Life's Changing

I know it has been some time, but life has been changing a whole lot in the last couple years. The biggest change?

I'm getting married next month!

Yep, one of my life's dreams is finally becoming a reality soon. Of course, the world has seen many changes in this meantime, too. Some of which has broken rules of physics, others the rules of rational thought.

As for me and my soon-to-be bride, we're choosing to bend select rules of tradition (it doesn't happen often these days, but I'm not the only man wearing a kilt to his wedding instead of a tuxedo).

If I had to guess, I'd say wedding planning and prep is about 92-95% done with some final touches left to do.

Afterward, I can't wait to see what God has in store for OUR lives!

Another Year, Another Controversy

I'm sorry to not have written anything in almost two years, I've had much happen between then and now, even on my days off from work.

Anyway.

Earlier this year, I had pointed out on my Tik Tok account how there's so much controversy over anything and everything, that I wondered if this year would contend with last year, which saw the biggest amounts of the strangest controversies I have seen yet. We're only four months in and I do believe we're in a contending year on that front.

As a gamer, I started paying attention to one particular news item that, until the Woke Left started slandering it in despicable ways, I knew the existence of, but didn't care about in the last couple years I knew of it.

The video game Stellar Blade.

The game's existence has now revealed the extreme inconsistencies of today's video game journalism and why mist gamers can no longer believe 99% of articles published from "big names" that have ruined their own reputations over the years. Before I go into a rabbit hole I can't escape from, I'll simply say, this is one example of a useless controversy, but as the saying goes "bad press is good press," seeing as how the Negative Nancies of gaming news helped shed light on Stellar Blade, making it currently the #1 most preordered game on Playstation. At this moment, the game hasn't come out (that's next week), but its demo has been played MORE than the recently released Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, which is a huge deal!

However, one thing I disagree with in all angles of journalism is the mention of "all of the Left" hating it.

One big update in life is that I now have a girlfriend, who describes herself as "very liberal," good thing I'm Independent. I did a "perspectives interview" with her for her take. According to MOST of the Left, Stellar Blade is a trashy sexual game with a leading lady who's "unrealistic," my girlfriend disagrees. She called the main lead (Eve) beautiful. BEAUTIFUL! But I'm scarcely a drop in the bucket, so I doubt I'll get much of any notice on any platform for having a liberal girlfriend who's interested in the game and doesn't want it canceled.

Maybe soon, I'll write about how this game's pre-release history reminds me of what Paul says about false slander.

Until next time, may you find peace in God and in this crazy world.

Fickle Pride

How long does one hold to what they believe before it can be called "capitalistic"?

We hold "pride" to what we "are," but forget what pride is by definition. It's having satisfaction in what one trained for (not born as). Yet we've redefined it as "coming out" as either gay or trans. Maybe stating you're some gender that doesn't exist except on Star Trek.

A big part of "Pride Month" is now literally parading around with rainbows and, in some reported cases, strap-ons and dildos, getting in kids' faces (which was illegal).

As you can guess, I don't have much heart for Pride Month. But it's not just because of the extreme behavior(s) of the LGBT+ community, there's a serious monetary reason I can't stand it. For one single month, all major companies and franchises showing "support" for the community changes their logos to rainbow colors. Well, except the Middle Eastern branch of said companies, where it's literal life-and-death illegal to either be or show support for being gay.

I'm quite sure some of my gay friends and acquaintances don't appreciate the double standards of commercializing their lifestyle for a profit.

"We love and support you!" Just, you know, for this month.

My LGBT friends have told they may support the idea, but the parades and profiteering sickens them. Honestly, that reminds me of how I see Christmas anymore.

On other considerations, since '15, I've heard that some parts of the community doesn't view the ENTIRE community as legit. First report I heard dealt with a gay-exclusive trailer camping park that denied and trans men from camping.

Their reason? They saw trans men as women trying to be men. This kind of rejection was surprising, it was self-cannibalism of a group wanting to be taken seriously. But since then, there'd be an occasional news report of groups denying one part any access for biological reasons. That or individuals online stating their views. Recently came across a gay man who rejected loving any trans or straight allies. Why? "This is MY month to he proud, I don't want anyone but gays and lesbians celebrating it with me!"

Sounds just as cripplingly judgmental as some of the churches that judge them all.

Speaking of...

I've been frequently called (only by those who've never met me in real life, oddly enough) a bigot by either the LGBT community or their allies because I don't view myself as an ally. I don't support the gay rights movement, etc. Then again, some friends of mine (gay, trans, ally) have told me being an ally isn't required. I can call them friend and that's enough. I can cry out for justice when some are intentionally hurt/killed by anti-LGBT terrorists (which I do) and that's enough. But when strangers call me a bigot, I fond myself laughing for one reason. Though I come from a religious background (one that included shades of being anti-gay for the longest time), I'll never be in the same category as, say, "Reverend" Steven Anderson, who always uses homophobic epithets in sermon, has promised death threats to them in sermons, makes severe promises that none will ever enter "his church," as though the building will always be his.

Though my family is largely Christian, they do accept my LGBT friends, it doesn't mean we accept the lifestyle. Though my friends know about my faith, I don't expect them to accept my lifestyle. We do come to certain compromises to certain degrees out of respect for each other. I've been to the cinema with them and accepted (and given) rides from them. When I had to move places, one helped out and I paid for her vehicle's gas (long trek, round-trip).

So, who do I find to be the true bigots? I'd say watch some comedians you'll find the bigots hating on them, showing their hypocrisy. Both Dave Chapelle and Ricky Gervais exposed "identity politics" and its dangers. The moment they said "You better not hurt a gay person's feelings," the biggest names in the community sought to cancel them. G.L.A.A.D. called Gervais "transphobic" for a comedy sketch in his special, "Super Nature." Either they actually didn't make it past the first 3 minutes (where explains irony) or the irony of the joke ("What if SHE rapes, you bigot!") was lost on them and they have no humor.

So, yes, I've been told I don't have to see myself as an ally, but this view isn't held by all. If I were to believe the mainstream news, I either agree to a more rigorous "checklist" (than what's often joked as "checklist Christianity") of agreeing to things and accepting a truckload of symbols and gestures and phrases, or you're labeled a bigot and some Big Name sources look for a way to "cancel" you.

I'd say we live in very unstable times in a wasteland of unstable thoughts and lifestyles.

Much Has Happened

Noticed I haven't posted since last year. I'll be brief, I promise.

First, great news on work. If you recall that I frequently mentioned how toxic my job was, don't worry, I now work elsewhere. For the 2nd time in my work history, I was hired during my job interview for an industry I've never done before, hotels. No, not as a concierge, but behind-the-scenes work. As I've realized I have a critical temper problem, I think it's a good thing I'm in the laundry department, not dealing directly with customers. Though I'll miss getting tips from customers (biggest being $50), I'm at less risk of a flare up and have ample room to focus better and learn new puzzle skills. Oh, and better pay, which helps out.

Second, with students moving out, there's a local tradition to hunt other people's refuse to find anything that can be helpful or accidentally necessary. That's how I managed to get a 2nd bookcase and a roommate got me a cat stand for my cat. This year, I found a small bookstand. Using it to have space for some of my entertainment. At least until I find a better place to live.

Oh yes, third! For a while, been thinking of looking for improved living conditions. Such as a new place to live (with bigger income) and, potentially, something closer to my dream car, now that my credit's getting better.

This is all for now. In the meantime, thinking of a special blog for next month.

Substantially Real

Let's start with this. I'm not just a retail worker, nor just a vivid thinker and a storyteller at heart. I'm also an actor. Not in movies, but at a local horror theme park. Honestly one of the best I've ever had, regardless that it's strictly seasonal. My 2nd year in it and last year alone, I made several new friends. A couple of which I've frequently talked with since meeting. All of which, though, have a place in my heart for various reasons.

That said, some things have occurred that speak of things "beyond the veil," as some say. This year, for example, one Farm veteran (6 years running) and a new actor (and strangely banned) had done something unexpected. The new girl wanted to show off her "necromancy" powers (didn't know her spiritism well, what she described them as was actually mediumship). Let's just say most of it seemed like the kind of cold read job any tv psychic did before that industry went down. It was at the very end when things took a turn.

She suggested she and our veteran actor (both younger than me, both practicing witches) give me "protection spells." No incantations, just holding their hands above mine. I couldn't say why, but I went with it. I expected nothing, but got something. From him, a pulsating heat (not a burning kind, though), and from her, a soft chill.

The next day, we were on the topic of spiritism and had another experience of the supernatural sort when our veteran actor told me "I hope you now believe in the existence of the supernatural realm."

I told him "I know it's real, I've had previous experiences. What? Did you think I'm a progressive Christian? One who is Christian by title but doesn't really know what they believe?" He liked that and said that means I'm not "judgmental like those freaks."

He has a point.

Stemming from this experience comes the spiritual knowledge of faith-based experience. Not trying to be like King Saul, seeking out a medium instead of God for guidance, but I also didn't want to be rude to them, either. All-in-all, it's an experience that reminded me of the thread-thin barrier between dimensions, or what metaphysicists call the "11th dimension."

Book review: Condition Black

There's quite a selection of books I've enjoyed over the years, but few I can relate to on a personal level, being autistic. This time, I can relate. When a man's wife gets back from Africa with a new and deadly disease, only he can figure out how to help her, but he will have obstacles in his way besides environmental elements that have plagued him all his life. Sections deal with tough questions of if authority overreaches, how biomechanics works, toying with near future technology, and throws you in to a story with impossible stakes with enough people that you want to root for, but know it will be impossible to root for all of them to win. It was both incredibly clever to see how it worked and heartbreaking at the same time. Not often a story pulls this many layers together effectively, but this one does.

Rating: 4.75/5

The Breaking Down

I first noticed it in 2011. It was through a video game trailer, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It started as usual. Gunfights in closed spaces, barked orders, then a shocking visual. Manhattan in flames as a warzone. Then the lead went into the frontline. I realized video games were about to toy with a concept that Americans hated the idea of but may eventually have to face since it does happen every few years or couple decades: what if America were attacked? Again? But worse, ravaged? That was in the beginning of the decade. Before the decade was done, there would be pockets of riots and anarchy coast to coast, broadcast live. Inept journalism would even call them "mostly peaceful" despite raging fires behind them.

Asymmetrical warfare committed by people born on the soil.

Now, in 2021, things are ramping up. A couple years ago, I was tired of almost daily hearing about mass shootings and hate crimes against religious gatherings the world over. Now, this year alone has seen the Capitol be stormed, car crashes in NY into businesses, and more mass shootings.

It were as though the joke about 2020 being written by Stephen King extended into the next year as well.

After 9/11, there was the common saying "If you see something, say something," until it became too inconvenient for everyone's personal safety and well-being, but also using the surface reasoning of "get out of business," even when there was more than enough reason to warrant caution. Nowadays, people are starting to use Twitter as the ultimate think tank and prefer Tik Tok over textbooks to learn how things work. In other words, the social collective IQ has dropped drastically and it shows, every single day, how far we've regressed. I'm used to hearing "We're advanced, just look at our technology!" The tech has advanced while we're at a standstill and stumbling backwards. This past January, I accidentally broke my glasses and had to get a replacement. I knew I couldn't afford a full eye exam and new lenses, just frames, but decided to look into investing smart glasses. I knew they were around, but didn't know much about the industry. Shockingly, West Virginia doesn't have much of a presence of smart glasses technology, despite being a couple states from New York, where the biggest manufacturer in America, Vuzix, is. That being said, I keep hearing people in my area tell me they've never heard of smart glasses. Not surprising. All this to say our tech has advanced beyond what some are aware of at all. Our humanity should be as or more advanced than our tech, but we've been showing ourselves how deep our depravity truly is. This is something we tend to turn away from, telling ourselves that it cannot be true, we refuse to accept it. Literally anything to say "I'm good enough as I am, no flaws," even as this year is showing how addicted to our depravity we are. Mass shootings, sudden public beatings, violent riots, shocking anti-(insert anything) outbursts. The sheer amount of displays of anti-decency and lack of common sense in the last few months have shown another drop of a couple points in the collective IQ. Yeah, not good.

This year, we're showing ourselves the exact reasons why we're in desperate need of salvation, ironic of anyone who claims they either don't need or don't want God's help in life. Far more ironic is God's reckless love to say "I know you don't care, I'm reaching out anyway."

Warrior's Strength

This whole year has had everyone's temper flaring worse than Mount Doom looking for the One Ring. "Karen compilation" videos left and right of people spitting in each others' faces, racial rants, calling out "Covid hoax" like Revere calling out "The Regulars are coming!"

Everyone's sick of this year. Everyone's also sick of trying to avoid stepping on each other's toes unless they feel like being rebels.

I've lost count how many times I've watched The Lord of the Rings, but while watching it (again.........), and watching the YouTube channel Cinema Therapy, I now realize there's many current and relevant themes and lessons this 20 year old film franchise can teach us going forward. Things one wouldn't normally consider since the movies don't deal with a viral pandemic. We normally look to something that deals with exact or near-exact circumstances to our own to figure out what we can do.

For example, when the movie Contagion came out, it didn't do well in the box office. At least, from what I heard. When I heard the title, I thought it would be a zombie flick. This year, upon the announcement that the globe was under quarantine, a global pandemic, I heard the movie was sought after, immediately becoming the #1 movie streamed across the board. I haven't watched it yet, haven't had a chance, but from what I've heard, it realistically depicts society as an outbreak occurs. The worst in human nature coming out, each individual believing they're more important than the previous and the next.

From there, we should look at Aragorn. Throughout the LotR movies, he has a tendency to stand up for the downtrodden, hanging out with them, putting any degree of bully in their place.

Unlike us. At the announcement of the Covid-19 pandemic, I heard about strings of racial harassment all across the land, people berating (including physically assaulting) literally any Asian person they came across. One report said an elderly lady screamed at a Chinese woman "GO BACK WHERE YOU CAME FROM AND TAKE YOUR VIRUS WITH YOU!"

So much for common sense and decency.

I immediately made a challenge that, as far I'm aware, no one noticed: "If any of you believe yourselves a good person, this is your chance to prove it and stick up for those who are being bullied."

Nope, there are videos of people throwing racial epithets left and right to anyone of any ethnicity. Black. Asian. Mexican. Why? "Because I'm an American, I speak English, you don't talk that language here, you go back where you came from!"

That's a conglomeration of a couple videos I'd seen, which disturbs me that racism is back, thinking it's powerful again. I started saying "It's 2020, why aren't we acting more enlightened?"

I'd say it's past due time to bring back a fighting spirit and stand up for honor, help those in need instead of puffing ourselves up with misplaced nationalistic pride, learn the strength of humility before we let our pride hit us hard.

I pray we come to toss our pride aside and seek each other's help and show gratitude. Sure, it seems like a pipedream, but it's possible, even if vaguely.

COVID-19 Perspective

The moment in December that I heard about the novel coronavirus, aka Covid-19, aka "the 'rona," aka The Virus Who Must Be Named (On YouTube), I wanted to laugh. Someone's showing concern over a virus named after a beer a friend from church enjoys? Then I heard the detail that made it dangerous; it was man-made, no cure.

Okay, let me just skip a few months. I planned on publishing this several months ago and life just kept throwing curveballs.

So, listen up, I'm not going to take the time to be nice and skirt around controversial words and avoid hurting feelings. You can ask my friends and co-workers, I have a morbid sense of humor many find shocking. Part of what it makes it work is my idiopathic nerves, in that I don't actually care how my audience may get offended at times, context pending.

So, this year started off like Stephen King's The Stand. The way I joked to people about it was sounding like a radio announcer giving the gist of the book in a comparative way to the virus. People who never read were surprised by how far ahead King wrote. Almost immediately after the pandemic and lockdowns were conspiracies flooding in. Some sounded vaguely plausible (some in the long-term sense), others laughably insane (might explain why sanitariums are no longer in use). After that, mixing with racial tensions not seen for decades, we have a powder keg of a nation. Now, people are literally going around being emotional terrorists, cussing out anyone wearing a mask, threatening lawsuits for medical reasons, and trashing retail stores for selling face masks. You can look up any of these on youtube, there's many "Karen compilation" videos of each. Or, as I prefer to call them, "Teri," in anti-honor of the racist lady in a viral video who proclaimed pride of being a white woman having white power.

So much for 2020 being the Year of Enlightenment.

People these days are showing not just a lack of enlightenment, but also of compassion and thoughtfulness. Upon hearing the coronavirus was from China and there was persecution of (and racial attacks against) Chinese people, I made a direct challenge toward anyone who called themselves "good," if you see yourself as a good person, it's time to prove and step up to help those who get trampled upon. Now, later in the year, videos show people using so many racial epithets like we're back in the 1930-50's. No concern about being recorded on video. No concern about being recorded making false crime statements with the intention of getting (I'm going to just say it, I'm not caring enough to skirt around the issue) a black person in trouble just because a white person is scared of the existence of a black person instead of taking a chance to make a new friend.

All this in the same year that, just last December, people were always making jokes about having perfect insight and 20/20 vision. In my sight, we have not progressed at all. I was suspicious that these issues never died off, just went into hibernation. I'm saddened every day that my guess was right. Speaking of guesses... when I heard that the virus was to be done and everything would be good by May (heard it in February), I wanted to laugh. That implied people would follow rules. I've yet to see a strong case for that, I just see strong cases of people not doing that. Also had a famous megachurch pastor (Kenneth Copeland) make a now famous "prophecy" of the coronavirus being destroyed by a heat wave in... May? Really? The same time? Well, that didn't work. The same week he declared the prophecy, God gave him a different kind of burn. A polar vortex giving all of America one last big snowstorm before Colorado would get a strange string of snowstorms. It is written in God's word to call out false prophets. Yes, Copeland, you're a fake. As fake as false religion impersonating God's love and showing evil instead.

Those who see the evidence of the virus, who knows people who've contacted (I've had coworkers and friends who tested positive, some recovered, others I haven't heard yet), and are going with the rules they don't care for (not a fan of the mask, but will wear, despite my asthma) have a "'rona bucket list" of things to do when all is done. It does feel impossible to wait.

So... what's a polyglot bookworm with a taste for creepy movies, video games, and an Autistic Christian to do with this global insanity?

Covid-19: other perspectives

After I started seeing that there's a wide variety of thoughts, feelings, and ideas about how the current pandemic and quarantine has affected people, I started wondering what the perspective of others suffering this ordeal was, so I asked several people (coworkers, friends, and others) how this has changed their lives and, if they have a bucket list, what's something they want to do when quarantine lifts.

Starting off is Yavanna... my cat.

Yavanna:

1. Meow.

2. *purr*

Now that I think about it, she's indoors only, no wonder she says she hasn't known anything about a lockdown.

Karen M:

1. My life hasn't really changed at all. Work is a bit more difficult, but nothing else.

2. I want to eat out. Don't know where, but I just want to go out.

Emily MC:

1. My life hasn't really changed at all, to be honest.
2. I'm a homebody, so probably just do more online shopping.

At this point, I was wondering if I would get any longer answers...

Rebecca L:

1. I mean it's definitely been weird being from everyone. Online learning was mostly okay. Just different and sometimes more stressful. It's been nice to be around my family more.
2. Probably hang out with my friends again or go on vacation.

Okay, finally getting somewhere with detailed answers.

Angela (West Run postmaster):

1. This pandemic hasn't changed my home life any, but the postal work has become more difficult because people are staying home, ordering much more online. It's almost worse than Christmas season, which says something.
2. When this is over, I want to go on a cruise. The one I was planning on got cancelled and is rescheduled for spring 2021, no exact date yet, though.

Not a bad idea. But at this point, I was noticing that everyone I talked to were women. Time to change things.

Alec R:

1. Nothing's really changed for me, still going to work and still looking forward to (I try to keep my blog family-friendly, so let's just say... "sexual expletive deleted") some (more sexual expletive deleted).

2. Like I said, (at this point, he was becoming predictable, you get the idea).

Alec, by the way, I nicknamed "Hollywood," since he always wears sunglasses and has just as shallow a personality. He knows it, too.

Peter J:

1. It hasn't changed my life at home much, but work was a bit different. In fact, the overtime we got to have was real nice. More than that, it was welcome, it helped us out right when we needed it!

2. I really can't think of anything, to be honest.

Eric:

1. About the only big change is not being able to see my own son as much now. That and shaving my beard off.

2. Go on vacation, always wanted to go to Ireland!

Donna:

1. Yeah, always having this (expletive deleted) mask, you know?

2. Yes, my big plan is taking this stupid thing off finally!

These are just a few different yet local perspectives on this pandemic. Next will be my own thoughts on the issue.

Pleading Prayer

Dear Lord,

If this isn't the generation Jesus is to come back, then I plead for the generation to have a new hero rise up. Not a replacement by any means, but someone to help guide our ever-wandering ways back to you, for our own ways have become nothing short of a meaningless labyrinth. We have come to believe men are the root of evil yet still ignore women. We believe we can praise men dressing as women who violently beat actual women and call them "great athletes" yet ignore our hypocrisy at grinding our teeth against wife and girlfriend beaters. We've stopped believing children are your blessing yet protect them only when convicted sex offenders can tell them stories in public places. We have no problem listening to heretics and swindlers and raise hackles to sound truth, especially if it gets in the way of our profits, of which we're fine with illicit ways.

As your theologian Lewis said, we laugh at virtue yet are shocked by treachery from within. This is no less true today than in his time. No, it seems exponentially truer than ever, for honor is a shock factor in our culture, a slap in the face of the indecency we face every day and accept as normal, believing nothing will change it. We show no regret nor shame in our defiance against ideals and virtues that, even if we didn't acknowledge you deigned them, we used to "pretend" they upheld our society and kept things in order. Now, we're so skeptical, we become skeptical against those who show kindness for no reason other than to show it at all.

I desperately plead, if Jesus is not to come again soon, for a hero in our age who eyes is on you.

Believing the Reversal

Last month, my local library held a controversial event, a Drag Queen Story Hour. This is seen as a fun event by families who bring kids to hear stories told by men dressed like women (if you can call *that* women). Though there's a problem. Well, problems. It's nice that a story is told to children (my mother taught me how to read at a very early age), but some did research on the books that were presented and found the books had a hidden agenda; tell children they're not necessarily the boys and girls they were born as. Dark as it may sound, apparently telling children they're not actually boys and girls is more okay than physically touching as evidenced by so many headlines in the last decade of parents, priests, and other predators doing that exact thing.

Another problem is another did research on who the drag queen reading at the event was and found out horrible things. He stole from the LGBTQ community and was convicted, making him a felon, yet he was being allowed to be around children? Worse is he had been known to have pedophile-centric events at a strip club in Huntington, WV.

Worst of all was the silence from the event supporters. These same people who cry out for protection for their children refused to listen to anything found out about the materials being read or the guy's past.

They cried out that the Christians against the event were hateful bigots. Also, since it's Morgantown, known for being one of the top 3 liberal towns in West Virginia, people claimed that the Christians who were against it "were not being good Christians," and I can guess from the types of churches in town means being more worldly nomular Christians rather than Christ-focused God-loving Christians.

Things got worse when one person made a cartoon meme with an image of a shotgun and a vague death threat. This got passed through the grapevine and, by word of ear, the supporters started believing some (if not all Christians) were making death threats. Against the library.

Also death threats against children.

That's when Morgantown slipped into a Kafkaesque nightmare. Not one Christian (literalist or liberal) would want a single child dead, so why anyone would claim such a horrid claim is anyone's guess. Though one single thing came to mind.

In the book of Genesis, there's mentions of people doing what's right in their own eyes. Today, that's just as true as then. To believe what is right in one's own eyes can lead to disregarding what God has set from time imemorum. Some people prefer to believe they are their own god. With enough psychotropic drugs, they may think they are God, doesn't make it reality, though. Since sin entered the world, mankind has actively sought to prove God either wrong or nonexistent so they can have more room to do what's right in their eyes, to believe in the reverse of what God has set out.

Nothing new under the sun there.

An Ethereal Christmas

When it comes to movies, there's a term for when something follows a formula. Typecast. It happens a lot in music. A metal band sounds like metal regardless of the album, for instance.

Finding the band Leah, I've found something that's different every time. Almost like Dead Can Dance.

So, her first four albums, while a little different from each other, still had a similar Celtic atmosphere, which made it all pleasant. Her last album, The Quest, was unique compared to them. Still retaining a Celtic element, it had a different soundscape than her previous projects. Her latest, Ancient Winter, will repeat this idea. Have an element of the familiar while being entirely different, regardless. She does so in a wonderful, ethereal way. The idea of a Christmas album is nothing new in the music industry. So.e sound downright traditional with some influence of the genre a musician has been using. Others are Christmas in relation to the lyrics with some of the spirit influencing the music. In the case of Ancient Winter, it's a whole new ballgame. The whole album doesn't have a traditional snow-white feel to it. Rather, the music is predominantly Middle Eastern influenced,  as the album is borderline a retelling of the Christmas story. Or, the first track is. The instant the album opener started, I was blown away by the deep sound of strings, nothing slipshod about the production value. This can be said of each track. This track not only sets the tone of the album, it's memorable as its own deal.

By halfway through, I noticed a shift that surprised me. Starting on the song "Gaudete," noticed a dash of Latin used in the lyrics, not strictly with background singing. Gaudete, in fact, is only in Latin. According to what I've heard, this is an old traditional Christmas song in Europe. Hearing this version, it's very interesting. It's not slow like a traditional Christmas song, though it be energetic, it's not as energetic as K-Pop music. It's comfortably in the middle. After Gaudete, the album keeps each song distinct, memorable, yet thematically the same and all together beautiful. If I had to nitpick on anything, it's that I wish it were more than 8 tracks. It's not a Christmas album I've experienced before and it's left me wishing for more. I can't recommend this enough to anyone who loves beautiful music.

A Frightful Truth

I recently saw Spider-man: Far From Home. Rather nice movie, though with my eccentric mind, I saw it in another angle. A message desperately needed: the fight for the hard truth is more important than relative truth.

Unless you read the comics, saw the cartoon from the 90's, or played the licensed games on 6th-generation game consoles (PS2, Gamecube, Xbox), and your only exposure to marvel characters has been Disney movies, you wouldn't know Mysterio's actual deal. I'm two out of three. Always watched the show and am a lifelong gamer. Therefore, it was no shocker that he (spoiler alert) is the primary villain. With today's movie technology, he could seemingly twist and manipulate reality to prove his point about "truth," even if it involves a strong dash of lies.

In another scene, when some big hard truths are revealed about Peter Parker, his school group gets some very questionable ideas of who Peter might be from someone in the group who sharply hates him. What's MJ do? In this new version of her, she releases a sharp wit, warping the concept of relative truth on its head and practically weaponizes falsehood to shut the guy up. I thought it was brilliant and funny. In essence, the story progressed when hard truth was revealed, regardless of consequences. Otherwise, relative truth was played for humor and special effects.

Today, it seems like the reverse happens day by day. Truth gets played for bad jokes and people think their own truth will advance the story of their life. Then again, that seems to get nowhere when everyone argues that their own view is either more important or valid than yours.

In recent years, I've been complimented as being a gentleman and a scholar.

I'm one. I have a thing for old-fashioned manners, which is rare today. I don't care, I always believed it's more important trying to show gentlemanly manners than sounding like a YouTube comment section just because that's the norm.

By technical definition, I'm not a scholar. I flunked out of college twice, going for four different majors. I learn differently than others. I do appreciate the sentiment people are giving, but let's face it; in today's world where a college degree proves worth to s substantial degree (no pun intended), I'm no one.

The truth can be a frightful thing these days. No, scratch that, it's been a dangerous thing since ancient times, but in varying degrees and in different cultures.

In my mind, I can manipulate how I think in certain ways without affecting the core of truth. I see from multiple angles and think logically. I've heard the term "high-speed thought processes," which can accurately describe what it's like to have 5-15 thoughts in the span of a couple mere seconds.

For this month, I'd say it's apropos to say the hard objective truth can be frightening. Maybe scarier than DC's Black Label comics and Dark Horse comics.

Punkin' Out?

After E3 this year, I heard a bizarre controversy that is both nonsensical and outlandish. It revolves the upcoming game Cyberpunk 2077 and how, in a private gameplay demo, a small in-game ad was called "transphobic" by some game journalists who, as far as this gamer is concerned, have lost their credibility.
The insulting attacks by these reporters state the game is made by "an alt-right game designer" in a "white country", etc., etc. In essence, debasing comments by people who, by the sounds of it, have never stepped foot in Poland, never talked to Polish folk, never hung out with any of the crew from developer CD Projekt Red.
Why mention some race bait right after the "transphobia"? Because the same journalist who claimed the game as transphobic claims the game is racist as well. Odd, considering the creator of the tabletop game (who's strongly involved with making the game) is black. If a black man thought the game were racist, wouldn't he have shown his anger? I'm not talking about misplaced anger like Andrzej Sapkowski and his monetary demands from CDPR for his own financial foresight problems. Every step of the way in the game design, Mike Pondsmith (creator of Cyberpunk 2020) has been praising the game company, come forth about the company's racial diversity, how staff in his own company (Talsorian Games) have employees ranging from straight to bi to gay to trans. Interesting note there, trans staff helping make a game that has a "transphobic" ad? Something doesn't fit.
That something definitely feels like journalism that, noticeably in the last couple years, have been going downhill in quality.
Everything I've heard about Pondsmith's remarks towards SJW journalists (and hate bait) shows he has both strong and fast wit, especially in regards to the race card angle. He gave his point about the Animals and Voodoo Boys gangs while race-based hate bait ignored how an African-American gang called the "Animals" are lead by an imposing white woman. They also disregard how, in the first gameplay demo, a corporate entourage that betrays V are predominantly white. No word about how that was racy...
Something else about the hate towards the ad is that it is claimed to be "oversexualized."
...and today's real life commercials aren't sexual in the least? Ever since 2008, when I first noticed a commercial using not-so-subtle sexual wording, I noticed so many commercials using sex in some form or another to drive home the point that you, yes YOU,will find pleasure and satisfaction in whatever product or service is being offered. Talk about forcing the viewpoint down your throat. Near literally. Only the Trojan commercials are overtly about sex, and never having a good intention. CB's ad, in that regard, doesn't feel quite as R-rated. In context to the game's genre-based themes, it makes complete sense. Humanity has lost its God-given value of Imagio Dei and have become only monetary value commodity in that genre.
You, as V, are like a John Carpenter hero in that you're "sticking it to the man," the megacorporations.
Ironically, in real life, there's a conglomerate that's been behind the horrible attacks against CDPR, who are known for consumer-friendly practices. What kind of practices? In their award-winning game Thd Witcher 3, all but two DLC's were free. The only two that weren't were two story expansions. This, in the current gaming landscape, is considered ludicrous where virtually all DLC is at least $1. Plus, during E3 '19, a crowd member shouted to Keanu Reeves that "You're breath taking!" which got Red's attention, and they awarded the guy not only a copy of the game, but the COLLECTOR'S EDITION, valued at $270, for free. FREE!? All big game companies would simply laugh with the crowd and expect the guy to cough up cash for their game. A game company that would give a high-value edition of a game? That made news in itself. No wonder news journalists went nuts over it.
This little company, full of people that, as they started out, had no one with game design experience (one of their staff said as much) have become the most respected companies in the game industry... now a major conglomerate wants to take them down? It's all sounding eerily like the genre itself.
The conglomerate is punking out while CDPR's chippin' in.

New Year, Kinda Same Me

It almost feels like yesterday was New Year's Eve 2009. So much has happened in this decade. This year can make a critical difference for the better, if we all do our part (even small) in doing good.
At work, I've heard people saying they gave up on resolutions and goals to stick with survival. Somehow, this sounds simplistic. Almost borderline apathetic, like asking "What's the point of bettering myself if I will fail myself again?"
Speaking of bettering one's self, I noticed a new viral Facebook challenge, comparing one's first profile picture and latest picture, seeing how "hard" aging has hit one's self. I would do this, but after restarting my account in June, I don't have many pictures to judge by. All I can say is my looks have not substantially changed since high school. Graying sideburns, laugh lines, and a receding hairline later, I still look the same to those I graduated with back in 2006.
Yet I do plan on bettering myself. Got a plan to get a car, to write down the foundation for a science fiction story, get the courage to ask a friend for (at the very least) a coffee date, those are just the start.
Nationally, we all need to seek improvement, but if we're honest with ourselves, it doesn't look like we're doing a good job of it. Last year started with a controversial challenge involving Tide pods. This year has started with people driving blindfolded due to that Netflix movie Bird Box. It's bad when Netflix urges people not to do it, starting off with "I can't believe I have to say this," trust me, Netflix, I wish it were unnecessary. However, we're presenting more and more anarchistic behavior week after week.
This year has the potential to be the best yet, or most morally challenging and nationally breaking if we're not careful.

What Happened To Our Standards?

Recently, at work, someone made a complaint against me about a joke I made. A joke that I've made for a few years based on how often I've been asked what country I'm from. A joke about needing a translator. I figured I was getting a complaint for telling a driver she almost got me with her vehicle, essentially flying through the parking lot. That happens every day.
Our bothers me most that, compared to our lowest moments of indecency in January, January was a sign we still had some sense, now we're all basically social anarchists in our behavior. "Don't tell me how to live my life," or "It's not like it really matters, right?" You tell them the truth, they get truly offended. You leave them to their ignorance, they get worse.
Not only that, I've come to notice how some people have no problem living a lifestyle role of any decency or nobility. Manners, top them, is a joke, a bad one barely with a chuckle. Someone like me, waiting for marriage, am a joke, if not a generational anomaly, just because I still believe in decency and treating women with both respect and Godly intention. People seem to prefer immediate gratification without patience nor work.
Literally, life is all about them. I told a coworker he should try hiking himself before others. Went from smiling to confused and refused. That told me the sort of guy he prefers to be. Then again, while at work, he serves others. If only our hearts went solely focused on ourselves, we might become a great nation again. As things currently are, we're literally a backward laughingstock compared to everywhere else. In satirical news networks, we're easily made fun of with how far regressive we are with business practices and family values. By statistics, we're only the best at the worst. Tell people this and they're either shameful of the facts or believe you're unpatriotic and need to shut your mouth. To me, this is a multigenerational side effect of walking away from God. You know, the "fairy in the sky" people make fun of flippantly because God doesn't give them the mansion or car or game system they were desperate for. Or worse, believed God would deliver their loved ones from death strictly because of their faith, treating God like a feel-good vending machine. Or disbelieve because our *current* model of evolutionary science "disproves" him. I only say current because it does change every week to every other month, unlike God's Word which never changes, nor His promises.
This one deity is the antithesis of our selfish hearts, our shortsighted minds, or ego-driven personae. That's why, if we're not trained by God-fearing folks, we lose track of Him and follow a deceiving heart and laugh at those willing to set aside personal time to help us get back on track.
Another annoyance the days is when people show a callous recklessness. While at work a short while back, I told a customer I get real annoyed by customers who leave their carts in the middle of the lobby floor. An elderly woman heard me and told me, without a smile, that she does it "because it's your job," I knew she would file a complaint against me if I told her I still recall the trail and of an era when it was expected that people looked out for one another instead of "expected" servants to do their job because they're paid for it. Whatever happened to that humble attitude, too selflessly help each other? It's so rare, people are taken back by examples of it, they get wide-eyed and nearly jaw-dropped when simply does it, let alone without expectation of a reward. And I never ask for compensation.
No, we're so focused on ourselves, we barely pay attention to local traffic laws. Back in February, a college student was killed in a traffic incident by someone running a red light. The first of three this year to be killed by someone too selfish to follow the rules. Yet my area still has drivers who refuse to lookout for pedestrians. At work, I'm more likely to get glare from someone breaking the state law who's trying to illegally speed up (and risk running anyone over) than I am to get the go-ahead by sane people.
Pride. If we're not careful, that will be our downfall long before the next horrifying act of terrorism.

The Quest: Review

An album, three years in the making, has finally come out... last month. Much as I wanted to get it, I was worried my phone would get the wrong impression of downloading music that wasn't on Google Play. Luckily, November 2nd came and Leah fans got the big news: THE QUEST WAS AVAILABLE ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES! I immediately purchased it.
Before I go any further, let me mention that, when it comes to reviews for symphonic black metal or Celtic metal (let alone fantasy-inspired metal), there's always the tendency to do comparisons. Whether it's the professional critic comparing to a bigger, established name band or the fan on YouTube comparing some Goth sound to The Lord of the Rings, we always have the instinct to do comparisons. Why? To find comfortable familiarity, some sort of common ground. Which is one thing that irritates me about how most Americans like their music, then they look at me strange when I describe the music, not comparing to other bands, per se, but to certain cultural influences and specific music genres, even when it's something one has never heard of before (mentioned "techno" in regards to another band to a co-worker today, he'd never heard it). With Leah, the style's best described as "Celtic metal with fantasy inspirations" or "Celtic fantasy metal").
This album, by far, is the biggest departure from her norm. I don't mean to say she leaves Celtic metal for *gulp* country music (terrifying thought!!!!!), but, compared to her previous albums and EP (plus digital singles), this album does have its own spin on the genre. No two songs are the same. From the not-radio-friendly-lengthy album opener to the short, yet beautiful album closing ballad, every song has a purpose in how it sounds. Some of the songs have a direct inspiration on where the lyrics come from.
From the announcement of The Quest, Leah made it clear that it would be a departure (of sorts) from her previous projects. For one, this would be a conceptual album. Maybe playing Skyrim effected this? No, she doesn't hide the fact she's a Skyrim addict. So, this album is the musical equivalent of a big quest for a hero to go through. Like better, not-quite-stereotypical stories, there's challenges and hope. I keep getting the feeling "Ghost on a Throne" is inspired by Aragorn meeting the Ghost Army's king. That, in itself, is a nice challenge as that scene dealt with making a near-impossible promise, then keeping to the promise.
After the first three tracks, the album threw a curveball for me, "Heir" started off sounding like a Christmas song, then it got heavy, which gladdened my heart with the creativity in it. It's very hard picking out any song on this as my "favorite," as it were, but "Heir" is a top contender at this point.
At this point, after multiple times listening to this, I still have yet to find any flaws worth mentioning, which is rare for me, even to nitpick about.

5/5

Not the Toxic Fanboy

Have you ever listened to how people talk about or to God? From the perspective of a nerd, there's a term for what people seem to think of God any given time we bash Him for not doing things as WE expect of Him.
Toxic Fanboy.
You know, that fanboy who expects specific things in their fandom(s), anything not matching up and they get furious. What about when the one making the rules gets viewed as toxic?

It's as bizarre as if Mike Pondsmith, creator of the Cyberpunk 2020 tabletop game, were viewed as a toxic fanboy because people didn't play by the rules he set up for the game. As such, God created not only the universe, He also set up every scientific law that keeps this universe in check. If the theory of the Multiverse holds up, He set those up as well, no doubt in my mind.
So, to put it bluntly, God's not the toxic fanboy, we are. The atheists and skeptics, definitely, but many in the church have become vehemently toxic fanboys as well. The street preacher who condemn the college kid with tattoos. The church secretary who found out a new female member of the congregation used to be a hooker. The anti-gay pastor who constantly uses vulgar homophobic slurs and epithets during his sermons. The church member who secretly believes anyone not of his/her skin color won't go to heaven.
Toxic fanboys.
Sadly, they've existed centuries before pop cons and fandoms became a thing at all. After all, the devil is so jealous of God's power and following, he will always seek a way to bring His kingdom down. And yet, no matter how many cults, twisted sects, and false religions pop up, God's Kingdom still sticks around. 2,000 years after the church started up, after numerous subtle attacks from outside AND inside the church, I can tell the intention was not so much about bringing a building to bare pieces but to have people worship a distorted image of God. What better way than have influential people give bad ideas of the good God? Today, we're super sensitive about hearing someone down some influential pastor we like and stand our ground, "Judge not!," or what ever other scripture literally anyone can take out of context (that verse has quite a few other words in regards to a measurement of judging that aren't as popular as those first two words). Yet, Paul (aka, The Apostle Formerly Known as Saul [the Persecutor]) had no shame nor regrets in calling out several people he identified as heretics (including a blacksmith) and firmly commanded that if a Christian knew of any other heretics, they should do a shout out to inform.
Who cried out against him? To my knowledge, not the heretics themselves. It was either the followers of the heretics or new Christians who'd only heard of Paul as a persecutor and knew him to not be one of the Disciples of Christ. He effectively put those arguments to rest with the authority God put in him. Reading his letters is an excellent way of dealing with toxic fanboys in the church.
In fact, believe it or not, I remember having been one of those toxic fanboys, what Paul called a "quarrel-seeker," but it took hearing a sermon on the roots of anger by one pastor AND a sermon on letting go of your sins for me to realize what was wrong. Right after that second sermon, I took time to pray fervently, forwardly, and fiercely to God about my darkest sins, borderline demanding/begging for forgiveness and definitely got rid of the anger that connected to this demented desire to seek arguments with people and groups that I knew held onto cultic beliefs.
No more. My folks have noticed that change as well. I've quit being a toxic fanboy. So, remember, the One who creates the rules of the game can never be a toxic fanboy, only the fans who don't like this rule (that came out of nowhere) or that rule (because it goes against their preferences).
Just because you (or I) don't always like the rules doesn't mean they're not for our benefits.

Bringing out the Celtic music

Here's something I'm unabashed about- I love music you won't find on the radio. Name a Top 40 artist and I'm lost. I'll almost think you're speaking a different language. I've let people listen to some of what I listen to and get mixed results.
One style to focus on is Celtic metal, which many in my current area (Morgantown, WV) have never heard of, yet get interested in when they listen to when they hear a bit of an artist I have on my phone, Leah.
Styled as LE/\H, Amazon was constantly suggesting her music for several months before I took a chance and listened. To this day, I'm glad I did.
Not only does she write, create, co-produce, and promote her own music, she gives advice and tips to aspiring artists trying to make it in the industry (such as doing their homework on anyone who says they're a producer). Not only that, I haven't come across a song of hers I didn't think was either catchy, addictive, or both.
As I am now part of her street team, I am honored to announce that she will be releasing a crowdfunding campaign for her next album, complete with perks for anyone who gets involved.
So, if you are interested in, say, music that gets you pumped up, music that feels like you're in the midst of Game of Thrones (personally, I'm not, yet perhaps you are?) or journeying with Jill Williamson's Kinsman tribes, or about to reveal your inner dragon whisperer, I, like Amazon did for me, suggest giving Leah a try.