Marlboro Marine

     This video shows us what people in the war going on now actually go through during and after their service time.  I don't quite understand why this war is still going on.  No one's gained anything from it.  In fact, we've lost tons of people and so have the other countries.  It's also caused alot of damage and stress to people that have fought in it.  Some may die and some may not get physically damaged at all, but come back mentally wounded. That just causes more problems in peoples' lives.  Problems are part of being human, but if some problems are preventable why wouldn't you try all you can to stop them from happening ?
     I always hear about the lost of American soldiers, all the memorials dedicated to them, the heroes that they are, and peoples' view on what they do in the war.  Yet I've never heard any view or stories from the other side of the war, the other countries who we're fighting against.  I never hear anything about them besides them killing our soldiers, as if they're all bad people.  I'm sure they have problems due to the war and don't want to be fighting either. 
     James Blake Miller was dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder when he came back home.  That's just one thing war can do to people.  A way I think James dealt with this was by smoking since he had a cigarette in almost every photo.  He's thought about committing suicide multiple times and has come very close to going through with it.  If he had actually decided to go through with it then that would of affected his family and friends. 
     It seems to me that most people now go into war just to get money for college and such.  Some don't really know what they signed themselves up for and aren't guaranteed on surviving.  I think people shouldn't do something they don't want to just to get money, fame, or because someone told them to.  Such as your career or life choices.  Take what other's say in consideration, but it's truly all up to you.
    I think it's wrong that Marlboro Cigarette Company are using someone like James, a hero to many people, to be an icon for smoking.  Kids and people look up to Marines and people like James and now they'll be influenced to do something that will kill them sooner, just so they can try to be like James.

- I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was.

Gives Me Hope.

     Over this past Summer, I have discovered a group of websites all belonging to the Spartz Network.  These sites include LoveGivesMeHope, OMG Facts, SixBillionSecrets, KidsGiveMeHope, and GivesMeHope.  On these sites, anyone can submit an entry.  On LGMH, you submit short stories that give you hope about love.  OMGFacts is just random facts that most people wouldn't believe and is sorta just for fun.  6BS is where people usually tell things they can't tell anyone else because they're afraid of judgement, reactions, or they don't have anyone that will listen to them.  KGMH is short stories about cute little kids that make people have hope in the world.  GMH, the first of the sites, is pretty self-explainable. 

     GivesMeHope was created in May 2009 in response to the site FMyLife, which is short stories sent in by people explaining why their day or life sucks.  GMH is pretty much the optimistic version of FML.  The Spartz Network team said they created this site because they were "completely exhausted by the negativity of the mainstream media.  We're tired of hearing about what's wrong in this world."  Also that the site is " where people share with the world their most hopeful, uplifting moments and allow others to draw strength from their experiences.  Because with all of the hurt and suffering in the world, who couldn't use a few more reasons to hope each day ?"
     I think these sites are great, they really make you think about things and realize things about people in the world.  The stories people tell on these sites can change your view of certain things in the world.

     My personal favorite out of these sites is SixBillionSecrets.  It's a place where people can express themselves, their true feelings and thoughts, and not be judged.  You're able to get things off your chest and have the feeling that someone actually listened to you.  Even if you don't know who's reading your story or if it doesn't get publish at first, you still feel like someone out there listened to you and they understood how you're feeling.  Most of the posts have a lot of emotions behind them and will probably affect you in some way.  It amazes me that some people can be so unaware of things around them and think major issues are just jokes.  For example, one entry - "When I told you I will go and see a psychologist, you asked me if I were that wrong in the head and joked about me being suicidal. You were right. Our times as best friends are definitely over.
And that makes me break down even more every day."  Sadly, a lot of posts are like that, depressing and about people misunderstanding each other and not realizing.

     I would like for a lot more people to be aware of these sites.  Hopefully it would make them notice things about the people around them.  Maybe they'll see that those people need help and that they should try to help.  Most likely if someone seems troubled to you, they probably are.  Trust your instincts.  Even if you don't think you'd be any help to them or have no clue what to say or do, just listen to them.  Sometimes all people need is someone to listen to them, someone that understands them, someone that won't judge, someone that makes them not feel like they're alone in this world.

 - Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day. - H. Jackson Brown

   

- I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was.

Goals ?

Some goals I'd like to do and achieve sometime in my life are :


- find all the people that complete me
- travel
- experience more new things
- find something that most people won't be able to beat me at
- follow a band around on their whole tour
- spend a day with a celebrity of my choice
- find someone that I'd consider my hero

Doll Face !

    My first thoughts on the video "Doll Face" were that it was just weird and creepy. But at the end of it, I understood it more. I think the video is showing how people look up to things they see on television and such, seeing as everyone likes it, and tries to be just like what they see. All to be liked by the world. But soon they see that it's just an act, and quite a tough act to follow at that. It's just too much for them to handle, at some point they fall apart.

    The video shows how people change every time they see something new. Towards the end, when the Doll Face is reaching for the television, that's showing how far people will go to be something they're not. But soon enough, whatever they're going for is too far out of reach. They don't meet up to the world's expectations and end up destroying themselves.

    I also think this video means that people just try to be something or someone that they're not. They think everyone else will like them if they pretend to be something they may think is cool. But truth is, if you do pretend to be something you're not, then people will figure that out after a while, they'll see through you. And they will use everything they can against you, just to destroy you. After all that, you'll have nothing left, and just fall apart.

     It's a very depressing thing if you think about it. That some people in the world can't accept each other for who they are. Just because society has somehow set expectations for what people should be like and what they think is right in life.

     I suggest that people need to look into this video more. They need to realize to just be themselves, it's a lot easier that way. Sure, some people may not like the true you, but hey, those people are probably the ones that shouldn't matter to you. The people that truly matter to you, and care for you, are the ones that accept you for who you really are. And if those who matter, don't accept you, then I think they need to learn how to. They need to realize that everyone is different, that's how the world is supposed to be.

     Just remember, the things you might have been told growing up or heard somewhere, might not be right. You need to think for yourself. Only you can decide what you think is right in life. If you never learn to accept some things, don't expect yourself to get far.

- I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was.

Photography.

A photo of Benjamin Jorgens by Bobby Wilkins.

The Heart symbolizes who we want ourselves to be. The animal symbolizes who we really are. The two are in a constant battle within us. We don't see because of the cords that cloud our vision. The cords symbolize ignorance. The cords symbolize whatever is keeping you, from being the you, you were meant to be. Break free from your cords and see. Clarity.

- Bobby Wilkins

     Photography comes in many different ways. It can be landscape, nature, still life, street, vernacular, etc. It can also be different things and mean different things to people. To me, Photography is a different way of seeing the world, a new reality, inspiration.

     My favorite upcoming Photographer is Bobby Wilkins. Turning 21 just today, Bobby is incredibly inspiring to me. He's a fashion photographer and has taught himself everything he knows about Photography. I have been following his photography for about two years now. What I find fascinating about Wilkins' art is that it's different from most, he creates his own reality. He is currently working on a photography book of inspirational life stories he title's DREAMLAND. He has taken inspiration from each story people have given him and created a photo shoot out of them. Wilkins' goal with creating this book is to, "show the world that we're all human, we all have faults, we all feel pain, we all feel love, we all have a voice. Now's your chance to speak!"
     I think many people should check out his book once it's out. I feel like it could be very inspirational and they could possibly benefit from it. Inspirational life stories could definitely change a person's view of the world. Knowing that you can relate to someone out there in the world by whatever story they told can really help. You are not alone in this world. More people need to realize that.


- I wanna be the very best, like no one ever was.