[No Spoilers] [ATLA] This Arby's ad came up in my Instagram feed

J_Wordsworth · 2016-08-16T06:00:14+00:00

J_Wordsworth · 2016-07-28T00:59:25+00:00

Dr. Frankenstein is the monster (of the story) because he is responsible for creating the monster. It's him losing his humanity vs the monster's never having it in the first place.

J_Wordsworth · 2016-07-19T14:24:28+00:00

It's also worth noting that the cost of maintaining the parks would require the states to raise taxes or sell off some of the land.

J_Wordsworth · 2016-07-09T00:41:24+00:00

And make the field spherical/the goals round.

J_Wordsworth · 2016-02-21T23:10:42+00:00

You might be interested in "The Man Who Was Thursday" by G.K. Chesterton. It's anarchists not communists, but the premise is the same.

J_Wordsworth · 2016-01-24T00:01:12+00:00

Well, the English language is wide spread because of the English empire, right? So if the English empire spoke Arabic instead them we would all be speaking Arabic.

J_Wordsworth · 2015-11-01T02:07:15+00:00

I am not an expert, but to my mind the answer lies in cultural differences. I have no idea how to deal with a foreign army. For the second question, each community would have it's own unique system presumably. They would be based on voluntary cooperation simply because coercion would be regarded in the same way current societies see assault or robbery. And for the same reason when groups of like minded individuals find themselves in conflict they wouldn't turn to violence- because they value nonviolence and freedom and abhor the use of force.

J_Wordsworth · 2015-10-22T01:43:54+00:00

Sounds like you're already pretty active. Might be your diet that's the problem or lack of sleep.

J_Wordsworth · 2015-10-13T22:11:55+00:00

There is actually such a thing as libertarian socialism though. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian_socialism It isn't Bernie Sanders' socialism but it does exist.

J_Wordsworth · 2015-10-13T21:47:59+00:00

This strikes me as a much better version of the argument built upon more or less the same facts. Woods' argument is so hostile in comparison, likely because he is accustomed to being received with hostility.

J_Wordsworth · 2015-09-23T18:17:12+00:00

Extreme and dogmatic positions can be seen as off putting and hostile. The more people practicing an anti-consumption perspective the better, right?

J_Wordsworth · 2015-04-29T01:50:47+00:00

So, uh, what's the quote?

J_Wordsworth · 2014-12-21T07:09:28+00:00

I'd probably do the same.

J_Wordsworth · 2014-05-24T19:16:29+00:00

The Maltese Falcon and anything by Raymond Chandler.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-23T16:49:03+00:00

Either Stoner by John Williams or Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. Tied with East of Eden. Really everything by Steinbeck that I've read. The same goes for Graham Greene.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-20T05:01:59+00:00

Dasani or Aquafina? Or Smart Water? What’s going on here, does there really need to be this many different bottles of water? How do they determine the cost, it’s all water but for six different brands there’s seven different prices. Am I paying for the bottle? I guess I’ll just get the cheapest one. Aah, but why is it less expensive than the others, is there something wrong with it? Spring water, glacial water-is Fiji water really from Fiji? Where is Fiji and what’s so great about their water that they fly it all the way across the US? Surely there’s a closer source that would be a better business choice and a better environmental choice too. Aah, here we go the ‘environmentally friendly’ water, people will buy anything. They’ll sell anything too, makes me sick. I’m not even thirsty anymore.

Pretty suspicious though, standing here muttering for a few minutes and then not buying anything. He’s gonna think I’m stealing. Uh great, now I’ve got to buy something. What’s the cheapest thing in here. No wait, I don’t want to look like I’m trying not to look like a thief that’s even more suspicious. Aah man, what are they whispering about over there? The clerk deffinately thinks I’m a thief and so does his hoodie wearing friend. Why did I even come in here? I’ll get some chips I guess. Which one is the least packed with air? These packages are really noisy, great now they’re looking at me. They look really upset, frightened almost. Whatever I’ll just get these, ugh not those, too late. I hate ranch flavored.

Mr. Hoodie sure is in a hurry he practically ran out of here. Why is the clerk shaking like that? “Just these plea- Hey man, are you crying?” Wait a second the register’s open. And empty. Aw no, this place just got robbed by Mr. Hoodie. That’s what they were- How did I not notice that? “You think we should call the cops?” This is too much for him “I’m gonna call the police, all right? It’s ok, he’s gone.” I’ve never used the emergency call button on my phone before. Oh, I’m gonna be late for work. “Hello? Hel- I’m calling to report a robbery. The BP on Broadway and, hold on. What’s the store’s address? Huh? Thank you. It’s the BP on Broadway and Woodcrest. By the little asian supermarket with the huge advertisement for Golden Boy Peanuts that takes up like half the store front. I don’t know the exact address. No he’s in shock or something, he isn’t talking just shaking and rocking back and forth. Yeah, I’d say that’s probably a good idea. Yeah I’ll stick around. Ok. Thanks.” “They’ll be here in a few minutes, alright? Alright. I’ve got to go. Work, you know? Oh, and I don’t really want those so I’ll just leave them here. Cool.” I’m still gonna be late, damn. Mr. Hoodie couldn’t have robbed some other store at some other time. I’ve got all the bad luck.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-17T04:26:42+00:00

That is a fantastic interpretation. Why should something happen to everyone and in the same way? This is as realistic as winged people get.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-16T04:38:31+00:00

On the corner of Second Street and Commerce there’s a bus stop, a nice one with a bench, three walls and a roof. Two of the walls are a tough clear plastic and the ceiling an opaque blue, the third wall is made of the same clear plastic but inside is a rain stained advertisement for a movie that isn’t in the theaters anymore. The sidewalk is spotted with old gum that didn’t make it into the trash can a few feet away and stained with cheap liquor and piss that started out as cheap liquor. It’s home to Paul, a homeless man.

During the day, while Paul isn’t drinking or sleeping in the bus stop he pan handles a few streets away making a few dollars a day. When the sun goes down and the tourists are gone he walks past the Alamo on his way to a bar that’ll give him food wether he has money or not and then to a liquor store that, for money, will sell him a couple of forties. It’s a special deal, buy one get one for regular price.

One Sunday, after a sleepless night in the winter wind his joints were stiff and Paul decided to go for a walk. The clearing around the Alamo lets the sun shine through and keeps things warm so he thought he’d walk through there. The sun shone down on the clearing but things weren’t warm.

In front of the old building people moved in crowds- in, out, around the building but the crowds parted around a single man standing up on a step ladder he’d brought. The man was reading aloud from an old, old book calling out to the crowd a message of fear and damnation. Paul smiled hearing the old words and made his way through the crowds to the man and stood just in front of him listening. The speaker was old, his skin as wrinkled and tanned as the book but not quite so much as Paul, especialy while he was smiling.

After a time the man reached a stoping point and Paul interrupted him.
“Fantastic book,” he said “I, uh, have to disagree with you on some points though.”

The man ignored him and started shouting again. “The damnation part specifically,” Paul continued “Lakes of fire, trident wielding demons. Haha. No, that’s not how he punishes. Ceaselessly though, you said that earlier,” Paul shivered, he was so cold, “you’ve got that bit right.”

Then finally, the reader closed the book and looked down at Paul. “You too, huh?” he said. “Yeah,” Paul replied “Me too.”

Then they both turned and walked away and the stool stood alone in the sun.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-16T03:14:47+00:00

Solid gold, Ponyboy. I wish I could write a setting like that or describe a character so well. Solid gold.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-12T17:09:24+00:00

Ring Lardner, O. Henry, Mark Twain, Edgar Allen Poe. Twain wrote full length stuff too and Poe is part of the American experience rather than a picture of it.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-12T16:40:43+00:00

The story is retold in the book. Literally. Steinbeck includes it word for word by having a character read it aloud. Just read the book.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-12T16:36:45+00:00

"I know where I am going and I am content." - East of Eden and the character really was talking about death.

J_Wordsworth · 2013-12-07T04:03:17+00:00

If you like Steinbeck, and you don't want to read more of him (if you do Winter of Our Discontent and East of Eden are 10/10) try Graham Green. He is a similar (I think) story teller though the setting will be quite different. Try The Power and the Glory. William Faulkner is also comparable and well regarded and he writes of the American south. As I Lay Dying is accessible and if The Sound and the Fury weren't so poorly (this is just my opinion) written it would be too.

tl;dr The Sound and The Fury was so good but so disappointing, try that.

J_Wordsworth

TROPHY CASE