THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 066: LEGEND

by MRAM
October 9, 2010



On this day. John Winston Lennon was born.



Who knew that this young boy from Liverpool, England would be such an inspiration to so many people?



His music still plays all over the world and his influence is still felt by everyone young and old.



I was so inspired by his work that I taught myself how to play several musical instruments, just so I can play his songs. Heck, if I had dedicated myself to my homework and studies as I did learning those instruments, I probably would have been valedictorian of my high school.


How come the good are always taken from us early and the bad seem to stay with us forever?



The following is a piece that a BEATLES fan wrote a few years ago. These words really stuck with me:





"There was a man who wrote about peace and love.



You may remember him and he may be one of your heroes.



Well, he was certainly one of mine.



But, not by what he said. It's because he had the guts to say it.



More importantly, he worked hard to become a citizen in these United States where he had the freedom to say what he wanted to say.



You know it all seems a bit ironic now, but that same man who believed so much in peace and non-violence, was so brutally murdered outside his own home.



It's all senseless really.



It seems that we kill off our heroes and we let the evils of the world carry on.



I'm not a bloody genius over here, but I think we got things the wrong way around."



The illustration above was made to honor what would have been John's 70th birthday. I will always see him as an inspiration, an artist, a poet and a legend.

John Winston Ono Lennon

October 9, 1940 - December 8, 1980

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 065: WARNING...

by MRAM

October 3, 2010

There's really not much to say about this. I think it speaks for itself. Either you love the series or you hate it. There is no in-between.

All I know is that I'm actually looking forward to another round of shenanigans!

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0064: EPIPHONY

by MRAM

September 26, 2010

Many of us to hold onto the past and wonder what might have been instead of living for the day and embracing what the future may hold.

It's only human.

The thing is that we really never have full control of what happens to us. Call it fate, but it's only natural to look at things through a pessimist's eyes rather than the those of the proverbial optimist.

Life is indeed TOO short. We've all heard that time and time again. The sad truth is that a majority of us unfortunately do not realize that fact until it is much too late.

We stress about our present jobs (or lack thereof), as well as our weight issues and relationship woes.

You know, if we put as much energy into trying to remedy those situations as we do complaining about them, then guess what?

Ding, ding.

Things will obviously get better. Heck, it can't get any worse, right?

Life is full of challenges, People.

It's how we meet those challenges that will determine our state of mind, well-being and level of happiness.

It really is easier to frown than it is to smile. The first challenge is to smile more.

I always did like challenges. So I wonder what made me stop trying to win?

Wow, all that by just looking in the mirror this morning.

*FYI, above is the sign for POSITIVITY =)

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0063: THE RETURN

THE URTHLINGS

BACK IN ORBIT

NOVEMBER

2010

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0062: (TBA)

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0061: REMEMBRANCE

“There are stars who's light only reaches the earth long after they have fallen apart. There are people who's remembrance gives light in this world, long after they have passed away. This light shines in our darkest nights on the road we must follow.”

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0060: TAKING RESPONSIBILTY

by duvalia
August 29, 2010

One thing I’ve never been able to understand is how parents can blame fast food places for their child’s obesity. Yes, I’ll agree that these fast food joints are enablers, but damn, take some responsibility. Do you really not have the power to get your child something else to eat?

Ever heard of exerting some self control? Or using your brain?

Okay, I’ll be sympathetic and let’s say you have a brat of a child who LOVES burgers and really won’t eat thing anything else. First off, YOU’RE still the parent. If you’re getting bossed around by a four year old, than that’s a different problem altogether. Secondly, the world is getting more health conscious and healthier foods are becoming more available. Some turkey or veggie burgers instead?

But if you really decide to let your child eat the unhealthier (and most likely tastier) burgers, then do so in moderation. Turn off the TV and get your child outside playing. Take some responsibility for your children’s health. They’ll thank you for it later.

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0059: CURTAIN CALL

by MRAM
August 29, 2010

44 years ago tonight on a Summer night inside a baseball stadium in San Francisco, four legends decided that enough was enough.

From the time they burst onto the worldwide scene in February 1964, this group of youths from Liverpool, England had been working day in and out, creating new material, participating in the obligatory mindless interviews and inane photo shoots and more importantly...touring.

Not that this 'Fab Four' didn't have fun in those early times. Who wouldn't, with the fame, money and fan adulation?

But, as with all bad relationships, the bad times started outweighing the good.

Recognize that there were no "Roadies" back then. The group had to pretty much lug their own equipment around from venue to venue. Of course they had one or two friends help them. That's 1 & 2 as opposed to a at least 50 which are used by bands today.

That would be fine if this 'little band' was touring small clubs in a few nearby cities and such. But no, they were doing stadiums and arenas WORLDWIDE.

Man, I get tired just lugging my suitcase to Las Vegas!

Now just imagine dragging multiple guitars, drums and amplifiers to Australia by way of Germany!

Performing a quick 10 song, 20-minute set to a crowd that could not even hear them perform over the roar of 45, 000 plus at times finally took its toll.

It's like working in a bell factory. After a while, you just don't hear the bells anymore.

They were tired and the fun most likely died a long time ago during a gig in some country on one of their world tours, which by the way they did 2 a year for 4 years. Bands today go on a world tour once every other year to put things in perspective.

Factor in that they could not leave their hotel rooms due to lack of security and absence of personal bodyguards during that particular time. Imagine going from city to city, country to country and just performing to screaming fanatics that can't tell that you've forgotten the lyrics to your own songs or that you had missed numerous chord changes. Then picture going back to your hotel room and doing it all over again for the next few weeks or months?

All that glitters isn't gold, People.

They were stuck in the proverbial rut and there was only one thing to do. The only thing they could do.

Stop.

One of the few positives that came from being trapped in their existence during this time was that their new material was being fine tuned and curious experimentation both professionally, musically and socially (ahem) paved the way to what may have been their finest work.

They had now moved on from the arenas to the studios full time and never looked back.

44 years ago tonight on a Summer night inside a baseball stadium in San Francisco, four legends decided that enough was indeed...

enough.

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0058: MINDLESS BUYERS

by duvalia
August 22, 2010


Companies know how to sell their products. And we know they know how and yet we still buy their products.

For instance, the original Star Wars trilogy has been released and re-released countless number of times. Oh, it’s on DVD now? Must buy! It’s been digitially remastered? Must buy! It’s has changed scenes and added commentary? Must buy!

The introduction of Blu Ray has already started a mass rebuying of things.

Introducing Final Fantasy VII: Advent Children Complete. The exact same movie as FFVII:AC but on Blu-Ray and thirty minutes of extra footage. And I bought it anyway.

Street Fighter IV… one of the biggest games when it came out. Amazingly improved graphics with 23 characters at your disposal, Cammy, Chun-Li, Vega, M.Bison… just to name a few. Then less than a year later Super Street Fighter IV comes out. With 10 new characters and new modes to play. And we buy it anyway!

I’m not saying we’re stupid for buying the new product with additional content. Just that these companies and advertisers really know how to do their job.

THE OBSERVATORY - ENTRY # 0057: DEAD...AND ALIVE.

by duvalia
August 8, 2010


Screw the sensuality of a beautiful woman having her blood drained by her mysterious unknown visitor and those two measly little marks left on her neck after he‘s finished with his meal. It’s all about the blood spattering aftermath of a zombie sinking its teeth into your flesh and tearing out your innards!

Okay, so maybe zombies are just as old a subject as vampires, but blasting your way through hordes of vampires doesn’t sound as fun (though I’m sure some of you may disagree if you have something against those sparkly ones that seem to be so popular nowadays).

While there are some variations in the way people portray the blood sucking undead, those changes never really stray away from what’s been done before. The slight differences range from how sunlight/water/garlic/etc affects vampires to some ‘power’ they might possess.

However, the brain eating undead may have an unfair advantage as ‘the infected’ seems to have become synonymous with ‘zombies’ thus creating a broader range of possibilities. You can have the T-Virus infected from the Resident Evil series, the exceptionally infected beings from the Left 4 Dead series or the simple pole vaulting zombies of Plants versus Zombies.

And then you have zombie movie quotes like “Are you a fighter, Fish Queen, or zombie food?"

Hmm... Maybe vampires do win this round.