Generation Meh. Millennials FTW!

The Now Factor

 

    Millennials, Generation Y, The Whatever Generation. Our generation has been called by many names. Personally, I prefer to refer to my era of birth-mates as the "Now Generation". I have been accused of not caring about the world around me. I spend all my days cooped up in front of my computer, interacting with faceless profiles in a virtual setting. Sorry, I wasn't paying attention to all the horrible things you were saying about me. I was too engrossed by the flashy lights and sounds and oooh shiny! I have been told that I am part of a generation that doesn't want to give anything back. We just want to take everything for ourselves. Apparently, I'm a narcissist (and I didn't even know it!). I can't get a job because I don't apply myself; I spend too many years going to school and not working; I don't follow orders; and, most importantly, I can't listen.

    Newsflash: If I have exhibited signs of having poor listening skills, perhaps you should do your part to prevent global warming and shut your mouth. Do us all a favor and stop being boring. Please? See, I even asked nicely because I was learned (sic) my manners like a good little boy. I was taught that being polite and waiting for the right opportunity went hand-in-hand. Guess what? I reject your reality. There, I said it. I will be polite. I will also desire that everything gets done in the now. Let's discuss this in depth.

Why I want my life to revolve around the word "Now"

    The simple answer to the question of now or later is that it has to be now. Why must I be such a rebel? Why can't I see that it's better if I work long and hard for it? Why am I obsessed with the concept of instant gratification?

    Two reasons: Firstly, I want it now because I can have it now. Straight and simple. You had to wait several days for your letter to arrive before your lover could even think about responding. You had to sit in your room for hours waiting for that phone call, chained by the same cord that keeps your phone close to the wall jack. You had to wait to get noticed because that's how it was done in your time. However, I am not attached to the mailbox. I am not attached to the phone call. I am not attached to any location, time, or purpose. I have the opportunity to talk to someone in space as easily as I can talk to my friend in the next room. Why wouldn't I take advantage of that amazing ability? It's essentially a superpower.

    I can. I can communicate in the blink of an eye, receiving aid in a timely manner. I can change the world from my mobile device! I can manage my finances with the touch of a button. I can speak and have a computer transpose my words onto the computer screen, awaiting my command to save my thoughts for time immemorial. I can watch an astronaut perform experiments in space. Oh and I can ask him questions while he's running the experiments. Yep. Me. I'm a nobody. I don't work for NASA (although it would be so freaking awesome if I did); I didn't design a rocket. But I have the power to get noticed. Because that's the power of the internet. That's the power that I hold. I harness the storm of information and direct it from my fingers.

Because We Can.

    I want instant gratification because I can have instant gratification. I am despised because I have adapted to the change.

    Secondly (and really the most important point that I will make tonight (at least in the eyes of the author)), I have a desire to live in the now because I have to have it now. My desire is shaped by necessity. I don't have the luxury of waiting. You, the baby boomers, had that luxury. You were born into a world of peace and quiet. You were taught that the world will wait while you work your way to the top. Innovation is all well and good, but peace is paramount. The world was tired of conflict. It was tired of sacrifice. Hastiness brought confusion and action brought pain.

     I wish I could have grown up in that world. I wish my world was a different place. It pains me to say that all my wishing will not change anything. Why? Because your generation failed. You, baby boomers. You failed. You had a "Cold War" because you were afraid of action. You failed to change the world. Believing that it could wait. You fools.

    I no longer have an option to change the world later. I must make a difference now. You know that thing called global warming? It was a myth in your heyday. It is a reality in mine. We call it climate change. It scares me. However, I know that if I don't act, then my children won't have the luxury of seeing the sun rise in the morning. That is the burden that you have laid upon my back. You believe me to be disrespectful to authority. My generation "suffers" from Attention Deficit Disorder. You hide behind lies of disorders. You diagnose our "problems" at every turn, but you can't seem to recall that it was you who ruined this world. Your greed. Your deceptive nature.

    Are computers to blame? Is social media destroying our brain cells? Do we lack social skills? Who are you to judge? Your idea of a good time involved LSD and hate-filled anti-government protests. Woohoo there. I wish I had the time to relax and get high. I do. But you have taken that from me. You were irresponsible with your time on this earth. I must have everything now because I have no choice. You robbed me of the option to choose.

    In conclusion, I would like to point out that your parents placed the blame for your rebellious behavior on rock and roll. You have placed the blame for my rebellious behavior on computers and technology. However, I say that time will prove which rebellion was justified and which was simply selfishness. Do not envy my opportunity to live in the now, and definitely do not stand in the way of the work I have to do. Because I have to save this planet. That is not a choice I was given. If I don't act now, then there will be no later.

Just to end on a happy note. Boom! Instant gratification. It feels good.

The Briefs of the American Civil War

This isn't even boxer briefs. Just briefs. Written late at night after a rough day at work, so forgive the somewhat jumpy nature of everything...if you will.

Today, we are going to briefly talk about the entirety of the American Civil War to give you all an understanding of what is going to be covered throughout the quarter.

The American Civil War started in April of 1861. To this day it is the most violent and deadly conflict on the North American continent. So many men died during the war that it will be remembered for a very long time to come.

The war was fought between the United States of America and the Confederate States of America. It was a confusing and frightening time for our country. Bonds were broken, brother fought brother, and families were divided by the formation of the new nation.

We say the war started on April 12, 1861, although it really doesn’t have an official beginning date. The tension between the South and the North slowly built to a boiling point until the elections. Then, when it was clear that Abraham Lincoln was going to be the next President of the United States, the situation became hostile in a hurry.

In December of 1860, South Carolina was the first state to tell everyone that they would rather live in a new country than have to listen to Abraham Lincoln. So, they seceded. No, no, not succeeded, “Seceded”. It means to withdraw from a treaty or alliance. Basically they stopped listening to Abraham Lincoln so that they could elect the President that they wanted. Jefferson Davis was the man for the job.

On April 12, Confederate forces attacked a fort held by Union troops. This is why we say that this was the start of the war. The fort was known as Fort Sumter.

Over the next four years, the Confederate and Union armies would battle for supremacy. The war was full of complicated military maneuvers and vicious battles.

Fighting finally stopped in April of 1865, very nearly 4 years to the day from when it all started. The end of the war was bittersweet for everyone involved. War is not a good thing, so when it is over, it is better for the country. However, this war brought so much death, that whole towns disappeared from the maps. The slaves were free, but they didn’t have places to live. They also didn’t have jobs, so they couldn’t afford to pay for food, clothing, and other necessities.

As if that was not enough, one final tragedy brought this sad tale to a close. On the 14^th of April 1865, President Abraham Lincoln was shot in the back of the head. He lived for just a few more hours before dying. Thus, a war that had claimed more than 600,000 American lives, snatched one more as hostilities were ending.

~The Piebald Penguin

Heads and Heels

The Heart

Why does it beat
with the rhythm of my feet?

It goes where it is led,
but it fights with my head.

Hearts and minds fight,
for the lover's bite.

Yet the touch
means much.

My heart led me to the bar,
but my mind kept me in the car.

The hands on the clock ticked around the circle. The shadows slowly emerged from the darkness. Coffee, cars, cartography, and champions. Irish champions. Laughter and freedom. Trust and time. Pizza and porters. A night, a day, and another night and remembrance of all.

~The Piebald Penguin

Fleeting Freedom

"Fleeting Freedom"

A flurry footsteps echoed across the polished tiles. Forward, back, a spin and a flourish. The drums beat the rhythm as the musicians played the well-known tune. Step. Step. Step. Beat, beat, beat. Hearts thumped in time with the leather-clad instruments. Candles flickered and cast shadows across the walls of marble. The melody wound down; the dancers slowed their steps, final spins bringing women and men together. Their hands raised in applause. Those too tired to continue left a vacant hole in the middle of the crowd, but it was soon filled by others, new to the party. The vocalist called the start of their next piece and, with a count of three, struck her tambourine. Ladies in elegant gowns and gentlemen in fine suits formed lines across from one another. A strike on the tambourine. Masculine hands were extended beyond the dividing line. A jingle of bells. With feminine grace, the hands opposite reached towards their counterparts. A drum beat and another shake of the singer’s instrument. The couples spun together, and the dance was begun again. 

Sometimes, I just wish to dance. I was unable to determine who painted this picture. I also don't know the title. I even copied the image into Google Image search. All I got was that it was a modern painting and on sale. I am going to call it "Fleeting Freedom". The woman is barefoot and that makes me think of someone who is fleet of foot. Nimble, quick, and graceful. Grace brings a measure of freedom. I danced with a barefoot woman once, in an art museum. I wonder if she remembers.

Live life like a dancer. Full of passion and light on your feet. 

~The Piebald Penguin

April, That We May Fool Ourselves Into Believing The World Is As Simple As We Want It To Be

Official Disclaimer: This post has been flagged by The Piebald Penguin as a good-natured joke. Smile. And laugh. For it will keep you young.


"From each according to his [or her!] ability, to each according to his [basically it means "her"] need(s)."

~Karl Marx

Liberty may be a lady, but we know that freedom is not free. It was made for with the blood of men.

Thank you Karl. He hit the nail on the head. Men work, and women spend our money. Obviously, we know that in a perfect world, this is the ideal situation. However, in this world, women tend to spend too much. Self control. That's really what it's about. I believe that we need to quit fooling ourselves. We need to start a war for self control. To bring freedom to everyone. We, men, need to unite today, 1 April 2013, and fight against the tyranny of out of control women. We spend so many hours, each and every day, trying to provide, but in one night of shopping, the women just throw money out into the air. I implore you, men of this world, to stand firm today and help teach women the self control that they lack. We have the ability to teach by example. We just need to be more open about our desires. No more selflessness from us. Fight. For FREEDOM!

Giddyup!*

This message is sponsored by the Men for a Freer America Foundation
*no animals were harmed in the making of this blog
**although some women may have been harmed

~The Piebald Penguin

Do Forget to Write

I started a fire in my kitchen today.

While your first thought was hopefully something along these lines...

It was really even less exciting than...

Oh, it was intentional too. I should probably mention that before I get like a bajillion (scientific term for "a lot") phone calls.

So let me tell you the story. Today, I finally had the energy to clean my room (which is cool and awesome and yay clean rooms!). During said cleaning, I found many interesting things such as:

1. The Christmas presents that I bought for my oldest sister and then forgot to send to her. On an ironic note, I promised her that I would get them to her before Easter...

2. A bunch of fortunes from Panda Express fortune cookies. Apparently, I like to put them everywhere but the trashcan, where they belong.

3. One very official-looking card thingy that turned out to be my dad's baptism card. I have no idea how it got here, but it is probably something that I should return to him. Naturally, rather than sending him a message informing him that I will mail said card back to him, I have decided to publicly post about it on my "anonymous" blog for everyone (including him) to see.

4. 9 empty glasses, 5 dirty plates, 15 empty bottles/cans, and a stack of napkins. So...yeah, that's like half of our glasses and plates. I was wondering why it seemed that we were so short of those things recently.

5. Books everywhere! I thought the fortunes were everywhere, but I was wrong. I have, apparently, stashed books in every nook and cranny possible. Of course, I'm sticking to the belief that there is a book gnome, who steals my books and hides them from me.

6. Two cards, Christmas cards to be exact, from a person I am not allowed the luxury of caring about anymore. They are now dust and ash in a dumpster. And it felt good to watch the yellow-blue flames lick around the edges of the paper. I watched as the glittery decorations on the front bubbled and melted. I swept the remnants of a happier time into a plastic bag and tied it shut. It was cathartic. I have found peace for tonight.

Also, over the last week, I have finished five novels (the shortest being roughly 400 pages and the longest well over 1200) and a lengthy atlas on Armored Warfare. I haven't read so much in such a short time in a very long time.

~The Piebald Penguin

Snarky Snakes and Sounds of the Sound. Also, Sexy Nerds

Blog blog blog blog blog blog blog blog

blog blog

blog

boink

oink?

So...I was reflecting on blogs this evening (CRAZY, right?). I decided that my blog is what it is. It used to be sleek and sexy and all kinds of organized and thorough and thoughtful (an organized nerd is basically the new athlete on steroids. It's hot. And it's cheating)

Anyways....what was I talking about? Oh yeah, my blog. Or maybe I was just talking. I think it was probably just the latter. Or was it the ladder? an adder on a ladder. A ladder adder. Would he become a madder ladder adder if we asked him to subtract?

RAWRRRRRRR (snakes say rawr, right? I'm pretty sure I read that in a book one time)

So, we have a madder ladder adder, but what if it was the latter and not the ladder. In which case I would say "splatter the latter and flatter the hatter will be." Ha. Ha. Ha. Ok, my jokes may be as awful as they sound, but... Sounding sounds on the Sound sends sounds southward. Or something. The best part about this is: I'm just making this up as I go. I didn't plan to write a post today. I definitely didn't plan to be in a corny or cheesy (or weird) mood today. But here we are, talking about sounds and snakes. Oh, picture of the Sound

I can't take credit for this picture. I do have my own pictures of the Sound and the Space Needle, but they are on my phone. I am way too lazy to move them from the phone to the computer. Seriously, sending myself an email? So much work. Also, if you hadn't noticed, I'm hoping to win an award for the longest photo caption on a blog with the name Piebald Penguin in it. So far, this is the only caption in the running. But there are bound to be others. At some point. You know, for competition's sake.

Ohhhh! I just had a great idea. I'm going to hold a competition on my blog. I'll be the judge. There will be several different categories. And my previous blog posts will be the things involved in the competition. Yeaahhhh boiiiii (for some reason, unintelligent people spell "boy" as "boiii" when writing out "yeah boy". It seems...unnecessary. But who am I to judge? Unless we're referring to my new competition. In which case, I am the only one to judge! I am THE JUDGE. That is all)

Fin!
~tPP