere, from factions that grow powerful and acquire land because of war, to businessmen who grow rich, not despite, but because of an economic crisis. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This doesn't imply that you should go causing chaos to create a power vacuum, rather, whenever the need for leadership arises, take it, for there are usually good consequences at the end of your struggle. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
4: Treat your men as you would your own beloved sons. And they will follow you into the deepest valley.</h3>
<div>
There are many leaders that have all but forgotten this in the modern world. Loyalty not only gives you men that will stick by your side through any hardship, but those that will also give you the best of their efforts. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
3: You can get so much out of so little</h3>
<div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-vYnnbRz7I5ENrZlGOtPed5Zt4wBJr9GnPmGTXtZweWmkYo2x6ioiG7sO7iG5bZD0q-gcK4B2wSU1VTcZvOCr51M6AaaePu9oAbKRtOozyANquZGGk7Y2JWWTxFkeRaGwwAeNSmTWis/s1600/nzGl_5988976bc79f9bff5e000008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1500" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd-vYnnbRz7I5ENrZlGOtPed5Zt4wBJr9GnPmGTXtZweWmkYo2x6ioiG7sO7iG5bZD0q-gcK4B2wSU1VTcZvOCr51M6AaaePu9oAbKRtOozyANquZGGk7Y2JWWTxFkeRaGwwAeNSmTWis/s320/nzGl_5988976bc79f9bff5e000008.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div>
“There are not more than five musical notes, yet the combinations of these five give rise to more melodies than can ever be heard. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are not more than five primary colours, yet in combination</div>
<div>
they produce more hues than can ever bee seen.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are not more than five cardinal tastes, yet combinations of</div>
<div>
them yield more flavours than can ever be tasted.” </div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Although this one is not directly concerned with war or any other sort of competition, it is wise for you to appreciate the beauty of life. Sometimes you can find it in simplicity, but its complexity comes precisely from the little things you can find. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
2: One may know how to conquer without being able to do it</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
What good is your knowledge if there's nothing you can use it for? This one is more of a warning to those who spend more time "preparing" for their goals as procrastination. If you're already aware of the more advanced aspects of any single topic without having done anything even as a beginner, then you probably need to begin at some point. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
1: The supreme Art of War is to subdue the enemy without fighting</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJzavteNBqm9-gT7RvU4BQJ8ZBvElcwbmAVNKaSJlt8pqysx0bFDORHN_c_18noetPIW7l_O3PQ_owWM4h8glkYipnDex9kaFDYAqC7EP6qTPWmLRBvJUsqD1Pj2JkuMjmMFgNhvQ3wg/s1600/photo-1518526157563-b1ee37a05129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjJzavteNBqm9-gT7RvU4BQJ8ZBvElcwbmAVNKaSJlt8pqysx0bFDORHN_c_18noetPIW7l_O3PQ_owWM4h8glkYipnDex9kaFDYAqC7EP6qTPWmLRBvJUsqD1Pj2JkuMjmMFgNhvQ3wg/s320/photo-1518526157563-b1ee37a05129.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Call it charisma, preparation, better circumstances, the truth is that avoiding conflict is good for you. Winning is better. If your power of persuasion is enough to defeat an enemy without fighting, then you will find yourself a successful man, for it allows you to save your energy for any real battle that should come. Better yet, would be to circumvent that as well. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There is more to learn, not only from Sun Tzu himself but many others who have applied his lessons in one way or another. We have plenty of time to go through them, so stay tuned for that, and in the meantime, make sure that you're prepared for any challenge you might have to face, and enjoy the little things in life that build on the more complex. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-82170891677932184972018-06-02T10:04:00.002-07:002018-06-03T21:35:06.495-07:00How To Make Your Writing Flow<div dir="ltr">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ81iNFAh1U3CNA5syx64GH_Jasdkwhilhqo67P1B-rNdm05VbxJEvXC5AXkDYEeY6e7DAGzniGcXL0FUlCsyNc0ImjrCuCoM58fXBNBwh5GmxXNM7V3oWSZu54KXec_pf3KvfNldWL3k/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ81iNFAh1U3CNA5syx64GH_Jasdkwhilhqo67P1B-rNdm05VbxJEvXC5AXkDYEeY6e7DAGzniGcXL0FUlCsyNc0ImjrCuCoM58fXBNBwh5GmxXNM7V3oWSZu54KXec_pf3KvfNldWL3k/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Look at this sentence. That was brief, wasn't it? Here's where you should really start paying attention. When your sentences have different lengths without being so jarring, you create rhythm, which is a good thing. It can be a push and pull game; the sentences don't always have to be longer. It's good to give your readers a moment of rest before you add a more complex sentence, though, because you made sure that they could take a breath before you gave them something that would take a larger amount of time and focus. Once you're finished with that, then you can have a bigger drop. Let them breathe. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
It's easier to write similar sentences. I should know, I've done it. Say, is this fun to read? I can try to vary rhythm. Play with commas, earlier, later, whatever. You should avoid this, you know. Otherwise, your story will feel bumpy.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2-ZhMSSeIDUjXeHJ4Z5nXqhQz_mlKIKW6_SJgJtAA-LCNWKaVtnPaj7VbVlrpipnpesC_gELI4zRanab_4vX-fBhnZPfYrs-i6jUaiJoO7ow09adArL8ol0B7YL5Z5nPP7MWWr6qXLQ/s1600/waltz-clip-art-black-vector-silhouette-couple-dancing-no-white-will-look-same-any-color-background-48146215.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="749" data-original-width="800" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE2-ZhMSSeIDUjXeHJ4Z5nXqhQz_mlKIKW6_SJgJtAA-LCNWKaVtnPaj7VbVlrpipnpesC_gELI4zRanab_4vX-fBhnZPfYrs-i6jUaiJoO7ow09adArL8ol0B7YL5Z5nPP7MWWr6qXLQ/s320/waltz-clip-art-black-vector-silhouette-couple-dancing-no-white-will-look-same-any-color-background-48146215.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Your prose must act as a dance</div>
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Maybe you won't be able to manage this with every single sentence you write. Not every paragraph will have enough space for it but fret not. Writing rules aren't meant to be permanent, after all, who can really tell you what to do? That's up to you to decide. That doesn't mean you can just do whatever you want, that's just going to lead to chaotic (or postmodern) writing, and you don't want that. Trust me, if you want your prose to sound a bit more natural, then try this out. </div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Here are a few examples, beginning with a bad author ignoring the rule</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div class="article__content article-text-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-size: 16px; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<div class="article__content article-text-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: 28px; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; overflow: auto; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">Jacob strolled to a nearby driftwood tree that had its roots sticking out like the attenuated legs of a huge, pale spider. He perched lightly on one of the twisted roots while I sat beneath him on the body of the tree. He stared down at the rocks, a smile hovering around the edges of his broad lips. I could see he was going to try to make this good. I focused on keeping the vital interest I felt out of my eyes. - Stephanie Meyer, Twilight</span></div>
</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Here's a good author ignoring the rule</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">When it was light enough to use the binoculars he glassed the valley below. Everything paling away into the murk. The soft ash blowing in loose swirls over the blacktop. He studied what he could see. The segments of road down there among the dead trees. Looking for anything of color. Any movement. Any trace of standing smoke. He lowered the glasses and pulled down the cotton mask from his face and wiped his nose on the back of his wrist and then glassed the country again. Then he just sat there holding the binoculars and watching the ashen daylight congeal over the land. He knew only that the child was his warrant. He said: If he is not the word of God God never spoke. - Cormac McCarthy, The Road</span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Now here's a bad author following the rule</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; line-height: 1.5; margin-bottom: 15px; padding: 0px;">
<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Silas turned his attention now to a heavy knotted rope coiled neatly on the floor beside him. The Discipline. The knots were caked with dried blood. Eager for the purifying effects of his own agony, Silas said a quick prayer. Then, gripping one end of the rope, he closed his eyes and swung it hard over his shoulder, feeling the knots slap against his back. He whipped it over his shoulder again, slashing at his flesh. Again and again, he lashed. - Dan Brown, The Da Vinci Code</span></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
Here's an excellent author following the rule</div>
<div dir="ltr">
<br /></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;">The eldest of these, and Bilbo's favourite, was young Frodo Baggins. When Bilbo was ninety-nine he adopted Frodo as his heir, and brought him to live at Bag End; and the hopes of the Sackville- Bagginses were finally dashed. Bilbo and Frodo happened to have the same birthday, September 22nd. "You had better come and live here, Frodo my lad," said Bilbo one day; "and then we can celebrate our birthday-parties comfortably together." At that time Frodo was still in his tweens, as the hobbits called the irresponsible twenties between childhood and coming of age at thirty-three. - J.R.R. Tolkien, <i>The Lord of the Rings</i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div dir="ltr">
As Cormac Mccarthy showed, flowing sentence length isn't necessary to make perfect paragraphs. If you're good enough, it won't matter. That doesn't mean it won't help, though, writing, and art, in general, is all about using the tools at your disposal as best as you can. So go ahead, check your story, and see if you can make it flow. </div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-23162166845797040042018-06-01T10:23:00.000-07:002018-06-03T21:34:33.767-07:005 Reasons Why You Got Fat<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrnd19ao9suLoEwXSPcJ9SNUYZK4HGGl00ldexZ5hv6y5fmWoG0wmZhkvkD7NGnxNJOL00Aapsz-mZob6SIN74BbGO3HWG-CS4Z_BRVgUmRivDSnoiahKMh23PLHVvys-I1oFO2Pwedg/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKrnd19ao9suLoEwXSPcJ9SNUYZK4HGGl00ldexZ5hv6y5fmWoG0wmZhkvkD7NGnxNJOL00Aapsz-mZob6SIN74BbGO3HWG-CS4Z_BRVgUmRivDSnoiahKMh23PLHVvys-I1oFO2Pwedg/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Some of you don't have weight to lose. Rather, you're interested in finding some way to avoid gaining weight. Folks always say that you're going to gain weight as the years go by and your body gets slower, but that doesn't have to be true. You can't generate energy out of a void, though, so there's nobody but yourself to blame. Here are a few things that could make you fat.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: Genetics</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQ2Uw5VRmWAnXVjyQv6DBumd-UWR5PJcDFUyh7q9JsefmD01kezi4guQq3bJCyJaGTXWugO1dfWDwntgRNYwUa0TliwZklGGYpzbXK-spOJuGBx3DWVtRpYpfeKHGErpIdO_j8dZuoY/s1600/genetics.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="414" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHRQ2Uw5VRmWAnXVjyQv6DBumd-UWR5PJcDFUyh7q9JsefmD01kezi4guQq3bJCyJaGTXWugO1dfWDwntgRNYwUa0TliwZklGGYpzbXK-spOJuGBx3DWVtRpYpfeKHGErpIdO_j8dZuoY/s320/genetics.jpg" width="220" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Before any of you calorie purists lynch me, hear me out. Think about your height for a second. The taller you are, the more calories you'll need to subsist because of the greater amount of mass you need to maintain. There are also hundreds of metabolic processes to take into account. Some bodies are just better at burning energy.<br />
<br />
That's not to say that you're going to depend completely on this, though, but it's totally feasible that a difference of 100 or 200 calories per day that could be attributed just to metabolism would add up in a year. Just 100 calories of surplus a day would mean 10 pounds in a year. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
4: Habits. </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
How often do you see a family completely comprised of fat members? Here's where most would be tempted to say that genetics are at fault. That's Occam's Razor for you. That's also a completely wrong assumption. If you look hard enough, you'll find many examples of that thin black sheep, oftentimes formerly fat.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Habits are at fault here. If the way your parents have been eating led to them gaining weight, chances are you adopted those habits. This is something that you'll find pretty hard to break, like the circus elephant who's had his leg tied to a stick on the ground since he was a baby and, now grown up and able to break it, won't do it easily because of his experience. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
3: Too much T.V. (and other things that make you sit down)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qkhdYvTWL4kmmm09il5r3MuRI8mVL-xLkj6hS8Veq4uvc4ESrIKzCyO0r-FYEJTDJFV7cZfWnoWa35o9MvA-2IXotf-4SDjMn822vr_FsWHzlI9dsHrcboOnyJzOmZEVtADha2bf3_s/s1600/47c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="816" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9qkhdYvTWL4kmmm09il5r3MuRI8mVL-xLkj6hS8Veq4uvc4ESrIKzCyO0r-FYEJTDJFV7cZfWnoWa35o9MvA-2IXotf-4SDjMn822vr_FsWHzlI9dsHrcboOnyJzOmZEVtADha2bf3_s/s320/47c.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this guy. He's an alpha.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
Although this plays into habits, this is more about the physical aspect of life. Human beings have, historically, been up and about since the times we dwelled in caves and hunted mammoths. In fact, sitting down all day is pretty recent, and we're already seeing many adverse effects because of it, like circulation problems and obesity. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
When you're moving around all day, the caloric difference can be staggering. I'm talking hundreds to even a thousand calories, depending on your size. Considering you need 3,500 of them to maintain a pound of fat, that's a considerable amount. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
2: You don't have muscle</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I don't mean this literally. Everyone has muscles, but exercise makes them big. Specifically, resistance exercise. The thing is, a pound of muscle will burn from six to ten more calories in a day than fat will. This means that if you somehow lift and build 20 kg, then you will get to burn 100 more calories. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That doesn't sound like much muscle, doesn't it? But keep in mind that it's not just meant to burn calories. The more muscle you have, the easier some activities will be, which will let you do tougher exercises that you couldn't do, or at least do as well before. If you can maintain it through your forties and beyond, you can exercise for pretty much your whole life without any issues. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
1: You eat too much</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs-gtqJlIuV8jNBqPenLcTIDIwzZ03k0fJBSZx5EBzLnvutWTDOSwjPyU3t7HYkpR8lc19gLvGfSsUr-TOnFDz18Kit0A6kgVSvFKOdOZT9G9rDClHf4cV4lK75FA6WuyFkmw_na5yFs/s1600/o-MCDONALDS-CUP-SIZE-facebook.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1600" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs-gtqJlIuV8jNBqPenLcTIDIwzZ03k0fJBSZx5EBzLnvutWTDOSwjPyU3t7HYkpR8lc19gLvGfSsUr-TOnFDz18Kit0A6kgVSvFKOdOZT9G9rDClHf4cV4lK75FA6WuyFkmw_na5yFs/s320/o-MCDONALDS-CUP-SIZE-facebook.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plain and simple. It's easier to do this in some places. In the U.S. and Mexico, we're used to huge portion sizes, and not moving around so much. Most other places are a little more balanced in that regard, where people will either eat less or walk around more, which gives them a more balanced lifestyle. There's also the issue of not measuring your food with a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0113UZJE2/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B0113UZJE2&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=97a0477daa557b4b0375bb0e0b5a2a6c" target="_blank">food scale</a>. Two people could be eating the exact same things, but without a scale, it's possible to double your calories on the same food if you're not being careful.<br />
<br />
You can factor in everything you want, but the human body isn't a physical miracle. We need energy to subside. If you really got fat <a href="https://youtu.be/v6mMpE8AaA0?t=47m5s" target="_blank">swimming two and a half kilometers a day, and you walk, and exercise all the time</a>, chances are you're eating more than you should, even with all of that. This is why I wrote a <a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-lose-weight.html" target="_blank">handy guide that will help you lose weight</a> if you're feeling stuck. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If the<a href="https://www.blogger.com/"><span id="goog_1697629054"></span> body scale <span id="goog_1697629055"></span></a>has been showing you bigger and bigger numbers, or if you feel your belt's a bit too tight, then check your habits. It's easier to prevent getting fat than losing weight, trust me. I will be posting more reasons why you got fat eventually, so tune in every once in a while, meanwhile, here's to hoping that you keep healthy.</div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-81120081491360924712018-05-31T15:05:00.002-07:002018-06-03T21:06:47.835-07:00How Gorillaz Tells a Story With Style<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EHdfu4nt_SF-PJcOVFJqEHUVc3ArPWMOSnumJU88ffTmVyU5uDAvHoRPrnJBDieJPW-OLQcYTlwxEE9A_1Thdp1SwmncBgOiyn0py4NXtBGa4BnpqU09yo4NqumFFWiVc2qcU2n-I28/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2EHdfu4nt_SF-PJcOVFJqEHUVc3ArPWMOSnumJU88ffTmVyU5uDAvHoRPrnJBDieJPW-OLQcYTlwxEE9A_1Thdp1SwmncBgOiyn0py4NXtBGa4BnpqU09yo4NqumFFWiVc2qcU2n-I28/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
Once you've seen it, you can't really forget 2-D, Murdoc, Noodle, and Russel.<br />
<br />
Gorillaz has been around in my life for almost as far as I can remember. Damon, of course, has been making music for a pretty long while, but this little project which has grown to a critically acclaimed band started around with a strange album which nobody could really define. It had elements from punk, rock, but all in all its style was pretty alternative to what everybody was listening at the time. They began in 1998 but I remember it was 2001 when they caught my attention. Of course, I was five years old and I was really attracted to the animation style, but as I grew up, and after <i>Gorillaz </i>came <i>Demon Days</i> and<i> Plastic Beach</i>, and in between those, a bunch of B-sides albums, remixes, singles, and even a dub mix of the first album, and in each of them you could notice a pretty distinct style, which begs the question, what defines Gorillaz?<br />
<br />
Heraclitus told us that no man may pass through the same river twice, for neither the man nor the river would be the same. Besides flowing rivers, few examples are better than Gorillaz to show how change comes. If I asked you what genre the band is for you, I can assure you that you'd be pretty hard-pressed to describe it in one word, and you'd have to go from album to album and you would still struggle pretty much. Let's go through the phases that they've had.<br />
<br />
<h4>
Phase 1: Celebrity Takedown (2000-2003)</h4>
<div>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAPlVpPrUaIiEDdE1VdmTJBGts1cxmlRjvmkn-Pbo66wB9Vf0cLpnJQQvSAyneX5of3Jdp9NrKxdploUjFTqYTOv4WOJsLqgt78JSWqB8Hs54GpVXeTV17gPFsR5Dcb9LyXaW7YD3UoLL/s1600/Gorillaz_Phase_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpAPlVpPrUaIiEDdE1VdmTJBGts1cxmlRjvmkn-Pbo66wB9Vf0cLpnJQQvSAyneX5of3Jdp9NrKxdploUjFTqYTOv4WOJsLqgt78JSWqB8Hs54GpVXeTV17gPFsR5Dcb9LyXaW7YD3UoLL/s320/Gorillaz_Phase_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
This phase began back in 2000 when <i>Tomorrow Comes Today </i>was released as an EP. Clint Eastwood was the first single released, featuring vocals by rapper Del da Funky Homosapien, who was in Deltron 3030 at the time. His cartoon was a spirit living in Russel. That same month the rest of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B004SBQTHU/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B004SBQTHU&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=cba41d9c76f9efc4db4cd91741fdbe76" target="_blank"><i>Gorillaz</i> </a>album was released, and Rock the House rose through the charts, then 19-2000. There was a collaboration with D12 called 911, which was about the terrorist attacks back in September 11, and there were rumors that a DVD was being made, but James Hewlett, the comic book artist who gave life to the band members, said that the project had been canceled. During this phase, G-Sides was released, which was the B-sides for <i>Gorillaz. </i><br />
<br />
This phase's album could be defined as alternative rock, depending on the tracks, but then again, there's also <i>Punk</i>, which is punk, and the songs with Del were definitely more hip-hop than alternative rock. There's also a bit of dub, some reggae, some Britpop, and of course, Latin music with Ibrahim Ferrer. In this album alone, probably the simplest one in terms of collaborators and styles, you can identify at least ten genres.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Tq7Ovshz1UI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Tq7Ovshz1UI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
19-2000</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/5xQzNkkedKI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5xQzNkkedKI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Latin Simone</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/1V_xRb0x9aw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1V_xRb0x9aw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Clint Eastwood</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<h4>
Phase 2: Slowboat to Hades (2003-2007)</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1JGqYVd1R6wbImej4Tf9cXqJ3gKc2AyPp4gnksOG9VyBVHXS5CmSwQWC2-pwzVZ3uu2OUx2tsEv_MnnTuQOt6QiXfbi9tY_GRNcuKY7E9cMjWf6JfcV6raOzJBzI0WF9JvbSaCBuUOt1/s1600/img.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz1JGqYVd1R6wbImej4Tf9cXqJ3gKc2AyPp4gnksOG9VyBVHXS5CmSwQWC2-pwzVZ3uu2OUx2tsEv_MnnTuQOt6QiXfbi9tY_GRNcuKY7E9cMjWf6JfcV6raOzJBzI0WF9JvbSaCBuUOt1/s320/img.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
December 8, 2004 was the day that Gorillaz reopened their site (which had been about Kong Studios before) with a video for a song called <i>Rock It</i>. In May 2005, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000TENKEK/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B000TENKEK&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=b1d64dbb87a57370df3a682c4e7070f1" target="_blank">Demon Days</a> came out and debuted as No. 1 in the U.K. Albums Chart. <i>Dirty Harry</i> was the third single the band released. In this album, you can find classics such as <i>Feel Good Inc., DARE, </i>and <i>Kids With Guns. </i>There was way more put into the production of this album, including top-notch collaborators like De la Soul, Shaun Ryder, Bootie Brown, and Neneh Cherry. It outperformed the first album and has sold eight million copies worldwide.<br />
<br />
Although the first album had somewhat of a coherent story, <i>Demon Days</i> was where everything began to be tied in, taking place in the world during the night, and like 911, followed a trend of criticizing the destruction that humanity can make, either of the planet, like seen in <i>Fire Coming Out of the Monkey's Head</i> and <i>Demon Days, </i>or each other, as seen in <i>Dirty Harry. </i><br />
<i><br /></i>The album's style continued to be a mixing of hip-hop and rock, but some of the more tranquil, experimental tracks were exchanged either for another sort of experimental track or a sound which can be described as alternative or dark pop. The bass definitely put some more funk into the album if you compare it with the last one, where it was pretty elaborate but atmospheric at times. Sometimes they used holograms of the band members when they were playing concerts. Many of the younger Gorillaz fans view this phase as the one they remember fondly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/cLnkQAeMbIM/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cLnkQAeMbIM?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Dirty Harry</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dU_in_BNJlg/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/dU_in_BNJlg?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Feel Good Inc</div>
<br />
<h4>
Phase 3: Escape to Plastic Beach (2007-2013)</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjz4j-gy_lkv_jACqpShvowM5drGOGUARkJTCLEg6NWNXGejwN3b92WlRiCAxAexUClATbacwwyX-MyhXJPqoEnrLzJwu2dZ8hT89FJqXI5qIrNAvnwqvZqHS7fEQG9FTvUfLJE1mO0pD/s1600/162.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjz4j-gy_lkv_jACqpShvowM5drGOGUARkJTCLEg6NWNXGejwN3b92WlRiCAxAexUClATbacwwyX-MyhXJPqoEnrLzJwu2dZ8hT89FJqXI5qIrNAvnwqvZqHS7fEQG9FTvUfLJE1mO0pD/s320/162.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
In 2007, Albarn and Hewlett were working on a project called <i>Carousel</i> which eventually came to be the album <i><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B003A9OVS0/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B003A9OVS0&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=2e6ee813cd0cd4d7e02ad1fafda17251" target="_blank">Plastic Beach</a></i>. Many people were put off by the style in this album at first because it was definitely more pop than the others, but once shock passed you could see that this wasn't an ordinary album at all. In this one, there were more collaborators than ever before, with even bigger names, like Snoop Dogg, Mos Def, Lou Reed, Little Dragon, Gruff Rhys, Bobby Womack, De La Soul, Hypnotic Brass Ensemble, Sinfonia ViVa, the Lebanese National Orchestra for Oriental Arabic Music, and others. Shortly after the album was released, Doncamatic came out featuring Daley, and during the tour for Plastic Beach, Damon recorded <i>The Fall</i> in his iPad using Garage Band, then released it exclusively for paying fans. Later, <i>DoYaThing</i> with Andre 3000 and James Murphy of LCD Soundsystem was released for Converse, along with a pair of shoes with a unique design.<br />
<br />
In this album, the clear "winner" in popularity was <i>On Melancholy Hill</i>, which in a sense is very tranquil and upbeat, with melancholic lyrics. The interesting thing about the album is that it begins with pretty traditional instruments, and as it goes, it slowly starts using more synthesized sounds, until it eventually abandons the traditional and goes for the new, in a way reflecting the theme of nature adapting to the artificial. The whole message of the album is that, in the end, nature will find a way to thrive, it's been here before us and will be after.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/yYDmaexVHic/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yYDmaexVHic?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Rhinestone Eyes</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/C-yP9f0gadU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/C-yP9f0gadU?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Empire Ants</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/04mfKJWDSzI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/04mfKJWDSzI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
On Melancholy Hill</div>
<br />
<h4>
Phase 4: We are still Humanz (2014 - Present)</h4>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnJdqqK_Hm6UUg2B35WtsEAp5cqTIH1UeatTZ0CPgb4ahf-VaOBlY37OucNPcrCAV5TazvGfTJZq7D1V-xTHniWAYWnv0gfdF7xIvE-Dlw4ZAHRXnxt4cbs1zSs2dc2AUdWRY6zcQPL0F/s1600/vA4k4qB.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrnJdqqK_Hm6UUg2B35WtsEAp5cqTIH1UeatTZ0CPgb4ahf-VaOBlY37OucNPcrCAV5TazvGfTJZq7D1V-xTHniWAYWnv0gfdF7xIvE-Dlw4ZAHRXnxt4cbs1zSs2dc2AUdWRY6zcQPL0F/s320/vA4k4qB.png" width="281" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The recently finished, short-lived phase of the band, in this one, the hype has been built since back in 2014 when rumors of unreleased recordings, wishes of recording songs, and teases about having written new songs were released through interviews. In 2016 is when Gorillaz began using social media to display its history since back in 2000, both as a way to catch new and prospective fans up and as a way to promote and generate hype for whatever was coming. A song called <i>Hallelujah Money </i>was also released, and Demon Dayz, a festival organized and curated by Damon Albarn himself, was organized and took place June 10, 2017 at Maynard. As you can imagine, it didn't take long all the tickets to be sold out.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06XS51DDY/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B06XS51DDY&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=0351259ab27c7105a70464cb56bff258" target="_blank">Humanz </a>was definitely a strong change from the rest of the band's music, with more emphasis being put on the guests than Gorillaz itself, or so it seemed. Statistically, the difference wasn't much, but the change in style was probably too drastic. Although many people did end up liking the album, it took a longer time to warm up to it than even with Plastic Beach. They also released iSides, a collection of songs taken from their Electribe app.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/DAXjiVuzlPw/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/DAXjiVuzlPw?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Strobelight</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/9W44NWYwa1g/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9W44NWYwa1g?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Andromeda</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<h3 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Phase 5: Road to the Now Now</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzZmy2pPd_935RjqHsIR-59AN9LmeVYPs9sbtz7uJIy9RauFJYt1Q22aFxiz1sUOEBshNKxZwdS2dxptupKqLPFmpIy7fF54SS2e5G2paxLXrq1JFvN59KG1dJOfwxbHHQ_ldMGou-xs/s1600/gorillaz-2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="438" data-original-width="708" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOzZmy2pPd_935RjqHsIR-59AN9LmeVYPs9sbtz7uJIy9RauFJYt1Q22aFxiz1sUOEBshNKxZwdS2dxptupKqLPFmpIy7fF54SS2e5G2paxLXrq1JFvN59KG1dJOfwxbHHQ_ldMGou-xs/s320/gorillaz-2018.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now we're getting new music, and it really feels like Damon Albarn's been feeling more like a mixture of <i>Demon Days/Plastic Beach</i> vibe, and it shows. The next album, <i>The Now Now</i>, seems to appeal more to the original fans of the band. Until now, there's the <i>Humility</i> video, which features Jack Black and some other celebs in Santa Monica, and a song called <i>Lake Zurich</i>, which was uploaded with a visualiser to accompany the music. Funnily enough, it seems that Murdoch was arrested, and now we have Ace from Powerpuff Girls replacing him in the artwork. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/E5yFcdPAGv0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/E5yFcdPAGv0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Humility</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/68JpPpSc7bs/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/68JpPpSc7bs?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Lake Zurich</div>
<br />
<br />
<h4>
How have they told this story?</h4>
<div>
The truth is that, if you want to really get to the meat and bones of the history that's been made for Gorillaz, it's going to take you a while. Therefore, I can either recommend you begin with <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/gorillaz/comments/53pqr5/papersorplastics_visual_guide_links/" target="_blank">this post</a> which contains a visual history for the band. If that's not good enough, you can delve into the<a href="http://gorillaz.wikia.com/wiki/Backstory" target="_blank"> band's wiki. </a> You could make an entire book about this, but I think we can afford to explore the story phase by phase eventually. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The interesting bit is how they put the story out. Since the band's beginnings, they've been using all the tools at their disposals. Music videos, storyboards, books, cameos, including one in Rebelde, a Mexican teenage soap opera, and recently they've been using social media to its full potential, but right now, what most people are paying attention to are the Instagram stories in the various accounts including one for <a href="https://www.instagram.com/damonalbarn/?hl=en" target="_blank">some members</a> of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/watashiwanoodle/?hl=en" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/gorillaz/?hl=en" target="_blank">band</a>.<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc_dPtq3eBuIe5dyaWybWkfmzRZn4bb27zEapktltP-qb1VhI9wsbY4C17sVmo3_LbLVur5braXeBAEpMIBr_CKSlmhLpUjM-nLaLIpqrt3mWWpgzdL3FioQvZbpUmXPD9r-lUl4HfQE/s1600/939x0w-1527782224-640x640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfc_dPtq3eBuIe5dyaWybWkfmzRZn4bb27zEapktltP-qb1VhI9wsbY4C17sVmo3_LbLVur5braXeBAEpMIBr_CKSlmhLpUjM-nLaLIpqrt3mWWpgzdL3FioQvZbpUmXPD9r-lUl4HfQE/s320/939x0w-1527782224-640x640.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
It's interesting to see how the visual style has changed as well, from a crude cartoon probably inspired on anime, to a more refined look that's placed with live-action backgrounds, to the strange combination of 2 and 3-D style, and now, as it seems, back to overlaying cartoons in the real world. Although the last few changes have been pretty jarring, it's likely that Damon will take the band in a more familiar direction in this occasion. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
A lot of people are pretty eager to tag themselves as one clique or with one style of thinking. The metalhead, the rapper, the nihilist, the anarchist, and though many do change, not many actually do the effort to see the context that they're in and adapt to what is needed at the time. Gorillaz couldn't even be defined at first, and although you could say they're more pop now than ever before, they're still doing their own thing, and they're all the better for it.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH4PX7e87rPBx899Blq6Q5eGLZNjhQi4eP8XjSlnC6veyEg-Fr1oyTe7Ef1edtCo7hPlY8YX2C9_ulfFlBIlXsw7ZWJrPqQEWQ1Q63SaSG5FFjhMIePN__YzEsrQP0lIiLjhyPsz1JoB1/s1600/1490298040541-b44a306f.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMH4PX7e87rPBx899Blq6Q5eGLZNjhQi4eP8XjSlnC6veyEg-Fr1oyTe7Ef1edtCo7hPlY8YX2C9_ulfFlBIlXsw7ZWJrPqQEWQ1Q63SaSG5FFjhMIePN__YzEsrQP0lIiLjhyPsz1JoB1/s320/1490298040541-b44a306f.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
So if you find something that's pretty unique and groundbreaking, go ahead and do it but don't get stuck with one single style or pattern. Once you've done something, you might as well find another new and unique thing to do. You can use this for stories, you can use this for film, you can use this for pretty much anything you can think of, so go out there and innovate, and use every tool that could possibly help you bring your message out there.<br />
<br />
<h2>
Visit the official Gorillaz website here:</h2>
<a href="http://www.gorillaz.com/">www.gorillaz.com</a>JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-4466059642053880832018-05-30T11:58:00.000-07:002018-06-03T21:17:04.553-07:005 Common Writing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQjVnO1MESA4pd1kJd8jRCDQcC4-xNw5F5Z734BylLxwymUHJoQs-T-AICccMQzQcrPU5tYke7DDnR41hNROrlF25nTPPJhiURQdKujv12h-N7BKgYUvSx2sJij8EEz49s89-SqBLJfM/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNQjVnO1MESA4pd1kJd8jRCDQcC4-xNw5F5Z734BylLxwymUHJoQs-T-AICccMQzQcrPU5tYke7DDnR41hNROrlF25nTPPJhiURQdKujv12h-N7BKgYUvSx2sJij8EEz49s89-SqBLJfM/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
Writing is a great art, in the sense that all you really need is a place to put down your ideas. Sometimes the execution is bad, though, and though you might be the next Shakespeare, you're coming across as the next Dan Brown. With that in mind, it should always be in your best interest to refine your skills. Here's how.<br />
<br />
<h3>
5: Using the passive voice</h3>
<br />
This one is big enough to merit its own post. Does the subject in your sentence perform the action, or is the action performed upon it? Although there is a lot that is affected by this aspect in itself, the way to fix it is pretty simple. Here are a few examples.<br />
<b><br /></b> <b>Passive</b>: It is believed by Mexicans that ghosts can speak with us.<br />
<br />
<b>Active</b>: Mexicans believe that ghosts can speak with us.<br />
<br />
<b>Passive</b>: I was bitten by the puppy.<br />
<br />
<b>Active</b>: The puppy bit me.<br />
<br />
The passive voice can be useful every once in a while, most of all if you want to keep the emphasis in the action, or if the actor is unknown. Otherwise, you risk sounding vague.<br />
<br />
<h3>
4: Too much exposition</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPBOBeCn4EQCjkytH4hYdpi7ym-yJpZAK6YE9hewUpk-L_eMMYQ0w_EK5nvV5CrNbQEawBnb0yIFrv06ya0-ZaLA56mWbekORdV8ZuEOBmb-S9tpGRz6QGBWgh_GKKa4KpvrsxlH4-x0/s1600/adult-book-boring-267684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1060" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPBOBeCn4EQCjkytH4hYdpi7ym-yJpZAK6YE9hewUpk-L_eMMYQ0w_EK5nvV5CrNbQEawBnb0yIFrv06ya0-ZaLA56mWbekORdV8ZuEOBmb-S9tpGRz6QGBWgh_GKKa4KpvrsxlH4-x0/s320/adult-book-boring-267684.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Imagine that I wrote my posts with two thousand words of intro. Odds are, you'd skip all the way ahead to the good part, or just close the window with no hard feelings. And let's be real, when you're reading a book, do you usually begin with the preface or do you just skip it and go straight to the beginning of the story?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
I know, the world you've built from the ground up is pretty exciting, and you've done your best to make it believable. Maybe you have a timeline in which you explain everything in it, from its creation, all the way to the main events in your protagonist's life. Maybe you even have elaborate charts that tell you everything about your characters so you can easily access that information in case you need to.<br />
<br />
Truth be told, some of my favorite books have an excess of exposition, of the more notorious ones being Tolkien with Lord of the Rings<i>.</i> I swear, sometimes you can skip five pages ahead, and the story would still be in the same place. Now, that man is a master at description. His world is insanely well-made; he's earned the right for some exposition. Have you?<br />
<br />
If we're reading your book, we're interested in learning about your world. We're not interested in a lecture. The best way to reveal the way the world works is through your characters. Dialogue, actions, lifestyles, sometimes even the smallest of details can paint a vivid picture of how everyday life can be; if you're creative, you can easily find a way to explain the world that doesn't involve explaining it directly.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://eccentricrealist.blogspot.com/2018/05/how-to-show-dont-tell.html" target="_blank">Show, don't tell. </a><br />
<br />
<h3>
3: No internal consistency</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM_9k993bkaj-8_9w5eEeAw4PM4EpYmFhsEfMOJ4OcAKjS7jTPlkPbcpXfb1WhlJRUNoBIcjsmO3nbt_CvoAzlp6slOXDtEFfcX1glYDmkM2IHsQht0xDDo3oZL8MrPGsyIRPPWKuxjQ/s1600/a5f7d71fcf24ad328bbf28b0f8bb8153.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNM_9k993bkaj-8_9w5eEeAw4PM4EpYmFhsEfMOJ4OcAKjS7jTPlkPbcpXfb1WhlJRUNoBIcjsmO3nbt_CvoAzlp6slOXDtEFfcX1glYDmkM2IHsQht0xDDo3oZL8MrPGsyIRPPWKuxjQ/s400/a5f7d71fcf24ad328bbf28b0f8bb8153.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
Fiction is, by definition, unrealistic. Sometimes you just want it to happen in a world with rules just like ours, and those can be bent out of shape to allow for a few extraordinary moments. There are other times when your idea is so far out that, by necessity, that place will need to have its own set of rules. That doesn't mean a world can break its own rules, though.<br />
<br />
Take a universe like Harry Potter, where students can't use magic outside of Hogwarts under threat of being expelled. When Harry is summoned to the ministry to face a trial for having used magic, even if it meant defending his cousin from a monster, that is good internal consistency because the world is following its own rules. When they fight Death Eaters and aren't bothered at all, it's the opposite.<br />
<br />
The way to avoid this is to always be aware of what can or can't happen in your universe. Is there a magic system? How does it work? How is it limited? Can anybody do it, or is it limited to a few? Everything that makes your universe what it is must be scrutinized in such a way that you can't use any surprises to get your characters out of trouble.<br />
<br />
In a universe with vague magic like Harry Potter or Game of Thrones, Deus ex machina is pretty common because the audience is never fully aware of what can happen. Meanwhile, someone like Brandon Sanderson will leave little room for surprise because the systems he creates are well-explained, and he sticks to it. This goes beyond magic systems and can be used for things like powers, gravity, science, etc.<br />
<br />
<h3>
2: Two-dimensional characters</h3>
<br />
It's hard to convince a person to feel anything for a bit of text. Just like the biblical God, you'll usually create characters in your own image, at least in parts. If every character in your story feels the same, or if they seem to exist for a single purpose, like a comedic relief or any archetype that has been played to death, then you didn't really make a character, but a caricature, and you need to develop them further.<br />
<br />
The biggest tool you can use is empathy. You always have to be aware of how your characters are, and what they would do in a certain type of situation. They're bound to have strong opinions, so when a conflict of interest comes up, they need to act the way they would, and not the way which would be convenient for you. Don't forget the small stuff, either. Everyday actions make us human.<br />
<h3>
1: Mixing up the tense </h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67K47b5TEF6J7-mGwBnZ4NScadDYuWa-pDZXHwdhGZ9Ck8RcVZrmZZKoe3zBG8L3kRQo_ZmhSLphGQjmvsdF26Dn6KiQeNWSxjtda-5-Q_agfkLPWszopjar5N2CmYz29Xp4BHLORGKs/s1600/084.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="600" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi67K47b5TEF6J7-mGwBnZ4NScadDYuWa-pDZXHwdhGZ9Ck8RcVZrmZZKoe3zBG8L3kRQo_ZmhSLphGQjmvsdF26Dn6KiQeNWSxjtda-5-Q_agfkLPWszopjar5N2CmYz29Xp4BHLORGKs/s320/084.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Has anyone really been far as decided to use even go want to do look more like? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
Sure, some sentences sound better in the present tense, and some <strike>sounded</strike> sound better in the past tense. When you're reading a story that consistently changes between one and the other, though, you'll be easily confused. Any of the two tenses works for most stories, although suspenseful stories can make more of an effective use of the present tense with the uncertainty of the future, but that's more of a stylistic choice than anything else. If you know what you're doing, you could even mix the past and present tense, but that's a pretty big risk grammar-wise.<br />
<br />
This one's simple enough to solve. Read the text out loud, and just make sure that you're either sticking to the present or the past tense.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjKg1d50YxzJQSdmlAfpIQ48T7PLJiGHXfiwRNNxAOfPnMlDckqOflCZFJuZHcR2ZEEhp9gICI2ffRielmCKYprNPVwS44sYPMKLWqhVgXFsBTSaJt0M7GzUjWDMiPEHL8QfrPNI_HAo/s1600/2006-01-03+Bad-writer.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="640" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKjKg1d50YxzJQSdmlAfpIQ48T7PLJiGHXfiwRNNxAOfPnMlDckqOflCZFJuZHcR2ZEEhp9gICI2ffRielmCKYprNPVwS44sYPMKLWqhVgXFsBTSaJt0M7GzUjWDMiPEHL8QfrPNI_HAo/s320/2006-01-03+Bad-writer.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
There are many more mistakes that one can make, but it's better to eat an elephant one bite at a time. In the meantime, work on your skill. Whenever you catch yourself doing any of these, do yourself a favor and correct it. Read it out loud. Practice makes perfect, and when you're consciously looking out for better ways to put your ideas on paper, you'll definitely find them.JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1941240921974862990.post-6791570069531045122018-05-29T15:46:00.000-07:002018-06-03T21:14:08.861-07:00If You Like Fallout, Watch These Movies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8NcDbmNLWFwRNEuBETfE3TnqffnOBAvkpXesNqrdwqZF2ynpILqsAvLWaX7g7TZ1b6_ZKSItXi27IAKIpKeZBooMgyjRrBG0g3h35hCnul5Yr-qKHIAk0lyy22Xke_NTRK6tw4pJN88/s1600/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="789" data-original-width="940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV8NcDbmNLWFwRNEuBETfE3TnqffnOBAvkpXesNqrdwqZF2ynpILqsAvLWaX7g7TZ1b6_ZKSItXi27IAKIpKeZBooMgyjRrBG0g3h35hCnul5Yr-qKHIAk0lyy22Xke_NTRK6tw4pJN88/s320/POST+OF+THE+DAY.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
So, Bethesda is making announcements, teasing with their <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BethesdaGameStudios/videos/1747079552002689/" target="_blank">#pleasestandby</a> what could be a new Fallout game or remaster. Considering that it's almost Fallout 3's 10th anniversary, this is a pretty strong possibility. These games are some of the finest examples of storytelling that you could possibly find in any medium, so it's a good thing to learn about its inspirations. It'll also help you calm your anxiety while you wait for tomorrow's trailer.<br />
<br />
<h3>
Chinatown (1974)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ45qQRZHXUl0bQx-8yzh8omM3gvTMTemEzdPcpeJ7c-jq86OEz9DCRL62lA_KFkqdT3qx48Oq37PfiJUZxJdEORA7Dq7Z8WCHtX0qGAS_hPDtyYpaU74LZOWAsGKFFvH7nS1qrnw3Xk/s1600/main-qimg-ea67c190e02b0efcf88ebfab949c1331-c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="602" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEJ45qQRZHXUl0bQx-8yzh8omM3gvTMTemEzdPcpeJ7c-jq86OEz9DCRL62lA_KFkqdT3qx48Oq37PfiJUZxJdEORA7Dq7Z8WCHtX0qGAS_hPDtyYpaU74LZOWAsGKFFvH7nS1qrnw3Xk/s320/main-qimg-ea67c190e02b0efcf88ebfab949c1331-c.jpg" width="237" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We're starting off with something quite different here. Directed by the crook Roman Polanski, and starring Jack Nicholson, it's more of a neo-noir film rather than the post-apocalyptic theme that you were probably expecting. If you've played through the quest <a href="https://fallout.gamepedia.com/The_White_Wash" target="_blank">The White Wash</a>, though, then you'll find more than a few references concerning the movie. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
A Boy and His Dog (1975)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcEHvoBDAD9xZGmN2FyCBRlKI7VG6M8JDa9CVfOukyD7_BaVmfL6Hrv3WzMbqPF2ccCAPIenu_4yHEnUWryU1ylAkjqgCWhHEZeFsCPCL_81-lkk5Db2YyzUgBUvyEbSaPerpa6Mc5io/s1600/MV5BOGJhNjZjMTUtZjgyMi00YWZlLTgwMjEtYWMyMDE0ZjQ3N2U4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDUwMTUxMDU%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcEHvoBDAD9xZGmN2FyCBRlKI7VG6M8JDa9CVfOukyD7_BaVmfL6Hrv3WzMbqPF2ccCAPIenu_4yHEnUWryU1ylAkjqgCWhHEZeFsCPCL_81-lkk5Db2YyzUgBUvyEbSaPerpa6Mc5io/s1600/MV5BOGJhNjZjMTUtZjgyMi00YWZlLTgwMjEtYWMyMDE0ZjQ3N2U4XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNDUwMTUxMDU%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, this movie's based on a series of books by Harlan Ellison, a very prolific author, who's been published over 1,700 times throughout his life, and he's still kicking. The movie stars a very young Don Johnson, whose character, Vic, works with his telepathic dog Blood, to survive in the post-apocalyptic Southwestern United States. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This one's clearly one of the more direct influences in Fallout. There's the scavenging, small towns like Shady Sands in Fallout 1, the most direct precursor to the ghouls that you'll find, and even a huge bunker reminiscent of the vaults. The movie's in the public domain, so you're free to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BDxqhI9qDw" target="_blank">watch it on youtube</a>. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Logan's Run (1976)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Ih-En8bvBUA2p6gKHdZL9VQYcTTZre-UPybns6s-DmjaUz68OfLrrsucOnZz8N9TvRmkF1WXpAla-udNhOHNjIyaoB_5lgoSG8rBztDd6QX2fhCAKqIVT6gBm8VIfwd_7vm_o3FQqo/s1600/220px-Logans_run_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="335" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF3Ih-En8bvBUA2p6gKHdZL9VQYcTTZre-UPybns6s-DmjaUz68OfLrrsucOnZz8N9TvRmkF1WXpAla-udNhOHNjIyaoB_5lgoSG8rBztDd6QX2fhCAKqIVT6gBm8VIfwd_7vm_o3FQqo/s320/220px-Logans_run_movie_poster.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If you've played New Vegas with the DLC installed, then you've probably tried <a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Logan%27s_Loophole" target="_blank">Logan's Loophole</a>, which makes you unable to be addicted to any chems or alcohol, but it stops you from leveling once you reach 30. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Logan's Run is based on a book by the same name, and it's about a utopian society in which the resources which they consume are balanced by killing those who reach the age of 30. Our protagonist, Logan 5, is a "<a href="http://fallout.wikia.com/wiki/Mister_Sandman" target="_blank">Sandman</a>" who used to get his hands dirty for the sake of the society, and now faces the danger of being eliminated himself. This also has a feeling of a Vault-Tec experiment gone wrong. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Escape from New York/Los Angeles (1981, 1996)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBl7Zx6HQPQ8GkMbupxL-OIvluq9enlwVJg5T-bYLUpE3gDpQm8YJibVnH5a8YL7irK1OL-RDH2cqPSPkuBKf43-h9YDks7HmMGio74OzX9feDLSEaJ0cIx1FXvQqyJWKwwA7MXi4xAo/s1600/MV5BMTUzMTY0Nzg0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDU3MzQxMDE%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiBl7Zx6HQPQ8GkMbupxL-OIvluq9enlwVJg5T-bYLUpE3gDpQm8YJibVnH5a8YL7irK1OL-RDH2cqPSPkuBKf43-h9YDks7HmMGio74OzX9feDLSEaJ0cIx1FXvQqyJWKwwA7MXi4xAo/s320/MV5BMTUzMTY0Nzg0MV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTgwMDU3MzQxMDE%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" width="216" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAgcHJxVFLdrE4ZUrN_JT6rbvBWien_eFO4WhZvgrN7afRdMTC671MA8QlLcPloc9b637zBFyLRvOGmCrAfhDDqGMQh2MBvKFvxm8TzlrZHAaXW3KJ7iEaK4YoDKo4zborU-rbd-7LxA/s1600/Escape_From_LA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="201" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAgcHJxVFLdrE4ZUrN_JT6rbvBWien_eFO4WhZvgrN7afRdMTC671MA8QlLcPloc9b637zBFyLRvOGmCrAfhDDqGMQh2MBvKFvxm8TzlrZHAaXW3KJ7iEaK4YoDKo4zborU-rbd-7LxA/s320/Escape_From_LA.jpg" width="214" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
These movies star Kurt Russel with an eyepatch and an attitude. Although Snake Plissken is seen as the direct inspiration for Solid Snake, the setting itself in these cities, which were cut off from society and turned into prisons, gives them a distinctly post-apocalyptic vibe which could pass even in a Fallout game. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Le Dernier Combat (1983)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNupm5iTaYR3CS47MINlLx5NJEwMw6i_obsx4XJqFZ_WhX1eYrAm0nC8aNcTxXtP0YOlzeguqRKwG2t4L-EC0fsrLEMEt5SwNLnmxJFbwnceLcXC7N92OfPhuvdZ8pW3z1aRXjsE4g18/s1600/MV5BNDNiOGU4ODEtYjI1OC00NmJkLTkyODctYzhhNDRhZTIwYjEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI4MjA5MzA%2540._V1_UY1200_CR125%252C0%252C630%252C1200_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="630" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigNupm5iTaYR3CS47MINlLx5NJEwMw6i_obsx4XJqFZ_WhX1eYrAm0nC8aNcTxXtP0YOlzeguqRKwG2t4L-EC0fsrLEMEt5SwNLnmxJFbwnceLcXC7N92OfPhuvdZ8pW3z1aRXjsE4g18/s320/MV5BNDNiOGU4ODEtYjI1OC00NmJkLTkyODctYzhhNDRhZTIwYjEzXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMjI4MjA5MzA%2540._V1_UY1200_CR125%252C0%252C630%252C1200_AL_.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Directed by the formerly-glorious director Luc Besson, this movie was an exercise in the power of visual storytelling. In fact, this was his debut, as well as Jean Reno's first prominent role. There is no dialogue in this movie, so everything is communicated non-verbally. A young man joins with an old loner and together they fight off raiders and scavenge the destroyed ruins of some, probably French, former city. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Day After (1983)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQyjKA69Pvsjf4efP16mYXvQwFDZjg1WAsnWGoST7fpyZhFCiBNLT_Ao2S9cs6BldVCd5uRBZnhkFmkjR7_WP5z6jd5b9UcV0dOj3ShtCvXDrSRxV98e5cFtQymIJaGDwkWqaF_LiPcY/s1600/250px-The_Day_After_%2528film%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQyjKA69Pvsjf4efP16mYXvQwFDZjg1WAsnWGoST7fpyZhFCiBNLT_Ao2S9cs6BldVCd5uRBZnhkFmkjR7_WP5z6jd5b9UcV0dOj3ShtCvXDrSRxV98e5cFtQymIJaGDwkWqaF_LiPcY/s320/250px-The_Day_After_%2528film%2529.jpg" width="227" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This one was released directly to T.V., and was watched by more than a million people. Until 2009, it was the highest-rated television film in history, quite an achievement. The movie is about a fictional war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact, which led to an all-out nuclear war. You get to see their lives before, during and after the war, which makes for an interesting perspective on the effects of advanced warfare. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Threads (1984)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjNkqbl93UiyBSzwAsmtj9aHMMtz8gjCbzBA8l0wIJ9MxWdMyz8yenPBeYX7ZeuBcBLEifyhnSCSZM3-ejKwSR2lst2hxO4LsqnAFC8CsLymILCxiIFSP7b69C-dPeaz6fPiNGZsoM1Q/s1600/250px-Threadsmoviecover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="250" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjNkqbl93UiyBSzwAsmtj9aHMMtz8gjCbzBA8l0wIJ9MxWdMyz8yenPBeYX7ZeuBcBLEifyhnSCSZM3-ejKwSR2lst2hxO4LsqnAFC8CsLymILCxiIFSP7b69C-dPeaz6fPiNGZsoM1Q/s320/250px-Threadsmoviecover.jpg" width="225" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In a similar vein, Threads is a British movie dealing with exactly the same scenario: war between NATO and the Warsaw Pact. This one was more focused on two families, and they go through all sorts of consequences that were had, as well as being the first movie to show what a nuclear winter would look like. Sounds like they would make a good double feature to compare their strengths and weaknesses. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Dead Man's Letters (1986)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMWk9dBc6Zc1ccWwCg2XZlMQLg7o-SP3PROHdG1J0KjevWKecpf9mJ3dEO6o8ag0Bt9zWx9YhobM1iiyd0CcgRw22Mbvw9Vp_JMf7DP85ovvLqzj2k19daWX_-AIJxJVAx8SMFegrk9I/s1600/220px-Dead_Man%2527s_Letters_film.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTMWk9dBc6Zc1ccWwCg2XZlMQLg7o-SP3PROHdG1J0KjevWKecpf9mJ3dEO6o8ag0Bt9zWx9YhobM1iiyd0CcgRw22Mbvw9Vp_JMf7DP85ovvLqzj2k19daWX_-AIJxJVAx8SMFegrk9I/s1600/220px-Dead_Man%2527s_Letters_film.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
From the other side of the ideological coin, here we have a Soviet science fiction film by Lopushansky, about a town in the aftermath of a nuclear war caused by a computer error. In this town, a Nobel Prize in Physics laureate decides to leave the safety of his bunker to help his children out, and shows the meaning of "He who has a why, can bear any how."</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Tank Girl (2000)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJB-7jYXC9Brc8M17boIZ1LTzGdMBrL9Wmdwi1Cdj_HRro7DJQ9iK1z8gRL4ET18_W1iQPztcedjPRbUq2MdZtzSxHxllnodXSh-aFq8O5REEpsq-cUIYRfFXZe4zZjzSq80TrmGbo2s/s1600/large_hTGCzUi3nYdhQTWCk5QgGRTwg3q.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJB-7jYXC9Brc8M17boIZ1LTzGdMBrL9Wmdwi1Cdj_HRro7DJQ9iK1z8gRL4ET18_W1iQPztcedjPRbUq2MdZtzSxHxllnodXSh-aFq8O5REEpsq-cUIYRfFXZe4zZjzSq80TrmGbo2s/s320/large_hTGCzUi3nYdhQTWCk5QgGRTwg3q.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is a British film based on a comic book of the same name. It was unsuccessful, but has become a cult movie, and it's notorious for its feminist tones. It takes place in Australia (I wonder why) after an impact event, and Tank Girl, along with her allies, fights corporations that control the water supply in the wasteland. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Waterworld and The Postman (1995, 1997)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13AEEz2UGhiZSN6MxyqehizAIMlmChJ8OBzv2fH-4WvOl8vi-KiNlpxWFOAc18hZTCyvtsr8-98S_1q_rNfcUt6HZFgJmQgN60xORqnyNR7AohuPYi8EDgr7WxGmfR2gvY4E0IFnegx8/s1600/51NHQVSXHRL._SY445_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="280" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13AEEz2UGhiZSN6MxyqehizAIMlmChJ8OBzv2fH-4WvOl8vi-KiNlpxWFOAc18hZTCyvtsr8-98S_1q_rNfcUt6HZFgJmQgN60xORqnyNR7AohuPYi8EDgr7WxGmfR2gvY4E0IFnegx8/s320/51NHQVSXHRL._SY445_.jpg" width="201" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYsN1jANPH1Qw1mZIvJ7nwdesxjGDVd6iVKWxMrAqKV9GhQi77-lxjNTeaNTeTbyTY7pdzpAKgzK9NTIkl-MJn42ng9HhtIsOa3kAzTkyeVR0LdRBPZaM_v0ZnER63lI2Dng2iFe8CVE/s1600/MV5BYzE4NTRmMDYtNWYzYi00YmNkLTk4NDEtYjFmMDc4ODQ3ODY2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTUyMzE4Mzg%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnYsN1jANPH1Qw1mZIvJ7nwdesxjGDVd6iVKWxMrAqKV9GhQi77-lxjNTeaNTeTbyTY7pdzpAKgzK9NTIkl-MJn42ng9HhtIsOa3kAzTkyeVR0LdRBPZaM_v0ZnER63lI2Dng2iFe8CVE/s320/MV5BYzE4NTRmMDYtNWYzYi00YmNkLTk4NDEtYjFmMDc4ODQ3ODY2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyNTUyMzE4Mzg%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" width="217" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ah, Kevin Costner. What a disappointment. Do yourself a favor and skip these. What a shame, because Waterworld had such a big budget, and The Postman was based on a pretty decent book. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Six-String Samurai (1998)</h3>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QINl2Svc4fDdhxU3hzv_ZZk3ZXcEmEwVDm-Nw-xMNKKQK4SWJPZwdC4jdK7rUz_slTuxxTcI3q8k9XEW1-dS0qUPkdwN4V-tGP6b-0fnAK9qo65zeXdp4YZWvfB5hFaVxbkc_v-s7F8/s1600/MV5BZWM4Mjc2YzUtM2IyMC00MWE4LWJiNDEtNjVmYjRhZjU1YTdmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI%2540._V1_UY268_CR1%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3QINl2Svc4fDdhxU3hzv_ZZk3ZXcEmEwVDm-Nw-xMNKKQK4SWJPZwdC4jdK7rUz_slTuxxTcI3q8k9XEW1-dS0qUPkdwN4V-tGP6b-0fnAK9qo65zeXdp4YZWvfB5hFaVxbkc_v-s7F8/s1600/MV5BZWM4Mjc2YzUtM2IyMC00MWE4LWJiNDEtNjVmYjRhZjU1YTdmXkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI%2540._V1_UY268_CR1%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You want a fun movie, watch this one. It was extremely unsuccessful and everybody involved in it basically finished any possibility of having a nice career in movies, but they created a masterpiece. It also had a soundtrack by The Red Elvises. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After nuclear warfare made most of the U.S. uninhabitable, Las Vegas, now Lost Vegas, is ruled by King Elvis. There's a siege by the Red Army, but the lack of supplies made them just like any other gang. Buddy, a samurai with a sweet guitar, rescues a kid whose name is never known, and makes his way to Lost Vegas to try and take the recently-deceased Elvis's place as the new King. Following him is the heavy metal-playing Death himself, and in his way, a lot of different factions with their own theme. It's pretty fun, and if you can't see how much of New Vegas was inspired by this film, then you need to take another look. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Resident Evil: Extinction (2007)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW9S7xxN15kiDA_gaaRtymUUagEgtv8KdmaVA-_AVEQJDyT__j3Z4Fx9-7V-XT613dPnyylJtJlJ3LiV4rLDTkehWPGnI2K3HjMg_BiAnsOpFduyGgLMnUNFc7d7E3HGpomCNm7v-CC8/s1600/MV5BNDQ0MWI3MmEtMzM0OC00Y2ViLWE4MDItMzNhNmY1ZTdjMWE2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimW9S7xxN15kiDA_gaaRtymUUagEgtv8KdmaVA-_AVEQJDyT__j3Z4Fx9-7V-XT613dPnyylJtJlJ3LiV4rLDTkehWPGnI2K3HjMg_BiAnsOpFduyGgLMnUNFc7d7E3HGpomCNm7v-CC8/s1600/MV5BNDQ0MWI3MmEtMzM0OC00Y2ViLWE4MDItMzNhNmY1ZTdjMWE2XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyMTQxNzMzNDI%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
You know what this is. I'm not saying this is a good movie, because it isn't, but if you're in love with desert wastelands and post-apocalyptic Las Vegas, which seems to appear a lot in movies for some reason, then kick back and watch a zombie movie in the Mojave. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
I Am Legend (2007)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKY4HPuUBlDEPzqzZZ9kogOc4SeXr6SuLmo7yQhzt1HeFjhaIOCgcBNks3grXCNNYj5WuGApo7QUtT9drurXZl7LdlJyK6eJoNbt-Pm-WgcBUA4rB5hMTBg1-Cn6d2ygLvx0QPVryEXc/s1600/i-am-legend-movie-poster-2007-1020406185.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="520" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioKY4HPuUBlDEPzqzZZ9kogOc4SeXr6SuLmo7yQhzt1HeFjhaIOCgcBNks3grXCNNYj5WuGApo7QUtT9drurXZl7LdlJyK6eJoNbt-Pm-WgcBUA4rB5hMTBg1-Cn6d2ygLvx0QPVryEXc/s320/i-am-legend-movie-poster-2007-1020406185.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Another example of a movie that had a great source and ruined it all. This wasn't because of bad quality, like Kevin Costner's movies, rather, the director completely ignored the point of the books and changed the whole message. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Still, it's New York, it's post-apocalyptic, there are vampire/zombie hybrids, and it stars Will Smith, who can give a solid performance every once in a while. I'm not sure if the special effects have aged well, though, so beware. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Road (2009)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai-ygxfHEbWAqY9jw1HA783OBR3-ZL5gBfzepw1ZjEpcsSOGIRRutYBXxajEPUtN7-d4mRAluI4FjWfJ_YGxKnNyk3HeOcAzlWekf2Y7t97Gce7vE5cdGYa-EzwfnehDOoLQ_1Gibfvs/s1600/220px-The_Road_movie_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="332" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiai-ygxfHEbWAqY9jw1HA783OBR3-ZL5gBfzepw1ZjEpcsSOGIRRutYBXxajEPUtN7-d4mRAluI4FjWfJ_YGxKnNyk3HeOcAzlWekf2Y7t97Gce7vE5cdGYa-EzwfnehDOoLQ_1Gibfvs/s320/220px-The_Road_movie_poster.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Now, I consider Cormac McCarthy to be the best American author alive. Sure, he'll have you visiting the dictionary and Google Translate quite a few times, especially if you don't happen to have the good fortune of understanding Spanish and English and the history of the U.S.-Mexico border, but this movie is pretty light on that. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
If Fallout 4 began straight after the war instead of 200 years later, then this would be the game. It takes place in America after an extinction event, implied to be nuclear warfare, and so a father and son take to the road to search for a place with warmer weather. I don't want to spoil too much, but if you enjoy the grim aspects of the Fallout universe, then this is definitely the movie you should watch. Besides, it stars Viggo Mortensen, the man can touch anything and turn it gold, but he had no need to do so with this movie. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Book of Eli (2011)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVU2D4FnyqmnkfGW4VcavMkmISXXw0k-yEw6gFuZ7-H32405GozP2FFKoZIK6cvVbamuthMyhQAfh7_SzMtvbeLA0c7PvLwAbMbRT41uZHGh762K6Wgg_meyhcQtHdMZSsrGwALrznbE/s1600/220px-Book_of_eli_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="325" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaVU2D4FnyqmnkfGW4VcavMkmISXXw0k-yEw6gFuZ7-H32405GozP2FFKoZIK6cvVbamuthMyhQAfh7_SzMtvbeLA0c7PvLwAbMbRT41uZHGh762K6Wgg_meyhcQtHdMZSsrGwALrznbE/s320/220px-Book_of_eli_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Starring Denzel Washington, Gary Oldman, and Mila Kunis, it's about a nomad in post-apocalyptic America (of all places) about a man who hears a voice that tells him to deliver a book to sanctuary in the West Coast. It's not that good, but if you're in the mood for what could amount to a side-quest, then go ahead. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Snowpiercer (2013)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz_TdAfRw2BxWnMqby-7CNT4eZe-eHb3SYiezEQ6tWq8ebYJ2HBgokckryI1wIKOzo2N8rHxbv0g13s9edFzou2a9NBXmXSQlqhmwORG8v3xFxNE8aOa5DsmgbjSjviSFa6BhglL3uiE/s1600/220px-Snowpiercer_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="326" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvz_TdAfRw2BxWnMqby-7CNT4eZe-eHb3SYiezEQ6tWq8ebYJ2HBgokckryI1wIKOzo2N8rHxbv0g13s9edFzou2a9NBXmXSQlqhmwORG8v3xFxNE8aOa5DsmgbjSjviSFa6BhglL3uiE/s320/220px-Snowpiercer_poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I haven't seen this one, but as far as I know it's supposed to be pretty good. Some failed experiment in climate change renders the Earth inhospitable, with the exception of some people who stayed on a train called the Snowpiercer. It stars Chris Evans, Tilda Swinton, John Hurt and some koreans, so at least the cast is decent. I'd watch it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Turbo Kid (2015)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRHlD20wscJKhl43c3OnNKhyphenhyphenYeYa6NsSeJuug0kxikShTEinKscfmjzLzsOhXP-83VzQos4Z8ZWOnb2XOFP5blkZL3cE5_MMTBv9re12oJ8IlkgpLX1kufqkzH7sAdu0llPur_p5Kojw/s1600/220px-Turbo_Kid_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIRHlD20wscJKhl43c3OnNKhyphenhyphenYeYa6NsSeJuug0kxikShTEinKscfmjzLzsOhXP-83VzQos4Z8ZWOnb2XOFP5blkZL3cE5_MMTBv9re12oJ8IlkgpLX1kufqkzH7sAdu0llPur_p5Kojw/s320/220px-Turbo_Kid_poster.jpg" width="215" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This one sounds a bit strange, but it's pretty well-viewed. Imagine Spy Kids, well-done, in an alternate 1997, with some actual violence like Robert Rodriguez would actually like to do. It's pretty wacky, but that strange mixture is pretty typical in Fallout as well, so why not watch it?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
Mad Max</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymqUKIfuWKu03Mhq4XLmqCSEWLTwXwTiufv7RGuYWA37Y7vHrIAcw8C-w-AFRdxKbM4CIIyerL9mZPytmp3MaPfhrinoxtEJlTpK5jigVnRKmvuCbiu0U65zbBm_xpLuqEHho5fx0-58/s1600/1Yy7vAMGDaEl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymqUKIfuWKu03Mhq4XLmqCSEWLTwXwTiufv7RGuYWA37Y7vHrIAcw8C-w-AFRdxKbM4CIIyerL9mZPytmp3MaPfhrinoxtEJlTpK5jigVnRKmvuCbiu0U65zbBm_xpLuqEHho5fx0-58/s320/1Yy7vAMGDaEl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Ah, I bet you were nervous, I bet you thought that I was missing the most important piece of post-apocalyptic film to have ever existed. Well, this franchise is still king, George Miller is a god, and will go through the strengths each of the films had. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Mad Max (1979)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ew1keeB5rQaQNbI4eT_pBhNVu2WOFddqLBznamhb34UUMm0kduzhQol-GtZq9ZHSb1vjQV1RvMMOtmsJgSR96R9gZkpkHOstWwH0jNuyZ9AREcqEa_lcTNUhIoI3-ObWzWsHy9iPi0E/s1600/MV5BMTM4Mjg5ODEzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDc3NDk0NA%2540%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="268" data-original-width="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9Ew1keeB5rQaQNbI4eT_pBhNVu2WOFddqLBznamhb34UUMm0kduzhQol-GtZq9ZHSb1vjQV1RvMMOtmsJgSR96R9gZkpkHOstWwH0jNuyZ9AREcqEa_lcTNUhIoI3-ObWzWsHy9iPi0E/s1600/MV5BMTM4Mjg5ODEzMV5BMl5BanBnXkFtZTcwMDc3NDk0NA%2540%2540._V1_UX182_CR0%252C0%252C182%252C268_AL_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This movie was so low-budget that the actors were paid with beer, and some of the crew members had to volunteer their own vehicles for demolishing in the action scenes. This movie is seen as the weakest by some, and it's understandable, as you don't get to see the Australian wasteland in all of its glory as in the other films, but it's still interesting to see the way in which society declines after the war. It was the most profitable film ever done for a while. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
The Road Warrior (1981)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwWsqDxtecRSlSp6zaZC2LqVYvbY27LiLTYy0L08HruSDBYVxhwU8FHmpZVemJfeJkjRjpn6Zr7I8tvnC0XDvAdkFx4y3AQh4yiKYwODCb0E04Kais6OLJCE2dOEXBXa2Y6ZQrZjhujI/s1600/81LYS7XSrLL._RI_SX200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPwWsqDxtecRSlSp6zaZC2LqVYvbY27LiLTYy0L08HruSDBYVxhwU8FHmpZVemJfeJkjRjpn6Zr7I8tvnC0XDvAdkFx4y3AQh4yiKYwODCb0E04Kais6OLJCE2dOEXBXa2Y6ZQrZjhujI/s1600/81LYS7XSrLL._RI_SX200_.jpg" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
George Miller's magnum opus. If Mel Gibson did well with the first movie, this one launched him into stardom. By this point, society had broken down and people separated into small groups of nomads, or gangs, depending on their willingness to break any form of social convention that used to exist. This movie has the structure of a Western, with one of the greatest car chases to have ever been recorded near the end. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Beyond Thunderdome (1985)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg-jr74JnB6dwe_GJQOBwXO1EAeCO4JSUQWkmit0Iih7eW9ipHWn3Z6cwkbxMPeQqRz0SwvwVxsNzpMc90cebMOD1oDFExo4NSCTvXK2mM4tcpLknWxPLUZkfY7eBCiY1I1zo5fK2URg/s1600/Mad_max_beyond_thunderdome.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="220" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivg-jr74JnB6dwe_GJQOBwXO1EAeCO4JSUQWkmit0Iih7eW9ipHWn3Z6cwkbxMPeQqRz0SwvwVxsNzpMc90cebMOD1oDFExo4NSCTvXK2mM4tcpLknWxPLUZkfY7eBCiY1I1zo5fK2URg/s320/Mad_max_beyond_thunderdome.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Two men enter, one man leaves. By this point, some towns had been made in which wanderers could barter. So, the main setting for this movie is Bartertown, which is under Tina Turner's thumb. Here we get to see new social conventions being formed, as well as internal power struggles, and even a colony of children, just like Little Lamplight. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
Fury Road (2015)</h3>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoWP6JBI9Xhhmd0ziSG4khfUojfO5Mmxacpxns9roqxf3FGcXrmb8YQeawt4GgOhpq7PgXvz19Bfwk4IAJ_wJt7T74V_GyFvVBDG_N5P4dq7YGTZw89hCS2EAy_cNMyw7pPjN6yUfNrY/s1600/A1Y9Cqo1FmL._SY550_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="550" data-original-width="367" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnoWP6JBI9Xhhmd0ziSG4khfUojfO5Mmxacpxns9roqxf3FGcXrmb8YQeawt4GgOhpq7PgXvz19Bfwk4IAJ_wJt7T74V_GyFvVBDG_N5P4dq7YGTZw89hCS2EAy_cNMyw7pPjN6yUfNrY/s320/A1Y9Cqo1FmL._SY550_.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Road Warrior is Miller's best movie, for sure, but Fury Road is the best action film I've ever seen. Thirty years being planned, and it really shows. From the beginning to the end it's no holds barred, one intense sequence after another, and such was the quality of the directing and everything that went on behind the camera, the storytelling done visually, Miller presented a world that was perfectly consistent with its path and he knew exactly where it was going. You shouldn't just watch this film because it's post-apocalyptic, you should watch it because by the time it's over you're going to be pumped like a racehorse. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
And so, these are some of the movies that will definitely interest you if you're a Fallout fan. I'll revisit the franchise, because there is so much you can learn from its writing and its sources, and we'll probably go through books that have inspired or have been inspired by the games. Meanwhile, I hope you can deal with the hype, maybe these can make for a nice distraction while you wait to know what's coming next for these games. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<h2>
Still haven't tried Fallout? </h2>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00YQ2KCWO/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00YQ2KCWO&linkCode=as2&tag=eccentricreal-20&linkId=a017115c8d59091032086804460fd0ff" target="_blank">Buy Fallout 4 here!</a><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxeFF-kaXPmnMEVmQITuZh7nTD15iVsdz_6BKQoS1YAMY5B1r4kByCpOnftzZ0ff7iziujNwyPb8_6GbgvZ8Nidokb4BWBgr6q5BhFNM2KvYh4M-B9reIgxOT6YJoChXlrazll8S_qEs/s1600/Vault_Boy.png" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1090" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrxeFF-kaXPmnMEVmQITuZh7nTD15iVsdz_6BKQoS1YAMY5B1r4kByCpOnftzZ0ff7iziujNwyPb8_6GbgvZ8Nidokb4BWBgr6q5BhFNM2KvYh4M-B9reIgxOT6YJoChXlrazll8S_qEs/s320/Vault_Boy.png" width="217" /></a></div>
</div>
JJ Gonzalezhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02272794462013711816noreply@blogger.com0