Sunday, December 25, 2011

Family is more than a word...

As I sit here in my bed after a filling meal, and watching a couple of movies with my family on this Christmas Day, I can only think of one word to sum up the way I feel at the moment, and that is: Appreciative.

The older I get, the more I realize that family, in all aspects of the word, is a valuable piece to the puzzle that makes up our lives. Now, I'm not speaking of just "Mother, Father, Sister, Brother" type family. I'm speaking of the sum of all of it's parts. Friends make up a vast amount of my family. Surrogate families also have played a major role in the creation of whom I am. So many times we overlook the true value in the bonds that make us strong. A person comes into your life, and they teach us valuable lessons, some good, some bad, but there is always a lesson to be learned. A memorable friend (whether that memory be happy or not) is always of value to me. The ones that take a piece of you away, those are not worth keeping around, but they also teach us to not go giving our hearts away to just anyone.

I see so many families that are in disarray, and chaos, over the most trivial of situations, and I stand looking in from outside their proverbial window, and I see a family that has all of the necessary components to have a strong bond, but the most miniscule thing is tearing them apart. Then you see families that have the world falling down around their ears, and they stay strong, they stay passionate, and they stay involved, because they know that the machine only works as well as the strength of each part.

I have a best friend that just had a baby. He has a beautiful wife, and an amazing home. He has a job that I think is incredible. It requires intelligence, skill, and patience. I admire this man for creating what I see as a beautiful family. Things don't always go his way, but he fights, and he struggles to keep that "family" as strong as possible. It takes hard work, and effort, and a lot of times I'm the only one that sees the efforts that he puts forth, but I remind him always that I do see them, and that I admire him for maintaining the strength, and the verve to keep what he has, stable, happy, and secure. That is family.

Family is the tears. Family is hugs. Family is fear of losing them. Family is more than a picture on a wall. Family is the idea that when you are falling down, you need them close to keep you strong. Family is the person that you need a hug from when you feel blue. Family is the person you call when you just want to make sure they're okay and safe. Family is the person you fight hard for in life, as to not let them down. But, above all, family is what makes you become a better person, for them being in your life.

I have shed many a tear for family. Tears of joy. Tears of sorrow. Tears of loneliness when they're not close, and tears of pain when I feel I've wronged them in some way. But, I've never been ashamed of those tears. Without those tears, I wouldn't know I care, and neither would they. A tear is a warm and wet way of showing how passionately you feel for the people that touch your life.

So, as I sit here on Christmas Day, I place my hand on my heart, and say "Thank you." to all of my family for loving me as I am. I am chaos. I am complex. I am strong, but I am fragile.

But, best of all, YOU are my family. I love you all.

Thank you Xander for being my newest inspiration for being a better family member. I will fight for you to keep your future family strong, safe, happy, and well loved. You are the bundle of joy that I consider the best gift of all in my 2011. Thank you Erin for being such a devoted and loving mother. Thank you Josh for being my brother, my best friend, and a man that I look up to and admire. You set the standard on what a man should be. And, most of all, thank you all for letting me be a part of that family.

There are a few more members of my family that I could mention, but that would just make me rattle on and on, and get more long winded and mooshy, and we don't want that.

Stay happy world. We all bleed. We all cry. We all have the ability to love, rather than hate.

Choose love.

Happy Christmas, 2011 to all, and to all a good night.

Merrily yours,

Johnny


Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Merry Christmas....or am I wrong in saying that?

In remembrance of an event that happened a few years ago, that still brews a fiery pit into my gut, I present to you two examples of things that annoy me to no end, and then my rant on why it is anti-happy to even think in this manner, and creates a world of gloom and darkness of which we are forced to live within.

I present to you Example A:

----------------------------------------

Seattle airport removes Christmas trees

Sun Dec 10, 6:33 PM ET

All nine Christmas trees have been removed from the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport instead of adding a giant Jewish menorah to the holiday display as a rabbi had requested.

Maintenance workers boxed up the trees during the graveyard shift early Saturday, when airport bosses believed few people would notice.

"We decided to take the trees down because we didn't want to be exclusive," said airport spokeswoman Terri-Ann Betancourt. "We're trying to be thoughtful and respectful, and will review policies after the first of the year."

Rabbi Elazar Bogomilsky, who made his request weeks ago, said he was appalled by the decision. He had hired a lawyer and threatened to sue if the Port of Seattle didn't add the menorah next to the trees, which had been festooned with red ribbons and bows.

"Everyone should have their spirit of the holiday. For many people the trees are the spirit of the holidays, and adding a menorah adds light to the season," said Bogomilsky, who works at Chabad Lubavitch, a Jewish education foundation headquartered in Seattle's University District.

After consulting with lawyers, port staff believed that adding the menorah would have required adding symbols for other religions and cultures in the Northwest. The holidays are the busiest season at the airport, Betancourt said, and staff didn't have time to play cultural anthropologists.

Hanukkah begins this Friday at sundown.

"They've darkened the hall instead of turning the lights up," said his lawyer, Harvey Grad. "There is a concern here that the Jewish community will be portrayed as the Grinch."

------------

And my personal favorite...those bastards....Example B:

McDonald's Removes Beef Flavoring from their French Fries

Sleeping With the Enemy
by Jeff Nelson

Wed, Dec. 11, 2002

LOS ANGELES -- Many people know that McDonald's was successfully sued in a class action by a group of vegetarians. The vegetarian plaintiffs alleged the burger chain concealed the presence of beef product in what McDonald's had represented as being meat-free French fries. As part of the settlement, McDonald's made a public apology and agreed to pay $10 million to various groups representing the class, including $6 million to "vegetarian organizations."

--------------------------------

Now, for my tyrade!

It's gone too far, is basically the bottom line. Before long we're going to have people boycotting the Christmas Tree in Rockefeller Center. There will no longer be a Christmas Spirit during the Holidays due to everyone being afraid to 'offend' or to 'step on toes'.

You know what, yeah, it's the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. No longer are we brave, because we are scared of Terrorists, and of the Media Hype of every Bird Flu, SARS, or if we happen to see a powdery white substance on an envelope. So, that leaves The Land of the Free. Freedom? We have more rules in this country than any other country I have ever been in. We can't drink until we're 21, and yet most of the guys overseas fighting are younger than 21. We can vote for the next President at 18, but we couldn't drink champagne if the one we voted for wins.

Now, we do have freedom of choice, and this is where I'm going with this. If you don't like the way a place serves food, don't go there. If you don't like the burgers...don't order them...if the fries taste like meat...DON'T ORDER THEM!!!...go somewhere else. Too long have we let 1 or 2 people determine what the rest of the public does. 1 woman is the reason that all coffee cups say..."Caution Contents Hot!"....

"No shit....it's coffee."

Yet, one lawsuit and BAM!! we've got a new label.

I'm so sick of one person standing up for some bullshit cause and the rest of us sitting back on our haunches and complaining about the outcome. "I hate the fact that McDonald's changed the taste of their fries." They didn't change them very willingly...they were sued by Vegetarians, and no one else stood up to say..."Fuck them, let them go someplace else."...and so with no opposing voices...they changed them.

Same with Christmas. Wal-Mart seems to be the only Amercian Company (again, i hate using the word American to describe the United States, but it's how companies are described here) with enough balls to say "Merry Christmas!" when you walk through the door. You know what, if you're Jewish, and you have someone say "Merry Christmas!" and you say..."I'm Jewish!" what do they normally reply?..."Oh, well then Happy Hanukkah!", it's that simple. If a country is based on Christian beliefs, then let it be. I'm an Atheist, and I love Christmas. I love seeing Santa (created by Coca-Cola, who stole it from St. Nicholas from Turkey or possibly Finland), I love seeing Christmas Trees (beginning as far back as 1510 in Northern Germany), and so on....so, being that we've taken these traditions from all around the world, and piled them into one of the ONLY United States traditions, you'd think no one would have a problem with it. WRONG!! Apparently people get pissed that their religion or cult isn't getting enough P.R. and throw a temper tantrum. So, anytime they can sue someone and say..."You're playing favorites!", they do so. Fuck them....fuck them all!! I don't fly over to Jerusalem to put up a damn Christmas tree, and if I did, I wouldn't tell them they were wrong for not doing so. It's my thing, from my country...so, what gives me the right....or the audacity, to say they should all change for me?

I could go on and on about this, but it's just so evident that we're all turning into pussies. Our parents all protested a war, had sit-ins, had picket lines, and did a lot of drugs to protest in their generation (okay, the drugs had nothing to do with it....but, they did it anyhow), and somewhere along the lines of us becoming so self involved we forgot how to band together to stand up for what we believe in. We couldn't take a page from their book? We couldn't learn to be more progressive? I don't want to change anyone's religion, no more than I want them to shove their religion down my troat (that's a little Guinea for you's), but I also don't want to live in a land with no Christmas Spirit, because we're all afraid to hurt someones feelings.

Yes, you could argue that we're all banding together with the Occupy Wall Street shenanigans, but that's a money issue. That's about distribution of funds and when money is involved, people will do close to anything. (watch any episode of Fear Factor) I'm talking about us banding together for Freedom. For happiness of the masses, not the "I won my argument." of a few.

Your God comes in many forms. So does happiness. To me, happiness used to be Christmas time....now, it's bleak.....and cold.

Do we really want our children to grow up and have no Christmas Spirit, and to honestly have to ask us what happened when they see pictures from when we were kids?



I don't want to live in a country where the only thing we can call our own is the 4th of July. And, that's celebrating our Independence, so I'm sure that'll piss someone off some day.

I'm a firm believer in standing up for your rights. Standing up for what you believe in, and what makes you proud, but I also believe that you can't take away culture from countries, or you will finish with a dry, soul-less environment.

The Land of the Sued, and the Home of the Weak......doesn't sound good to me......

Find happiness in the environment you live in, and you will live a happy life. Constantly seek out the negative in it, and your destined for anger, resentment, and a heartless outcome.

I may not believe in Christianity, but I do believe in Love, Happiness, Togetherness, and Holiday Spirit. A time when everyone (used to...pre-Black Friday) is a little kinder, a little happier, and is a little more willing to go out of their way to make someone else happy, just to make them feel joyous.

Regardless of my views...I do wish you all a Merry Christmas. And, even though it's a Christian Calendar, I do wish you all a Happy New Year. Why? Because I care. If you're my friend, I love you, and I want you to be happy. That's fucking why.

Now, go, eat...DRINK...and beat Mary....I mean....be merry.

Always with a fistful,
Knuckles

Friday, November 18, 2011

You Think I Can Get This Necronomicon To Blow Me?

The creation of that, which is vulgar, has existed LONG before I came around to rape your eyeballs. Yes, the idea of the black sheep of society being the outcast has been laid out throughout history. But, we are not focusing on your sodomized retinas. No. Today, we speak simply of death.

Specifically speaking, THIS kind of death:


Or, more truthfully, this kind of friendship. You see, death is inevitable, and with an Atheist approach to life, you know that this is your one shot. Your one blown nut at showing the world what you're capable of. Of making one solid best friend. Of being the best human you can possibly be, before ultimately, you're a cold corpse...and empty shell...lying in front of someone (you hopefully love) that is at a loss for though, but overwhelmed with emotion.

You see, if you streamline your beliefs as Atheists tend to do, you finish having very few things you truly believe in. For example, the biggest things that mean something to me in my life, are as follows: Friendship, Love, Family, Respect, Adventure and Booze. (cigars fit themselves somewhere in there, but...whatever)

These create my belief system.

Throughout my 30 some-odd years on this planet, I have found less than a handful of people that I can thumbtack each one of these monikers upon. One, my best friend, is now on his 20th year as my partner in crime, and he and I could easily exchange places as "either-or" in this video.

Support, and admiration is something that all friends should not fake, and neither of us have ever flubbed that line of the movie. We've been there through it all, and will be there to witness the cold skin of the other. (and the deleting of the porn from his/my hard drive)

The course of life is a fickle one. From the time you are born, you begin to die. You approach the "End Game" with each passing second. Yet, people still refuse to travel in fear of flying. They refuse to be naked in front of someone else with the lights on in fear of "being less-than-perfect" in the eyes. They fear........

They fear.

I do what I wish. I say FUCK! loud and proud. I tug one out when the need arises. I treat ladies like gentlemen, and gentlemen like ladies. I smoke cigars from time to time, and I drink booze when my palate feels the need. (usually around 8:17am)

But, with all of that chaos, and all of that brassness, Atheism...and a slight bit of narcissism...there is a kind hearted, loving, passionate (and compassionate) gentleman that will fight off any zombie apocalypse in your name, if you're willing to accept me as I am.

Death, will come. That's a given. But, the friends you find, and the loving bonds you create, will ultimately define you after you're worm shit.

So, be you. Be the person you wish to be. Then, find some people that love that person, and is willing to fight with you until that last breath. They're rare...as a warning...very rare. As I said...I've had a TRUE best friend for 20 plus years, and we look at people that say "This is my best friend...we've known each other for 2 years." as kind of a joke.

But, fight your fight. If your life is better WITH them, than without them...go for it...ask them what they're doing for the rest of their life, and see if that position is filled...because you never know.


Oh..........and always fuck with the lights on.



Always,


-Knuckles

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

I Fucked The Purple Crayon!

My best friend sent me this link today, because he, as an Atheist as well, laughs that such things need to be said, let alone have a video made of it, as much as I do:

[VIDEO]


I've brought this up before, in previous blogs, but it's so funny to me that these videos even need to be made.

The Atheist point of view, brings a lot of things into perspective when it comes to Humanity. Being angry at another person for existing is purely idiotic. Being angry at another person and thinking they chose to be the way they live, is ignorant beyond all measure. If you think a Book should tell you to hate another human for just existing, then maybe you should put the book down, step away from it, and rethink what humanity is truly about.

For instance, if I walked up to a black man on the street and said "You know, you disgust me! Why would you ever choose to be black?! It's more difficult to deal with in society, you have a checkered history in the world, and things would just be all around easier if you would just choose to be white! I know it'd make me feel more comfortable to be around you, if you were just like me!!" Or, another example, "Why did you choose to be so short?" "I'm a dwarf. I was born this way." "Werrrre you? Or, did you just CHOOSE to be different? You know, if you put your mind to it, and really focus all your energy, you could probably be just like me! Then I wouldn't have to feel awkward about using words like tiny, small, or little in a sentence. You just make me feel strange, because you're....different than me."

Sounds stupid huh? What kind of bumbling fucking idiot would think those things? The same fuckhole that thinks that my gay friends choose to be gay. Fighting for equality is not an easy battle, and yet people still assume that they chose to be "different", even though they get beaten, stigmatized, and even killed for standing proud and being themselves. (sound familiar my Black world? it's because it wasn't too long ago you were fighting this same fight...and on some level...still are)

Look, the queer community is not looking to get equal treatment to be able to pull a fast one over you at the bar and trick you into blowing him. Gay guys and Gals just want to be treated as equals in the eyes of society. Same as Little People, Handicapped, Ethnically Diverse, and so on. If an alien invasion were to rain down on our heads, it would definitely cause a banding of brothers with humanity, but it's not fucking likely that's happening soon, so how about we just get over ourselves, and start banding together now...you know...just in case.

Here's an abrasive part of me, that unless you know me, sets some people off. I use the "N" Word with my Black friends, the "M" Word with my Little friends, and the "F" Word with my Gay friends. You know why? Because, as Hermione Granger (J.K. Rowling) said in Harry Potter: "Fear of a name only increases fear of the thing itself." I don't use such harsh words outside of said conversations, nor do I use such ugly words as descriptions, but within the right confines, it is important to destroy these words with laughter, and intelligence, so that they no longer hold power in our society. Therefore, you ridicule that word, demean it, not the people it's attached to, and eventually it will hold no meaning.

The more we fight each other, the more hate exists, and the more hate exists, the more horrible our world becomes. I like all women...Asian, Black, White, Indian, and yes...if there were Purple Broads, I'd probably want to fuck them too. You know why? Hot is hot. A woman is a woman, and I'm attracted to chicks and would HATE if someone decided that that was a bad thing. "You can only date blue eyed, black haired women that are white!" "What the fuck are you even talking about?" "I feel awkward seeing you with other ethnicities, and therefore me and 3 other people of like minds passed a law before you knew what was going on, to ban people like you from making me feel strange when I go to a restaurant." "Go fuck yourself."

We exist on this planet for one reason...to exist.

Our actions should define us, not the color of our skin, our sexual orientation, the fact we're fat, or short or mostly anything physical. (i say 'mostly', because if you have a tattoo of a swastika on your face, then you've pretty much made up my mind on whether or not to hang out with you)

I, personally, like to paint with multiple colors. I like to watch different genres of movies. I like to use COLORFUL words like fuck, cunt, and picklepenis. I like scotch, but sometimes I feel like vodka, or rum, or beer, and sometimes wine. Do you see what I'm getting at? Diversity. Diversity exists because "Safe" to some, is just "Boring" to others. The ocean is wet, because that's just how it is. We can't change that, so we just accept it for face value. I just want to do away with everyone needing a Month to raise awareness of Equality. If we were all open minded, free spirited, and well educated on one another, then we could get on with what really matters...

Fucking each other until we're all one color.

Passionately yours,
Knuckles

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Religion: The New Gas Chamber

This disgusts me:



As many of you know, I am a die hard lover of humanity. Whether you be poor, rich, tall, short, ugly (to an extent), or beautiful, and even religious, within reason...I will call you my friend. But, this is where I show my fangs. This is where I pound my chest and bellow to the world that I am an Atheist, and proud of it. I do NOTHING in the name of anyone (imaginary or not) else, because I am responsible for my own actions.

This little girl was alone in the world. An orphan. She was adopted by a "Good Christian Family", and then, beaten to death "In the name of God".

This type of idiocy just makes me sick to my stomach. This poor little girl would still be alive if she had been left to the orphanage. This family that believes you need to follow a book's rules...a book that is over 2,000 years old mind you, to raise a child.

When will people learn that this is a work of fiction? When will people learn that what men wrote about thousands of years ago, have no place in humanity any longer. Should we stone people to death? Should we set fire to witches? Should we beat our children to death for misbehaving?

Look, it's like this: "If a man has an invisible friend, he's insane. If millions of men have an invisible friend, it's religion."

I don't mind having Believer friends. I don't. If that is what you choose, then we can agree to disagree. I don't run around shoving Atheistic views down everyone elses throats, but I do draw the line at this fucktardery.

I believe that we as humans have one shot at this "Humanity" thing. We're born, and we start dying from that very moment. Like a blade of grass, or a tree, or any other living entity. Each things that grows...each thing that takes in oxygen, and pushes out carbon dioxide is "alive" in my book. We're a part of this food chain, and we have to know our position in it. So, if we let idiotic thoughts, beliefs, ideas, or what-have-you rule our existence, then we are destined to be replaced as the Superior Race (that's human race) on this planet. Why? Because we kill each other in the name of religion. At home. In a war. In the work place. As a serial killer. All because you don't believe in something, the way you want me to believe in it. Why can't you just love a human, because he/she is human? Why can't you just accept mortality, and live this life you were given, and know that there is no castle in the sky?

This sweet, innocent little girl didn't have to die. People don't have to buy a book about "Spare the rod, Spoil the child.". No, we all have choices to make, and we can all choose empathy, or humanity, or whatever makes you see that your fellow human is in a battle to stay alive as long as possible, the same as you. Just don't make their life shorter, over your idiotic beliefs.

You know how you have that one friend, or family member that embarrasses you at a party by getting too drunk, and doing idiotic shit? You know how you don't want to be associated with that person at that time? Well, if an alien race showed up to this planet, and saw that the majority of our wars, and deaths and assassinations are in the name of invisible entities that no one has any proof of...You are my embarrassing Uncle Lou.

This kind of action can be solved with one word. NOT an interpretation of this word. Not "your idea" of the word...just one word...

That word is:


Love.

Love your fellow humans. Imagine them stripped of all religion, societal ideology, and all fault. Imagine them label-less and nondescript. You have a weak and vulnerable human. Susceptible to death at the most simple of action. Now, just love them. Protect them. Nurture them. Keep them alive as long as you can. Religion isn't needed for that.

Nope.

Just love.

Don't let ideas destroy us. Don't let ideas separate us. Don't let ideas create hate, because I don't conform to your idea.

Just don't.



-Knuckles

Thursday, July 21, 2011

To Tame This Savage Beast...

Growing up, (or at least my attempt to), I was never really good at musical instruments. I "played" the drums, but it was more of a rhythmic beating than me mastering an instrument. I had friends that were all great at music, but, none hold a candle to the company I keep now.

Throughout the years, I've realized the power of music. From meditation, to preparing for a night out, music is a vital part of my life. I have always admired and respected those that could create it. For instance, you can go watch a movie that takes hundreds, if not thousands of people to create it, or you can sit and listen to Mishka pluck away at his guitar and be completely engulfed in every word, of every note, to the point of being hypnotized.

Another example, is my avid fascination with friends that play the piano. One friend in particular always amazes me. The repertoire of music he has in his head makes him a one man party anywhere a piano resides. From jazz, to funk, to classical...he's got it. I admire that. But, it goes one step further. He can create a mood for a movie by creating it's score. He can tear at your heartstrings by singing a ballad of a broken heart, and accompanying it with a solemn tune.

An actor can write a script, act out the monologue, and create a tear jerking scene, but you can't necessarily do that to get pumped for a night out in Vegas, or to drown your sorrows of a recent breakup. Not to mention, what kind of fool would you be, if you were at a party, and saw a camera and just started acting in front of it? No, nothing compares to the creation, expression, and mere necessity of music.

I keep myself engulfed in music. From the time I wake up, throughout my day, until I go to sleep. I search for it, I listen to it in films, and I ask friends about it all the time. Rarely do I listen to the radio, because that is a medium telling me what music I should listen to. If a song that is there, is something I would like, I will eventually stumble upon it in one of my searches.

Music does soothe the savage beast, but it can also spark a fire, (ask anyone that has set a mood in a bedroom with Barry White, House Music, or Hip Hop).

So, to all of my musical friends out there. I tip my hat to you. You keep this world doing pirouettes, skipping to a happy tune, and pumping out that extra rep in the gym. Without your talents, this world would be a little more intolerable, and a whole lot more dry.

Keep up the good work,

Respectfully,

Johnny

Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Defining That, of Which We Call Knuckles....

As previously stated, I like to be big. Not "big" in the sense of, say, needing to buy an extra seat on a United Flight, but "big" in the sense of personality, life, and actions.

Here's the reasoning behind my madness;

In my youth, I kept my head down, walked softly, and made little waves. I was bullied, talked down to, and generally just pushed around by life. I watched movies with guys that stood up for themselves, and others, and envied them, as well as admired them. They were the Superheroes of the real world. Men like John McClane of Die Hard. He was an average guy, that under pressure, became a super human. He couldn't fly. He couldn't turn invisible, but he had something inside him that made him want to save his wife, and other innocent people, because they needed it.

These "other" people are average, non-heroic, Keep Your Head Down people. They were me. I was the one being rescued, but that's not what I wanted to be. I wanted to be the guy saying "Yippee Ki Yay Motherfucker!"

So, I looked deep down inside myself, and I pulled up the whimpering, weak, timid heart that I had, and shook the living fuck out of it....

On a sidenote, it helps that I'm an Atheist at times. You see, a lot of people believe that this is just our earthbound self. They believe in eternity, and going to Heaven, and an afterlife. I don't. So, I believe this is our one shot at being the best ME that I can be. Which, helped in the creation of what you see (read) in front of you.

Back to my Boring Ass Story...

I shook the living FUCK out of myself, and said "Time to nut up, or Shut up!", and started doing little things day in, and day out, that were not typically things I would do. Standing up to people started off as a little mumble under my breath, that usually followed by a "What?" from the other person. But, in true John McClane fashion, the mumbles eventually became words, the words became sentences, and the nerves became steadied. Resulting in a defiant, strong, and stable conversation.

After learning that I could create an individual that I thought was exactly what I wanted. I no longer looked to movies for inspiration, but in turn, started looking inward. I wanted to create, in my mind, the best Johnny that I could. My own personal super human.

I had always thought intellect was a profound thing, and so I studied. I studied things that "I" wanted to study. Not for school. Not for classes. For me. Things that I wanted to know. Things that I wanted to be educated on, so that if and and when it ever came up in conversation, I'd be well versed on the subject. I'd sit in the library for hours, just reading books on the biological makeup of humans, Genghis Khan, British Parliament, Shakespeare, Religion, and a vast amount of other topics. I guess, in a way, it was a movie figure that inspired this after all, because I had envisioned how James Bond held peoples attention in conversations with knowledge of a certain topic.

Then, I realized I wanted to create. I wanted to leave behind something that was a part of me. I was a horrible artist when it came to drawing (i tried it), and painting. So, I joined Drama in high school. I was still coming into my own, and so I did Stage Craft, to just be involved. But, what was to become of that one simple move, would help mold the person I am today. I saw something in those tiny little plays that made my heart swell with a light that could illuminate the midnight sky. Acting. It painted a picture with words, with movement, with gestures, with history, love and passion!! It was a legacy waiting to happen.

But, what was to happen next, became even more obvious to the creation of me. You see, as in true "me" fashion, I became enthralled with acting and theatre. So, as it was, I spent more time reading about it. The history of theatre. The creation what acting is today. All things that piqued my interest, I would find in a book. And, then, at the same time, I started realizing something. These...words...they also paint a picture. Certain words had more weight, more vigor, more passion, than others. Certain phrases were rebellious. Certain stories were more powerful than others.

Thus, began my voyage into using these words in everyday life. People would be shocked, which interested me, by some things I'd say. It was a response to "words". I could say "Fuck." and catch an irritated look from an old woman. I could say "cunt", and garner a reply from people standing around me. And, so I began creating another part of my personality that I love...freedom of speech.

As I've said before, if you have a canvas (that is Life), and you have paint (that is words), why would you only paint in black and white? Wouldn't you want to use as many colorful words to paint the picture you desire?

A simple sentence, "Wow that movie was great.", becomes a powerful, rough, and brass sentence with "Wow that movie was fucking great." with a little more color.

I am now, the man that I wanted to be. I drink what I want, even though I didn't even start drinking until I was 22 (by choice), because I like to. I don't need to, I do it, because it is a part of the person I love to be. I write what I want. I say what I want. I do as I want. My actions my have controversial outcomes sometimes, but they are a direct result of me wanting to do what I wanted at the time, and therefor I regret nothing in doing so.

So, I smoke cigars, drink booze, swear, workout, eat right, study life, people watch, look at porn, and dissect humanity for what it is. I also stand up for the weak voiced, the silent walking, and bullied Average Joe. I created a man that is confident, articulate, intelligent, and passionate, and the benefit of that, is that I fear no confrontation, because there are only two outcomes to any situation, I will win, or I will lose, and either way, I am okay with either one. All, because, I believe that it helps me better understand myself. People are constantly searching for "themselves", but what they don't understand, is we get this one life...and instead of searching, they should be creating.

We are what we are, because of what we do. Don't let the world define you, because you can define yourself. If it feels right, do it. If it helps make you feel like "you", do it. Because, at the end of this road, there's death...and on that day, you'll want to look back and say, "I was the best me, I could be."

So, no longer do I need John McClane to be my guiding light. No longer do I need James Bond to tell me a martini is a classy drink.

Nope, I don't need any of those guys, because they're fictional, and I'm real. I'm a living, breathing super hero. I don't rescue kittens. I don't fly to burning rooftops and whisk grannies to safety...nope...I save myself, and those I love, from the mundane, and boring...I save myself from being weak, sad, and average. I still bleed. I will still die. But, I will die with the knowledge, that I conquered this cunt we call Life.

With all of that said...


Go fuck yourself...


-Knuckles