Black Panther stands above and apart in the Parthenon of superhero movies in many aspects. It's diverse, it's got a great message, it looks beautiful, and it's an important and successful first step to making the mainstream more representative. There's a few legitimate criticisms, but that's high level nitpicking. However, that's pretty much what this blog is!
My experiences introducing myself are part of a myriad of growth areas I've applied myself to over the last few years. It's gotten much better, but it also hasn't changed much at all. I provide some helpful guidelines I've used, and reflect on what the process has meant to me.
A Volunteer Moment with Music for Autism, helps me understand my younger Cultural experiences in the context of Asian Males in this country
I'm an arrogant SOB, and that's never more clear then when I make-up bets with faceless, nameless Gods, all in the effort to give me some edge. Here, I'm exploring my tendency to use God as a means to reap rewards, and discuss what I think it means to pray, to shout, to live in the shadow of Omnicisent
I spent 9 days in Barcelona for New Years with family. It's an exciting and wonderful city, and I hare some recommendations and thoughts from the area. [No pictures. Because the phone was pickpocketed haha]
Just a smaller piece about my personal relationship with failure and what I'm trying to cultivate in my own life, outside of how I was raised.
An open letter to myself about 2017 and looking towards 2018. I'm proud to have had a great and successful 2017. It was far from perfect, but I can be confident in the habits and skills I honed. 2018 is about commitment and execution, a continuation of the expectations and accomplishments I've set on myself.
Despite the office dress code being much more lax than most people expect, any level of deviation from the perceived bar becomes quite socially controversial. I despise that, because the masses are self-censoring and it suffocates creativity. I rant about it.
Genuine, gentle, nuanced opinion on the Charlottesville protests, quickly reviewing the obvious [Fuck Trump. Fuck Nazi's. Black Lives Matter.] and expanding on some nuances [They're justifiably angry, there's so much worse, we should be optimistic.] I'm trying to be fair, honest, balanced, truthful. Persuasive if you're so inclined. Enjoy! Take it as a whole! Cheers!
If you're struggling with your own challenges/goals/closing out resolutions, please let me offer some realistic, if not sobering advice. But, much like this being my own scream into the void, I'm also more optimistic than is, perhaps, called for. Keep doing your thing. I believe in you!
Reread Americanah for a book club. 4.54/5.00. Could touch on poverty more. Occasionally bias/generalizes. But all the characters and their stories are great. Has astute observations and situations that are well worth understanding and dissecting.
Rant incoming. I am mad about a lot of things, but I'm particularly mad about inaction. We can't just sit back, complain and expect things to get fixed. We have to be part of the solution. That'll be tomorrow, but today I'm going to spit pure anger at those lazy scumbags who didn't find time to vote in the democratic republic we're blessed enough to be a part of.
I’d give this book a strong 4.10. It is great, but it’s difficult to read. I learned something, indoctrinated myself into a different culture. The book made me think deeply about what it is and what the author was trying to convey, and I think I did understand and appreciate it. I don't have much reference books because it's such an alien culture to me. But that might have made me appreciate it more.
4.59/5.00 Great Graphic novel, also very representative in a field that could use it. Worth analyzing and pouring over. Beautiful all around.
It's a dark and scary world out there, friends. Sometimes I'd also rather just sit inside, wrapped in blankets. But we've got ourselves. We've got each other. It'll work out, but it's fine if it doesn't.