Episode Fifty Nine: The Business to Get In?

The other day I ran into a woman at work who was ranting because Blockbuster did not have "Meet Me in Saint Louis" (And no, I don't work at Blockbuster or any other video rental place).  Then she asked me what place in the area would have that video available to rent that night.  I told her most of the video stores went under, and I was relatively new to town- so I did not know of a place.  I said she could check Redbox, but mostly Redbox carries new releases, but she could look on Netflix to see if it was on instant queue.  She continued to ask me again if there were any stores in the area and launched onto a rant about video stores. She ended the rant with "Video Rental, that's the business to get in"- and she didn't mean that angrily or facetiously, she was serious.

I realize it's frustrating when you can't find something you're looking for.  However, I believe this instance, while really more of my average Monday at work, explains multiple problems I have with our current culture.


1. We are obsessed with Self-Gratification: if we cannot get what we want when we want it, we feel wronged instead of recognizing the situation for what it is- a moderate inconvenience.

2. We think that if we keep asking the same person the same question that "I don't know" will eventually turn into a magical answer that solves our problems

3. We hate change and will tout the superiority of a more costly and poorly organized institution because we aren't ready to try something new. 

4. We have delusions that if something falls into our personal whimsy that it must surely be profitable.

And number 4 takes us home.  It goes without saying why you can't find video rental stores anymore.  Instant streaming is genius, it takes out the cost of a traditional store (staff, building leases, insurance for the store, tangible inventory) and puts in a convenient system to watch movies and television from home.  There is a reason movie rental places went out of business.  However, I suppose if you want to take your life savings and use them to fund such an ill conceived business venture, go for it- it is your money. Myself, I think I'll keep an open mind and peruse the selections on Netflix instant queue, my fiance and I have found some unexpected new favorites that way. 

Episode Fifty Eight: Christianity, I'm taking it Back.

(*Taking it back is an expression used to sometimes describe the act of reclaiming a fashion, or, for the purpose of this post, a religion)

As an active Christian I hate to admit it, but more often than not, I am embarrassed by how Christians are represented to the rest of world.  It's not just that certain people waving the banner of Christianity are depicting Christians as anti-science, irrational, and anti-progress, but more importantly that our faith is being represented as hateful and judgmental.  The problem is worse than that- the modern Christian is so consumed by politics and hot button issues that the questions of day to day living are ignored.  This is not to say that Christian shouldn't be debating the major issues- but we are forgetting to address the challenges in our daily lives. 

As someone under the age of thirty I'm distressed at the low church attendance by people in my age group.  While one could argue my generation is going to hell, I prefer to question how my generation perceives Christianity.  I've made it a point to have friends of various faiths.  I've had some Christian friends argue that this is a massive faux-pas.  However, Jesus didn't spend the majority of his time with rabbis- he befriended tax collectors and prostitutes.  This is not an excuse for any misguided Christians to start preaching at the local strip club.  Sorry.  The point is, after talking to non-Christians the majority of complaints have nothing to do with a dislike of Jesus or the core virtues of Christianity. More often than not, non-Christians dislike hypocrisy and intolerance displayed by certain Christians.

Let's face it, the crusades, the Salem witch trials, the Spanish inquisition- we do have a lot of less-than-admirable moments in our history as a major branch of religion.  We're not taking the beam out of our eye before mentioning the speck in our brother's eye, as the bible tells us to do.  Christ, it is often said, is love.  Why then are so many Christians insisting on being champions of hate?  We've forgotten how important the virtues of forgiveness and charity are. 

The problem, however, is not Christianity.  "Do onto others as you would have done onto you" is hardly the philosophy of intolerance.  There are also plenty of Christians out there in the world who still love, and who are progressive and intelligent.  There are plenty of Christians out there who are friends with agnostics, pagans, Buddhists, Muslims, and yes, even atheists.  Our task is to take back Christianity as the religion of love and forgiveness.  We must begin to live our lives by example.  Let's drive a little friendlier on the road Christians.  Let your charity not be limited to people of the same denomination or church.  Non-Christians learn about the love of Christ through our actions. 

As the title of this post implies, it's time to take back Christianity.  Let's reclaim it and make it our own again. 

Episode Fifty Seven: The One thing I truly Loathe.

Now I try to keep the Curve Zone clean of hatred and ill will.  I don't want this to be some shrine of ranting or complaining.  It's easy to blog angry- too easy.  Blogging angry seldom achieves anything.  However, I'm tired and won't be posting anything relevant for at least 12 hours.  So it's time for me to admit a long-standing hatred I have.   There is only one thing in the universe I truly hate.

Blood suckers.

Alright, and before I get ripped limb by limb by Twihards, I'm not talking about your disco-ball teen-romances.  Vampires have, if nothing else, given us an amusing array of fiction as well as spread hilariously awful paranoia regarding the red cross.

I'm talking about Mosquitoes, those little, parasitic sons of [censored].  It's actually been a better summer for me this year, but I am always the person they bite the most and my skin breaks out worse than most people.  However, I know they're out there, and like a gritty old hero of a western movie I sit in vigilance for the day I can end their menace to my world. 

Mosquitoes think they can just fly into our country and take our blood and not pay taxes.  I say no more.  Armed with my narrow minded intolerance and my fly swatter I'll be waiting this summer Mosquitoes. 
 

Episode Fifty Six: We're Back and Crafty!

So after the bus broke down 30 miles outside of Denver and I sat tensely for fear that the irate passengers may disembowel our driver, well, I had a renewed passion for writing.  That was my trip to Oregon for my brother's graduation.  And if you're wondering, I did not fail to copy/paste the whole story.  Eventually I will write a post chronicling the horror that was my first bus trip across the United States.  Until then you have the information you need to know readers.

Instead of leading off with the soul searching I did over the past week- I will take the humorous route to revive the Curve Zone. 

When I heard about Newt Gingrinch getting "glittered" by a protester a couple of weeks ago I was inspired.  I try not to get into politics in the Curve Zone.  However, I couldn't help but think that Political Pundits would be made better through arts and crafts.  So I unveil to you, poor readers, Pundits and Crafts.

 

First- Bill O'Reilly.  O'Reilly's staring gaze is part of his drive as a media personality, so I thought "hmm, he needs Googly eyes!". 

Next, Hillary Clinton, whom I decided needed the fun and jazz of craft feathers and a gold star upon her cheek.  The brightly colored craft feathers add a touch of color and whimsy to the former first lady.

While we're on the topic of women in Politics, I decided to give Ann Coulter yarn hair.  Coulter's straight blond hair drains the color away from her face, it is uninspired.  Thanks to the rainbow of colors offered in craft yarn we were able to give Coulter a new, friendly look. 

The last craft project I decided to keep a reference pic on bottom.  Hate his movies or love them, you have to admit there is something familiar about the way Michael Moore looks.  Using felt swatches and craft hair we are able to construct, you guessed it, a Michael Moore Muppet.  If you don't know what a Muppet is, well, look up Kermit the frog on Wikipedia. 

I entreat you to try your own Pundits and Crafts :)

Episode Fifty Five: Question and Answer Session- Feedback Needed

Howdy!

To help promote the sister blog "Accidentally Heroic" and help reboot the "Curve Zone" I would like to do a broadcast Q and A (Question and Answer) session.  I'm going to try to borrow my fiance's laptop which has a webcam.  If you have any questions for the Curve Zone or Accidentally Heroic please post them in the comment section.  If your question is deemed appropriate, I'll answer it via video.  While there's nothing scarier than the sight of my face- it will haunt your dreams forever (you've been warned), I thought this would be a great chance to reach out to the readers.

Much Love,

-'Cutio-

Episode Fifty Four: A Generation of Humor

Forgive the absence from both Accidentally Heroic and Curve Zone- aside from an advertising issue I've been a little under the weather.  And by a little under the weather I mean I've been so sick I've been losing more weight than I did when I had food poisoning a few months back.  So- if there is not a speedy recovery eventually "The Curve Zone" will become the "Straight and Narrow".  Best weight loss plan ever.

And yes, I am being melodramatic- though I have been sick and too fogged up on fevers to write much. 

I'd been mulling something over for quite some time now.  At first I considered it a personal issue- often expressing myself through humor instead of sitting down and talking about things seriously.  Then I realized that many people in my age demographic do the same thing.  We don't like to talk about the hard issues unless we're buffering our conversation with jokes or facetious statements. 

I see the generation gap at work constantly.  Many people think that people in the Gen Y category don't care because we hide behind the shield of "LOL".  We may seem oblivious- tethered to our iPods, showing a lack of enthusiasm for voting, etc.  The truth is beneath our cavalier demeanor is a wealth of pain and acute awareness of the myriad of problems plaguing our country and planet. 

We grew up on "Captain Planet" the guy who pumped us full of concern about the environment.  We might have even cried a bit watching "Fern Gully" as kids- just a bit.  Not long after we could drive did Gas prices start going up- but Hybrids, not exactly in our budget.  As soon as the ink was dry on our college degrees, the economy was in the toilet.  As hard as it is being downsized after 20 years of loyal service, at least you experienced 20 years having a job you could feel proud of.  Many in our generation have excelled at school, worked hard at low level jobs- and never once had a taste of a real career.  Doors slam in our face.  I see more job postings for 5-10 years experience on Career Builder.  If you're under the age of 30- chances are you don't have 5-10 years in position higher than Stock Boy or Waitress. 

We watched our parents get laid off, we watched the twin towers crumble, we listened to news of the Enron scandal, just like you, we were there witnessing the chaos of the world around us.  We were not blind and deaf as you may have thought us to be.  But we were young, and our hearts were crushed before we were old enough to purchase alcohol.   

Every generation adapts its own style, its own signature.  Our generation is the one that laughs when we want to cry.  At times our humor is indeed inappropriate- but it is how we cope with the darkness we perceive around us.  Humor is how you get us to open up about the things we care about.  Through the sounds of our laughter you can almost hear the faint whimpers of our cries- our cries for justice, cries for change, and cries for hope. 

Humor is our adaptation to the challenges of our environment.  

Episode Fifty Three: The Sanctuary in My Home

When my fiance and I started apartment hunting we originally thought of getting a two bedroom.  Amid other features that had us fall in love with our current apartment, there was the den.  Our apartment is labeled a "one bedroom with den", in which we pay a lower rent but have a mythical space tucked away at the front of the apartment.  There isn't a door- but it doesn't matter, the moment you enter the den you are submersed into the loving arms of tranquility.

Unfortunately it wasn't until our den started flooding due to the excessive rain that we remembered it was there.  It had become, the storage room.  The flooding was a blessing in disguise- we have a benevolent landlord who fixes everything quick and never gives us grief.  So they sent in the carpet cleaners and we had to haul all the storage tubs and boxes out of the den.  Fresh carpet later, I stepped into the room to remember the vast potential of the haven before me.

Due to the death of the laptop I moved my desktop into the living room.  I am seriously considering if I can pick up any free or cheap furniture on Craig's list for the den.  I yearn to transform the wondrous space before me into a sanctuary.


I'd love your feedback on what you would do with your own sanctuary and if you have a place in your home where you can relax and escape.

Have I mentioned my love of tropical beaches?