I'm Back (Hopefully)!

Hello!!
Yes, I know it's a been a terribly long time and that i haven't even touched this blog in over a year and I've been busy with schoolwork and stuff- but I'd like to start getting back on the track of things now that the school year is almost over, and I have some spare time. That being said, let us begin!
I've changed a little over the past few (or lots of!) months that I haven't written anything, and so have my tastes! I've moved away a little from The Beatles, but don't get me wrong- I still think they're epic and I listen to them at least twice a day, but I've been listening to more rock-hipster kinds of stuff, like the Black Keys, Radiohead, and my brother recently recommended me new bands that are very weird, but I really like them, like the Battles and Eddie Vedder. They're all really cool, and I can't get enough of "Lonely Boy". Hm.. what else... OH! Have you seen the new trailer for The Hobbit? Holy crap that movie is going to be so goooooodd! That trailer just gives me orgasms by watching 30 seconds. Also, have you seen the Kony campaign? Do you guys like it? In my opinion, I think it's a load of crud. Joseph Kony hasn't been actually been active and capturing children since 2003. The whole video was Hollywood and almost fake, and the guy who made the video, got arrested for public nudity and masturbating publicly recently. What the fudge? Talking about arrests, George Clooney got arrested at the Sudan Embassy for protesting, in Washington, DC! WASHINGTON DC! I wish I were there, it would be so cool to see George Clooney. Politics! Do you think Obama will win again? I hope so. My only wish is that Santorum doesn't win. Anyways, I hope all of you are still pretty chill and been doing good... I know I have. I hope I write more blogs on a weekly basis, because it's fun, and I barely have anything to do other than this.

 See you,
  Sam :)

(P.S. I've been playing a CRAP load of Minecraft, it is the most addictive game I've played in my life, and I can't get enough of it. Not even crack is more addicting than this freaking game.)

Father's Day

 "It is a wise father that knows his own child."
     -William Shakespeare.
 
It's almost a law to appreciate your dad. Whatever your father does, you have to appreciate it. You may not love him, but you appreciate him, because he helps  build character. Father's day was specifically made for any child to say thanks to our dads for whatever they did, that has helped and/or helps you throughout life. Well, to say thank you, you have to say it in a fun way. For father's day, the Brodskys had a little barbecue, had backyard games, and then went to see a movie of our dad's choice (though i tried to persuade him, we didn't go see Super 8, we saw Green Lantern). After the movie, my dad and I discussed the movie for 30 minutes like always, (except for Inception, we took 2 hours on that one), read, and then a hug that spoke "Thanks, Dad." Looking back at our life together, we were always very serious around each other, and when I had a problem he would always understand, nod his head, and ask "Wanna talk about it?" So yeah, today make sure to say thanks to your dad at the least, or do something nice to him, even if it's a really small thing. It doesn't have to be your dad, it can be anyone who has made you strong the past 8 years.
Happy Father's Day, Dad. :-)

   

What It Is

"What It Is" is a wonderful book by Lynda Barry and The Magic Cephalopod. Lynda Barry has worked as a painter, writer, cartoonist, illustrator, playwright, editor, commentator, and a teacher. I think she is one of my role models now, because I always wanted to be all those things, and I didn't think it was humanly possible to do all  of them in one lifetime. The Magic Cephalopod is more of a pathfinder, and guides pens and pencils. Because of that, I think I respect cephalapods more. (Check out this website, really interesting.http://www.thecephalopodpage.org/ ). Anyways, both (creatures?) are very awesome and talented, and you should definitively read more about them.
So, What It Is is a very, very different and unique book, and I still can't figure out what the book is, most of it is a comic biography about Lynda's life, and some of it is very bizarre pages with random scraps of random pictures, drawings questions, quotes, thoughts, feelings, and numbers. Though a bit strange, I really like the style, and it always leaves me thinking. I think Lynda is very passionate about imagination, creativity and thinking, juts like me. Even more like me, 1/3 of the whole book teaches how to write in an activity book form. Probably the most clever, memorable and definitively the most creative and/or unique book I've read.  But even still, I can't figure out what it is.

How To Make A Character

Sometimes, the greatest part of a book is the people. In many great novels, the characters are probably the most important part of a story. If one of them dies, that has a HUGE impact on the story, making it more powerful and deep. But it is very hard to make a good character. SAM TO THE RESCUE!
First, ask yourself these questions to make your character.

•  Are you an optimist or a pessimist?
• How old are you really? Forget your biological age. Are you a playful 7 year old? 
• What is your biggest fear?
• What is your smallest fear?
• What is something you know most about? (Computers? Animals? Fishing? Sports? Mermaids?)
• What are things you would like to do before he dies?
• Things you would want for Christmas that don't cost money?
• Things you thinks the world could do without?
• What is your favorite color? Why?
  
  Answer them, and there's your character! It can be based on you, a friend, a family member or someone you don't even know! After you're done, make a drawing of him/her, use your imagination! Good luck on writing your masterpiece. Hope I helped!

Procrastinating: A Lesson

I HATE procrastination. What is procrastination? It's when you take aside doing something productive to something that will give you immediate satisfaction. So, basically it's when you're putting of  or delaying an action to a later time. So pretend you have an essay due tomorrow, but you NEED to check your e-mail, or see whats on in TV, or see what happens in the fifth Harry Potter book, etc. These are examples of procrastinating, and the more you do procrastination, the less work you get done. Procrastination is something everyone has to deal with, but you can actually lower your temptation, once you know how it actually works.
When you procrastinate, two individual parts of your brain are battling out with each other. The first half, called the  prefrontal cortex, does the "I need to get some work done or I will be in detention!" type of thinking, while the other half, called the limbix system which thinks "I'll just do it later, let me just take a short nap!" Unfortunately, the limbix system is much more powerful, because it's connected to your pleasure center of your brain. So right now, you might be asking yourself, "What can I do, Sam?!" Well, the limbix system gets more powerful whenever the temptation to do something other than work becomes more tempting (i.e. you can smell it, hear it, touch it, etc.). So for example, you need to get your work done, but you're blogging (yes, I'm reffering to myself), so maybye turn off your internet! I think everyone can deal with their temptations if you learn how to control  it.

Why Being A Writer Is AWESOME

Being A writer is pretty frickin' sweet. Especially if you love to stay in your PJ's and be lazy!

• You get paid to make stuff up.
• You can stay home and work in your pajamas!
• You get to travel to different parts of the world because it's "research".
• You get to do strange, interesting things because it's also "research".
•  You can sleep 'till noon, work 'till midnight, and take time off whenever you like.
• You get to act stranger than other people, and it's considered OK, because you're a writer.
• You get to read a book in your study while other people do boring and lame stuff. 
• "Writer" on a passport looks better than "dental hygienist". (No offense to you doctors, I'm sure you guys are interesting as well).
• Your peers are weird, wild, wise, and wonderful.
  
  There are WAYYY more reasons why, just ask my dad. Tell me why YOU think being a writer is cool.

Why The Beatles Are Better Than The Music Today

I understand and strongly believe that everyone has their own opinions, and that everyone can think differently, even great minds. I, also have opinions. Lots of them. While a lot of people may not agree with me, but I think what music is what it is today is ruined. I have nothing against modern pop today, I just don't listen to it, I listen to The Beatles and other rock and blues bands that make real music. Seriously, I barely consider rap a genre of music, auto-tune sounds like a dying cat, and male teen singers that sing like girls just won't do. The Beatles, a band of four lads who revolutionized music by their talent and lyrics, and not by their appearance or a song about being drunk. Of course, it's your opinion, and you can think whatever you want. All I'm saying is give real music a chance