Interview with Two Dogs

Here is an interview that I did with my father some time ago.  Just a bit of good advice for those interested in design (and directing!) - one and the same.  I was just thinking about this video after Alan's dad, Ozzie, came to speak.  I was thinking about how much fun my dad and I have - secretly, underneath our scuzzy exteriors and foul language towards each other (I mean, if you've ever had the opportunity to dine with us in our beautiful backyard, you'd really get what that means).  It's the foul language of unconditional appreciation! ooo... ^.^

Show Me What Democracy Looks Like

The idea of social and political rebellion has always been romantic to a daydreaming bohemian.  And, if you didn't know, this time is now upon us.  I get asked a lot, "what is Occupy?" "what is the 99%?"  Well, this a hard question to answer.  A lot of people are protesting for different reasons, and we all have different answers.  I was asked to explain the movement to children - and if you know me, then you know that I have a mouth like a sailor - and my brain moves at ten-thousand miles per hour, so I have problems staying on topic, and take out "fuck" - I die.

This "Occupy" movement, as I've theorized, is about changing the mindset of the elite; because, it is the elite who are running this country.  What has happened, slowly but surely, is that the elitists (1%, the corporation) have thrown the rest of us into this horrible bog of eternal economic stench.  Not only that, but the Goblin King and his henchmen keep shifting the labyrinth walls so as to make sure we don't reach our destination.  (a little "Labyrinth" reference to keep things fresh ^_^) The fact of the matter is, these people claim that their corporations are people too, and these deserve the same rights that we have.  These rights are to buy/sell property, utilize unlimited capitalism, suing and being able to be sued, etc.  They get this right of corporate personhood under the 14th amendment, which was actually, originally composed during abolition for the protection of the newly freed African American people.  When the 14th amendment was created, only about 11 or so African American's went to court to fight for their personhood, and something like 200 corporations went to court to be granted their personhood.  Who was this 14th amendment benefiting?  Just some food for thought.

The people who run these big ass corporations (such as Monsanto, BP, Exxon, Lockheed, a number of banks, etc.) follow a philosopher called Ayn Rand - who is the muse of Alan Greenspan, we saw how well he turned out...  But Ayn Rand created this idea of "objectivism" - which says, essentially, that Man is his own success.  Man should never do anything for other men, he should only work to improve his own status in the world, but not spiritually - she clearly states that she means economically as well as materialistically.  It's about pure selfishness.  And anyone, she says, who isn't "successful" in this way, does not deserve it, and is not good.  It's really creepy... but these are the ideologies that our elite follow! This is disappointing to me and this is what I protest.  I mean, corporations have no limits, no regulations.  Not only is this damaging to the rest of us economically, but it is extremely damaging to the environment.  This is our planet.  We need to rehabilitate the damage that's been done and we need to protect it, not just for the sake of respect, but also we need to protect the planet out of selfishness!  If we want to be a lasting species on this planet, we can't keep destroying our oceans and animals... We can't give "terminator seeds" to our farmers.  We have to stop poisoning ourselves with homogenized food products.  We need to stop over producing food, and we have to stop world hunger - BY NOT FORCING FARMERS TO USE TERMINATOR SEEDS and ALLOWING FARMERS TO REUSE THE SEEDS THEY PRODUCE FROM GENERATIONS OF FARMING, a.k.a. RESEEDING.  We need to put a cap on capital made by corporations, and put a plate under the workers rights so they have the ability to form unions and have the ability to take care of their families.  WE NEED CORPORATE REGULATIONS.   Over half of the people who have been put out of their homes are veterans.  Most of our tax money goes into the Pentagon and 90% goes into building weapons and selling them to oppressive countries like Israel, and until recently, Egypt.  We need to take that money and put it into BETTER SOCIAL SERVICES, like Social Security, health care, public schooling, and rehabilitation for our veterans.

For the first time in my life, today, this day, I was deemed "Un-American"; because, I support and participate in the Occupy movement, and I disapprove of police brutality.  Needless to say, I was very insulted.  But then, this comment came from a man whose job it is to sit at the border and take down Mexicans who are trying to make a better life for themselves and live within this idea of the "American Dream".  His job is to deny them.  He has decided that it is worth his time to fill my facebook with insults and uninformed criticism; because I believe that it is my job to deny the Elite an extravagant dream.  I suppose that he and I have a lot in common in that respect.  We both consider it our job to deny someone.  Who is justified?  I suppose within the legal system, he is justified.  But, it is my belief that morality stands above the law.  And I do not believe that it is morally permissible for the Elite to live self-indulgent, ornate lives while the rest of us are hungry and homeless.

This is why we are protesting.  We are the 99%.  We are hungry, homeless, jobless, cold, and we demand retribution.  I would say that we also demand change, but Obama already coined that political expression.

My Mother's Garden

My dad was diagnosed with prostate cancer on June 30th of this year.  WOAH, "the big C".  It's a scary word, a word that no one wants to hear.  EVER.  It takes a while to stop being afraid of the word.  I still have to look at my toes when I say it.  Though, just about every man, when they get to a certain age develops prostate cancer.  It's a natural phenomenon.  Nonetheless, when it happens to someone near and dear to you, it is very sobering.  

All you can do is your best, of course.  You have to change your whole lifestyle practically.  All the books say, "NO RED MEAT", "NO DAIRY", "NO EGGS", "NO THIS", "NO THAT".  It's all very restrictive, so he reacts very negative.  Stubborn man, he's a leo after all.  As am I, so, I've been working feverishly with my dad to change "meat and potatoes" into "homegrown veganlicious fruits and veggies".  Needless to say, it's been quite a challange.  

Unfortunately, we live in Wrightwood: in which the soil is harsh and full of minerals and rocks; in which there are four distinct seasons; in which there are lots of miscellaneous creatures scavenging though your yard - all of this, essentially meaning, it's extremely hard to grow voluptuous veggies.  So, we generally have to settle for store-bought organics.  

On a side note, here's something to think about: gardening as a self-sustainment activity.  We could look at the term "self-sustainment" in several ways, and that's my intention.  I mean "self-sustainment" to mean both physical and emotional/mental sustainment, as well as the traditional definition of relying on oneself.  Grow plants that produce a particular fruit or veggie or herb that you take an interest in eating.  In my case: tomatoes, blackberries, oregano, etc.  Not only will they be a healthier dietary choice, but it can be a very satisfying moment when you get to taste the "fruits of your labor" - so to speak - AND it has been scientifically proven that being involved in a garden is better than being involved in a white room.  First, you have the exposure to the sun: vitamin D; second, you have exposure to O2, oxygen; lastly, you realize you are not alone and these plants need your care and tenderness in order to thrive.  

That being said, as I was helping my mom cook dinner tonight, I went into the garden to gather some herbs to add to the veggies we were BBQing.  I thought, "bingo! this is something I have to think about all the time now!"  So I decided to photograph some of the edibles that can grow up here in the mountains, specifically that can be found in the forest that I call, "My Mother's Garden".  And this was our dinner:

 Blackberries

are full of antioxidants and deliciousness.

To pick a good blackberry, it essentially

has to roll off of it's little branch.  

Otherwise, you can be sure that it will be a 

sour little bugger.  

 Cactus:

Now, I don't know what is particularly special

about a cactus, but it's edible and perfectly sweetened.

To cook a cactus, well, you can cook it however you want 

to.  Just make sure to take the pricklies out and peel it 

before you do anything.  

 Chard:

FIBER!!  It helps to keep your poo together. 

 Oregano:

I just read an article, sent to me by my dear mentor: 

David Flaten, that Oregano oil helps kill the bad 

bacteria in your body.  Neato!  

Steak:

I did say my dad was stubborn.  

He sneaks meat into the house, and my mother 

condones it.  Well, perhaps I'm a bit lighter on my dad 

than I should be.