Long Live the King of Pop

On June 25, 2009, one of the greatest performers of our time left us without saying good-bye. As we mourn the loss of Michael Jackson, we remember everything he did for us. It was his mission and his sole purpose to heal the world from its tranquilities. He fought the long battle with the never-ending controversies, the gossips, and the suffering others brought upon him. Even with the hard times, Jackson pulled through and healed the world just enough that maybe the weakest person could feel a little hope and peace.
People will comment and say that Michael Jackson was indeed abnormal to the average human being. I say, if you're going to be a genius, then you must be slightly different from the world. If we look back at the many cultural icons such as Edgar Allen Poe, Vincent Van Gogh, and Howard Hughes, we can clearly see that they were all slightly different from the norm. There is nothing wrong being who we are. In the song, Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson only asked that we, as an individual, will look ourselves in the mirror so that we can change the world within us.
Through Jackson's death, many people will rise up also to mourn the death of the King of Pop. Many of those same people were the ones who have persecuted Jackson and are now realizing that he was taken for granted. When I discovered that Michael Jackson had died, I couldn't come to believe it. There was no way that this could be true. Michael Jackson was indeed Peter Pan. Being a fan of his since I was just a little boy, his death didn't come easy to me. I'm not one to cry or become very emotional during hard times, so even though I felt grief, I couldn't quite show it so well. It wasn't until I heard Jackson's daughter, Paris, speak at his memorial service when it finally hit me that he was gone and he left his legacy behind. I remember the first time I ever heard Billie Jean, Thriller, Bad, and Beat it. I couldn't get enough of it. I'd always sit in front of the TV when MTV showed his music videos and I'd watch them all. There was a time when MTV premiered Jackson's music video, Ghosts, on Halloween. I recall that I had to stay up to watch it. When I saw that music video, I thought it was the most amazing music video I had ever seen.
I think no matter where anyone lives, whether it's in the United States, Mexico, Japan, or Russia, Michael Jackson's music was universal. He spoke in a language that everyone could understand. When Michael Jackson raised his arm and gestured two fingers into the air, everyone knew it was a sign of peace. Jackson was the definition of peace. Now, Michael Jackson is at peace.
Like others are saying, even though he is gone, he will be remembered forever. Forget about all the accusations, forget about all the gossip, forget about all the stories, Michael Jackson was and will forever be known as the King of Pop.

So You Want to Go on a Date...

Here are some easy tips for those people who aren't quite prepared to go on a date. To make a date go as smoothly as possible, follow these good suggestions:

1. Out to Dinner:

• Do not slurp your soup or any other soft foods
• Do not belch, if so, keep your mouth closed so it's not so obvious
• Do no smack your lips when eating food
• Do not make moaning sounds if your food is good
• Do not stuff your mouth with more food than your cheeks can bare
• Do not talk with any amount of food in your mouth
• Do not devourer your entire plate
• Do not order food for your date, unless he or she went to the bathroom and asked you to, in case he or she isn't back in time
• Do not hover over food as if it is going to run away from the table
• Guys, do pull your dates chair out for them before they sit
• When the girl re-enters the room, guys, stand up for them and sit back down after she does
• Guys, do insist on paying the bill
• Always have napkins near
• Order foods that won't be too messy
• If food is too large, cut it with knife into bite size pieces
• Sit up straight in chair

2. When walking:

• Guys walk along side with the road (left), while the girl is on the the inside of the sidewalk (right)
• Walk close, but keep a reasonable distance, unless otherwise
• Don't walk too fast, but not too slow either

3. Temperature situations:

• If you're in a place that's too cold, offer her your jacket or put your arm around her to snuggle
• If you're in a place that's too hot and she has taken off her jacket, offer to hold it for her

4. Socializing:

• When talking, look into each others eyes, but don't make it creepy
• Do not keep talking about one subject
• Try to have good transitions in a conversation
• Don't brag or sound arrogant
• Talk about yourself and the date at an equal length
• Face your date when talking
• Don't be looking at other people
• Try and keep the conversation alive by asking questions
• Don't ever give a one answer response to a question, such as, "how are you?"
• Be careful when giving an opinion about something
• Don't talk too fast
• Making your date laugh with a good joke or funny story is aways good
  

5. Picking Up Your Date:

• Always be on time
• Call your date to tell him or her that you are on your way
• If anything comes up, call your date and tell him or her that you will be a few minutes late
• When arriving at the house, never text your date that you have arrived and to come out of the house
• Guys, never honk your car horn to signal your date to come out of her house
• Guys, always walk up to the door to pick up your date
• Never arrive at a house with loud music playing in your car
• Never speed up to the house, especially if your car has anything above a V6 engine

6. Concluding a Date:

• Tell your date that you had a really good time
• Tell your date that you will call them later
• Walk your date to the door
• Never leave until your date in safe inside the house
• Never just assume that it's okay to go in for a kiss
• Don't ever expect to be invited inside the house
  

Nice Guys Finish Last...or is it the Other Way Around?

For years, the question has been asked by almost every male on the planet, "Why do nice guys finish last?"

It's the never ending conquest to find the answer. There are two types of guys in the world. There are the "nice guys", who generally never get anywhere in a relationship than just a friend. Then, there's the "bad boy", who get all the women, but shows the least amount of respect and true love toward the girl. For many "nice guys", this causes frustration and confusion. Because of the "bad boy" type, the "nice guy" tends to feel insecure and hopeless. He begins to question his capabilities and if he'll ever find true love. He desires to become just like the "bad boy", but he knows he will fail if he does. The guy realizes that he is a "nice guy" and that's all he'll ever be. He can never be anyone else, but that won't solve his relationship problems. Generally, if the "nice guy" was smart, he would sit down and examine why the other guy gets all the girls and why he's stuck in the "friend zone".

So what makes a "bad boy" bad?

If we look at the typical "bad boy", we can clearly see that he is popular among his peers. His friends love him, girls love him, but "nice guys" despise him. He's the type of guy who gets away with everything. The guy feels invincible and vulnerable is just a word in the dictionary. You might as well tape a giant "S" on his chest and call him Superman. The world is his stage and he will show off his magic to everyone who surrounds him. The guy is generally well built and will take advantage of his good looks in any way he possibly can. Cockiness runs in his veins. Fire burns in his eyes and he aims his radar at any girl he sees. When his cross-hair targets a girl, he moves into action without thinking of any possible consequences. A love for a girl doesn't exist in his mind. To love a girl is to love himself first. The guy is smooth and clever. He can sweep any girl off their feet in a blink of an eye. He is possessed by every comedian known to man. It's every girls dream to be with him. The guy is the king of narcissism.

So if a guy possesses these traits, then why are girls so attracted to it?

Well, why wouldn't any girl be attracted to a "bad boy"? Falling for a "bad boy" is basically the ultimate challenge for a girl. It's the same thing if a guy likes a beautiful girl. The more attractive the person is the more of a challenge is it to get with them. Because the guy is tagged as a "bad boy" it gives the girl a sense of security. It also makes the girl feel special that a cool popular guy noticed her. She wants to tell all her friends that she is dating so and so and be the envy of all the girls. In reality, it's a sign of being desperate. These girls are so lonely that they have to go for the guy that will sure pick them out of all the rest. I believe that most girls think that they are not good enough for the "nice guy" so they settle with some loser who balances out her emotions. She will give all the excuses why she and the "nice guy" shouldn't date. I'm sure some of us have it these before. Let's see; "I'm no good", "I'm not the best for you", "You don't want to be with me. Trust me", "Find someone better than me". The girl feels so insecure that she has to lower he standards and deal with a crappy guy in a crappy relationship.

Being the "bad boy" sounds pretty good, huh? Imagine getting any girl you desired. All you would have to do is show your face and the girls come crawling on their knees worshiping at your feet. Doesn't that sound like the life? It really does sound good, but it seems too good to be true. When something feels to good to be true, then it usually is. Being the "bad boy" isn't all fun and games. There are consequences. Because the guy is considered to be a "Player" by all his egotistical loser male friends who can't get a girl even if they were on a dating show, the guy will live up to those standards. However, he will lose in the end. His life belongs to the "one night stand". He will never be in a trust worthy relationship. While all the stupid desperate girls still fall for his tricks, the smart ones will catch on and all will hate him. His picture will be thrown on a wall to mock and ridicule. A secret hate club will be made in his honor.

The next question is, what consists of a nice guy?

You might be thinking, "it's probably just the opposite of a "bad boy". That's true, but there is one thing that a nice guy will always do that a bad boy won't. A nice guy will go the length to impress the girl. He will sacrifice his money and his time to win over the girl. He will purposely try to show up or attend the same event in which the girl is at just to be with her. The nice guy will think of the most ingenious ways to meet with the girl and talk to her. He is there for her every need. Unfortunately, the same thing will happen everytime. The moment the nice guy gets close enough to the girl, she tells him that she is in a relationship and the nice guy will be upset because the girl led him on. The girl will explain to the guy that he is a good friend, almost like a brother, and the guy will have to watch the girl date a guy who doesn't care for her as much as the nice guy did. The girl realizes that the nice guy really is nice and really cared for her than anyone else, but she will convince herself that the guy she is with is the right guy and perfect for her.

So if you're considered to be a "nice guy" and if you're reading this, you might be thinking, "Okay, so what is it about me that girls don't find attractive? Why am I always in last place?"

Let's put it straight forward. There is nothing wrong with the "nice guy". The reason "nice guys" are in last place is because society amplifies the "bad boy" within the media. We see in the show "Drake and Josh" a good example of the "bad boy" type, played by Drake Bell. While Josh, the "nice guy" never gets the girl and all the worst case scenarios happen to him, his brother, Drake, excels with women. He is drenched with beautiful girls and every possible good thing in life happens to him. While Drake is dating a new girl in every episode, Josh finally gets the girl, Mindy. Drake is stuck in the never ending cycle of girls with no hope of ever finding true love. Let's be honest, every girl know when a "nice guy" likes them because the guy shows love toward them. However, it's not a good challenge. It's too easy to like someone who you already know likes you. The girl wants someone who she likes, but doesn't know if the guy likes her back. Girls love a good mystery. If you're a nice guy, and I say that without quotations this time, don't ever change who you are. If you choose to follow in the footsteps of a "bad boy", then your love life is doomed forever. So what if you can't get the girl of your dreams at the moment? I guarantee that there will be many other "dream girls" in the future. So really, nice guys win in the end and the bad boys finish last.

Who I Am

I'm not who you think I am. If you don't know me, then you cannot even begin to imagine who I am. You could picture me in any way you want. Let your imagination run wild. Go ahead. Imagine. Are you picturing me tall? Perhaps short? You might even begin to imagine me as a well-built athletic hunk. Maybe not. I don't know. Before you begin to imagine, let me just say one thing. Everything you thought was wrong. You don't have the slightest clue who I am. Sure, you could possibly identify my personality from these blogs, but you still only have half the picture. Instead of making this into a mystery novel, let me just explain who I am in the best way that I can. Maybe, after I explain myself, you might know me better than before or you may walk away without a care in the world. Either way, you are now reading this blog. Because you are reading this blog and because you have read this far into it, you are now curious to find out who I really am. Go on. Continue to read on. I am the opposite of a democrat, but not that patriotic toward my country as I should be. I don't believe in a religion, but in a way of living. What people call music and what I call music are two different types of music. My life is entertaining and so are my future dreams. I'm not short, but I'm also not tall. My strengths and weaknesses are different from the mightiest humans. When I say strengths and weaknesses, I'm not talking about failure and accomplishments. My life is full of those as it is. I think a "Results May Vary" should be posted on my face. My love life seems to think I'm a creep and a weirdo and I just don't belong. You could call me the Joker because I laugh at the most absurd situations or you could call me House because of my witty remarks toward human nature. I believe that Global Warming is just a way to spend more money and make people more worried than they already are. My favorite bands are names of a bug, a car, a pot smoking holiday, a religious icon and sound traveling data, a high number of blinking, and a fighter plane from WWII. My best friends are not all the ones in my Top 8, but a few. If there's anything in life that I will never understand is chemistry, philosophy, and girls. I realized that when I like a girl, she doesn't like me, but when I don't like a girl, she likes me, so maybe I shouldn't like anyone and see how that goes. A few of my best friends have 61 black and white keys, 6 strings, and 5 heads. I enjoy capturing objects of everyday life with a push of a button. My other best friend seems to obtain many of my interests and his name is something you step on or lay on. My skin resembles the color of mocha and my hair resembles a puddle of tar. My voice is something no man on earth has ever heard before. I live in a cow-town named Lard. Lard is the heart of California and the crossroads to every destination. I'm not young, but I'm not old. Whatever age you think I am, you are wrong, but I won't be upset if you guess incorrectly. This is who I am in the best way I can describe. Do you think you know me better? Maybe. Maybe not. You may never fully know me. I may never fully know myself. Just keep using your imagination and eventually you'll get it right.

Photographs

I realized that when we are looking at photos it's as if we are looking at the stars in the night sky. For everytime we look up at a star, we are actually looking into the past of how the star used to look a hundred or even a thousand years ago. Isn't that what we do when we look at a photo? As we hold that memory in our fingertips, we see what our lives looked like years before. For the most part, many of us cannot even recall the event in which the photo took place. It is the only evidence that proves we were all young at one point. We've all heard the saying, "a picture is worth a thousand words", but if I may, I'd like to tweak that phrase a little to, "A picture is worth a thousand emotions". When we gaze into our past, we can't help but feel a mix of emotions. The biggest emotions that we share are happiness, sadness, and of course the one everyone has, nostalgic. Everyone wishes that they could go back in time to that particular event. Does that mean Kansas was right when they said that all we are is dust in the wind? We take a photo, but life goes on. People in that photo may be grown up, married, have a family, or possibly deceased. In the words of the Beatles, "Tomorrow never knows". We have no idea what to expect in the future, so we like to live in the past in order to forget about all our worries. People like to live in the moment. When you look at a photo, look at the people who are in it. Think about where they are now. Look at a class photo and think about all the kids who made it out as druggies, successful beings, average Joe's, and the pretty innocent girls with the flower dresses who no longer know the meaning of having innocence. Usually, when we look at a photo, we tend to focus on the primary subject, which would be us. When you take a picture in public, look past yourself and pay attention to the people who happened to land in your snapshot. What if someone took your picture at the park and there happens to be a person in the background who will someday be your spouse? What if that person in the background was a future celebrity or a criminal or someone who will later cross you to change your life forever? What if you've already met that person? What if I was in the background of one of your photos? What if you were in the background of one of my photos? A photograph isn't just a glossy piece of paper with people or natural elements on it. A photograph is a door to our past and a window to our future. It captivates our soul and makes us fall in love with life all over again. People we once knew growing up never really left us. They just happen to be hiding in those old photo envelopes that you keep in a box on the top shelf of your coat closet. Who says that we should stop living in the past? The past is not overrated. Go ahead, take a photograph.

Fear is the Heart of Love

Love is one of those words that is always difficult to explain. Some say it's when two people care for each other. Others say it's when two people are compatible with each other. Then there are people who say love is when you get butterflies in your stomach whenever that person is around.

My definition of love is something different. You see, I have a theory about what love really is. My theory is; for one to be in love, one must fear love first. Think about it, before you ever get into a relationship or while in a relationship, you have to have some sense of fear. It's the fear of knowing you may never be with the one you love. It's the fear of losing the one you love to someone else. It's the fear of living your life without that person by your side.

Being in love is like having a job. Before you apply for a job, you have to know what you are getting yourself into and how your are going to make it through. If you go into a relationship thinking that it will last forever, it will surely end with great destruction.

I thought of the concept of loving God with fear. As a Christian, I love God, but I also fear Him, as any believer does. It's the belief that God is in control and He makes everything possible. If we put that into our love lives, then we too can be happy and successful.

Love is not just saying how much you love that significant other. Love is not just thinking about that person all the time. Love is not just being compatible or having common interests. Love is not just about getting butterflies in your stomach. People always say that true love should be easy. That is not true. True love takes hard work and time. If it does not take hard work and time, then it will not survive. Just because you and your partner have sex doesn't mean you'll be with each other forever.

In the movie, Dan in Real Life, one character says, "Love is not a feeling, it is an ability". You must know how to love to feel love. Love today is depicted from all the sappy love movies. If you're in love, rejoice, but don't think that because you are in love you are invincible. In the Bible, it says that love is patient. That's exactly what it should be. Just because you and your significant other have been dating a year doesn't mean you have to talk about marriage. Studies show that couples who talk about marriage while dating in high school (high school sweethearts) will end in divorce.

What I do is I try to prevent bad things from happening to people I care about and others whom I don't even know. I've seen this stuff happen before. Don't say that your love is different from everyone else, because it's not. Those who say that are exactly like everyone else. Those are particularly the ones who fail. Strive to make it last. Don't just take advantage of being in love. I know the words "fear love" sounds cynical and pessimistic, but if you don't fear love, every little thing will hit you like a bullet. You will not be prepared for anything.

To fear love is to honor and respect love. If you don't fear love, then you are just abusing love. There is no other way. You either be smart and safe in your relationship, or you do whatever you want and see where that leads you. I read so many myspace surveys where one person mentions the other person in almost every question. That is not love, it is an obsession. An obsessed relationship goes against my theory. What happens if something bad occurs to that other person? Suicide? Depression? If every little conversation or thought is about your significant other, then you need to realize that that person is not some divine being and is only human. Fear can only make a person stronger in their relationship.

Think of love as a Jenga set. If you keep pulling those pieces without observing it, studying it, and having patience, the whole thing will collapse. You see, you want to pull that piece from a safe spot and put that piece back on top of the tower. Whenever you pull a piece from the tower, you fear that your tower will collapse at any moment and you won't be prepared for it when it happens. However, the more you observe and become patient enough to look at the whole picture, your tower will never collapse and if it somehow does collapse, you will see where you went wrong and it will be easy to rebuild your tower.

To Love a Cat

If someone ever asked you, which would you prefer? a cat or a dog? I believe the majority of votes would be for dogs. However, I am the opposite. I do not dislike dogs or anything, but I'd rather prefer a cat anytime. People who have never owned a cat will never know the joy and pleasure it is to have one. Perhaps it is the warmth of their fur rubbing against your leg. Maybe it's the gentle purr that vibrates throughout the body. It could even be the quirky personality, but I guarantee that a cat will bring just as much comfort and joy as any old dog. Most people stereotype a cat as lazy, worthless, and a waste of space, but many people do not realize that each cat has their own unique personality. No cat will ever be the same as another. One cat may be hyperactive while another is fat and lazy, like my cat. Ever since my cat was little, he had pretty big feet, so we all knew he was going to be a big cat. Boy, were we right. It's as if we have a tiger cub roaming around in the house. I'm just waiting for a zoo keeper to knock on the door to take him away. It is the most special thing to witness the growth of a pet. I got my cat when he was a few months old. My cat is now ten years old and he has certainly aged. His legs are skinny as a twig, but his body is like a basketball. His stripes have become darker and slightly faded. The tip of his whiskers are black. Instead of jumping around like a stage performer, he can now only jump two or three times before getting exhausted and falling on his flabby belly. Ever since he was a kitten, my cat has always had an issue with weak digestion. Whenever he coughs up food it's almost like a normal routine for him. He wouldn't be our cat if he didn't get sick here and there. I can't imagine how many times my family has threatened to get rid of him, but how can you get rid of something so seemingly innocent? My cat will always be my cat. He will never be the cat down the street. As any pet owner knows, the more you keep a cat or dog the more you see the resemblance between you and the animal. I can sometimes see my personality within my cat. I know that animals cannot think logically, but it's almost like they know what's going on around them. It takes a lot to love a cat.