[PenultimateManStanding]

We're "a nation of cringing, craven Expletive deleted." says Kunstler at some conference in New York. I have to hand it to the guy, he's colorful. A bunch of clowns, he says, referring to America, of course. If you use all the cultural barometers of The Arts, you have to agree. I was reading a book about inventions today and could not help thinking that all the amazing inventions: radio, internal-combustion engine, TV, CDs, ipods, hydrogen bombs; and all the amazing intellectual triumphs have led to these idiot mindless kids I see almost everytime I sub in any classroom. But I really can't say that I blame them. This culture died a long time ago. The kids are adrift, they're on their own. Could the people of the past see what we have come to, what would they have thought? Reminds me of that painting of the Romans of the Decadence.

Link to image

[oowolf]

Bread and circuses. The Romans really knew how to party. The Circus Maximus held a quarter million spectators--and the gore was REAL.
I'm quite ready for the dieoff of zombies whining about "pain at the pump". (Kunstler's "overfed clowns") Anymore, I feel like I'm trapped in Fellini's Satyricon.

PMS, you get the prize for the "widest" thread.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('oowolf', '
')PMS, you get the prize for the "widest" thread.

[PrairieMule]

Wow, those Romans sure look bored. They just don't look very into that orgy. They must all be on Paxil or Zolof.

As far as culture, I think it's not so much dead as reduced to the lowest common denominator then saturated till the point we vomit. Every now and then I see a flick and I just stand back and go wow! Just last week I switched cable service and now I have The Independent Film Channel. Stayed up till 1am last night to watch Albino Alligator. Or listen to Bluegrass and Jazz(very american). Sometimes even I stop and marvel Architecture and wonder how some one could translate a message or vison to the physical realm. No culture is not dead. We just got to keep a sharp eye out and filter out the crap.

[PenultimateManStanding]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('PrairieMule', 'W')ow, those Romans sure look bored. They just don't look very into that orgy. They must all be on Paxil or Zolof.

[Riddick]

I am ready for this Expletive deleted. to end as well. If the United States is considered the pinnacle of human development and achievement, then I'd rather be a Expletive deleted. monkey. I see people trying too hard everyday....whether it's clothes, cars, money, status, or fill in the blank of whatever or whoever they want to be like as they watch the worst drug ever invented - TELEVISION.

What amazes the Expletive deleted. out of me is the fact that these people seem to instinctively know that material Expletive deleted. can't bring happiness and peace, yet they fall into the marketing traps hook, line, and sinker. Boggles my Expletive deleted. mind and now we're drowning in our own stuff, trash, and Expletive deleted.......all the while complaining about gasoline prices because the high prices are hindering our abilities to buy more Expletive deleted.. It's the collective behavior of one gigantic lunatic.

Now everyone is up in arms about the wire-tapping Expletive deleted.. The NSA has been doing this for several decades under the Echelon project and people think it has come about during the last year or so? Spare me, go back to watching "American Idol" and "Dr. Phil" and "Desperate Housewives" you bunch of worthless, can't think for yourselves, mindless drones. What a Expletive deleted.waste of human potential. The reason why most kids seem stupid today is because their parents are Expletive deleted. stupid. Devolution, that's what it is.

And enough of these religious whackos. I wish Jesus or Allah or Whomever-The-Fuck it might be would "come down" and gather these idiotic people up and take them with Him-It-Whatever. But I figured it out: No Higher Being in Its Right Mind would want these Expletive deleted. people with Him-It-Whatever. I saw on CNN Headline news this morning that some lady in one of the southern states wanted to ban Harry Potter from the classroom because it encourages witchcraft. She then goes onto say that's how the enemy works, he does it slowly. NO, you stupid Expletive deleted., the enemy works by making you fucking stupid enough so you believe this Expletive deleted.. The Harry Potter book series is wonderful because kids and students actually WANT TO READ. Heaven forbid, we can't have that now.

And to think that most of the "civilized" people in this country think that the Native American, Amish, or similar types of people are savages. Unbelievable. HEY POT, IT'S ME KETTLE!. I wish Mother Nature would bring back the more spiritual way of life for the rest of us who GET IT.

Man, I feel a little better..................only a little.

[12amps]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', 'I') am ready for this Expletive deleted. to end as well. If the United States is considered the pinnacle of human development and achievement, then I'd rather be a Expletive deleted. monkey. --snip-- Man, I feel a little better..................only a little.

[12amps]

HEY POT, IT'S ME KETTLE!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Riddick]

This song is from TOOL's new album, 10,000 Days. It's worth buying the album more than once. Love this shit.

Right In Two - Tool
angels on the sideline
puzzled and amused
why did Father give these humans free will?
now they're all confused

don't these talking monkeys know that Eden has enough to go around?
plenty in this holy garden, silly old monkeys
well there's one you're bound to divide it
right in two

angels on the sideline
baffled and confused
father blessed them all with reason
and this is what they choose
monkey killing monkey killing monkey
over pieces of the ground

silly monkeys given thumbs
they forge a blade
and then theres one bound to divide it
right in two
right in two

monkey killing monkey killing monkey
over pieces of the ground
silly monkeys give them thumbs
they make a club
and beat their brother down
how they survive so misguided is a mystery
repugnant, dismal creature who would squander
the ability to live, to die, and have a conscience

brothers sleep inside here

cut it all right in two
cut it all right in two
cut it all right in two
cut it all right in two

fight over the clouds, over wind, over sky
fight over life, over blood, over air
fight over love, over sun, over another
fight each other, over

angels on the sideline again
been so long with patience and reason
angels on the sideline again
wondering when this tug of war will end

cut it all right in two
cut it all right in two
cut it all right in two
right in two
right in two

[max_power29]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('Riddick', 'I') am ready for this Expletive deleted. to end as well. If the United States is considered the pinnacle of human development and achievement, then I'd rather be a Expletive deleted. monkey. --snip-- Man, I feel a little better..................only a little.

[ashurbanipal]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'I')t's the collective behavior of one gigantic lunatic.

[AmericanEmpire]

Ours has got to be one of the stupidiest civilizations ever. Destroying a entire planet so that a small percentage of the worlds population can live in luxury for a short period of time.

[Riddick]

You know, in all seriousness, what does make me feel better is knowing that there are many other people out there that feel the same way I do. My core group of friends feels the same way (some of them may even be lurking around this site) and it feels good to know that there are others who look at things like I do. I mean the specifics probably are different, but a lot of the principles do not change.

For instance, MATERIAL THINGS AND MONEY do not fulfill the longings for peace and happiness that we all feel. They temporarily do - hence the need for constant buying and accumulating to try and fill a void that might be satisfied for a short while but then grows with hunger again. I do not understand why people can't figure this out.

Religious people, for another example, can kiss my ass. By that I mean the religious nuts that have run rampant in this country. Just a disclaimer to all the religious people that I've offended: you can have your own religion, I just don't want to hear about it. Keep that Expletive deleted. to yourselves please. The majority of religious people that I've encountered throughout my life are the most selfish, egotistical, holier-than-thou, greedy, hypocritical, Expletive deleted. judgmental bastards that I've ever met.

In every religious doctrine that I've ever read, the biggest no-no that one can do is have a judgmental attitude. Sounds like we're all connected to me. So don't push your Expletive deleted. on me or anyone else. Hear that? What's so Expletive deleted. hard about following that guideline? Another one is to seek God within. No, it doesn't mean a cave either. Think about that you Expletive deleted.. Once you figure that out then you can come to me and we'll talk.

The third thing that chaps my Expletive deleted. is the belief that our government is trustworthy. Hahaha! This doesn't even deserve a comment. Iran in June. You just Expletive deleted. watch. They're changing over to the Euro in July. Wouldn't count on it. Thank you for everyone's great comments. It does, in all seriousnous make me feel better.

[frankthetank]

Riddick~We seem to both be on about the same page. Religion to me seems to easy. Its like people would rather believe everything they read/our told instead of going out and looking for the truth or atleast a clearer picture. I don't know, i guess most people think i'm a Expletive deleted., but they can Expletive deleted..

Today i had a note on my car for parking infront of someone's YARD while @ work (no laws prohibiting this, public street, etc). They just didn't want my car infront of their house. I about blew a gasket. This Expletive deleted.world gets better everyday. I also just got my hands on that new Tool CD. I'll have to sit down and listen through it.