The future is on it's way. And, depending on who you ask and which century they're from, it's already here. It's interesting really. The future is interesting. Very interesting. Things we never thought would be invented has been invented. Things we thought never would be done, has been done. To my understanding they've already  managed to teleport matter. Cesium, I believe. It's interesting, because the farther our technological development gets the faster it can get even more developed.

Another interesting thought about the future is where we will live. Will we be able to "save" our planet from going under, or not? If not, where then will we go? Will we be able to create an emulated earth atmosphere in some kind of bubble on a planet that doesn't have water, air etc. etc. Or will we find a planet with similar conditions? Will the modern society destroy itself? Will war destroy us? Will we develop weapons so powerful they will inevitably destroy our entire planet? Interesting questions. I believe we have to unite our planet. Instead of being a planet full of different countries with different agendas, we need to unite as one planet. But still we need to try to keep our different cultures, languages etc. etc. intact. We still need to be different amongst ourselves. But united. We can not keep fighting each other like we are now. The world will end. I believe in a united earth. Not a shattered one.

That raises another question. How will this be achieved? War? Superior firepower? No. No stable union is created through firepower. We need to achieve this through discussion. Compromise. We all need to unite, peacefully. A lot of thought has to go into this. This is nothing achieved in a couple of years. This will take decades. Should we start now, there is absolutely no guarantee any of us alive today will see it. There is no guarantee we'll ever see the beginning of it either. But it's either that. Or we're done for. No countries can compete against another if we ever want our race to be something more than one simply passing through. Humans are done for, if we don't unite.

Over and out.

This is another one of those nights where they day has been so long and exhausting that you feel yourself absolutely drained of all energy. But I am still here, trying to write something interesting. I'd like to avoid the subject of my day, since I hardly think anyone would be even remotely interested in it. And those who would be don't know that this blog exist. And there are far more important things going on in the world than my long days. Like the recent incident in Korea. But there is already tons of information on that subject. Tons of speculations. Tons of "experts" have given their prediction. So I'm going to do my best to stay away from that topic if it doesn't result in full scale war. Which would be quite interesting. I wonder what full scale war would lead to... But that's probably a question for someone else.

Alright, this is what's going to happen. I'm going to think. Then post something tomorrow. I'm really blank. Big band jazz empties your mind.

Choices

Choices... Well we have to make them all the time, don't we? And it's a real pain in the ass. Some choices have consequences we never expected. That's what really makes it so difficult. When you start thinking about the consequences.

Imagine being a president, king, queen, whatever... Imagine the decisions they have to make. If a decision a normal human being would have to make can seem hard, what about their choices? These choices wont affect a small group of people, it will affect an entire country. It's huge, don't you think? Can you imagine making a decision that would affect millions of people? I can't. Even thinking about it scares me. And also knowing that it will undoubtedly be in some public record, which means it might come to haunt for the rest of your life. But even the smallest of decision made by the most regular kind of person could have unknown consequences for that person. Should I hurry home, or should I stay here I while? If he/she would hurry home they might get hit by a car and become a paraplegic. That small decision "should I hurry home or stay a while longer?". It might even be smaller than that. Should I go to the bathroom now, or wait until I get home? With the same consequence. It's maddening. Why is something so simple so difficult?

It translates to every situation. It might be something so simple as walking up to a girl that you've had your eye on for a while to say hello, or not. You might get shot down really bad, obsess about it, loose your confidence for a long time. Things might hit you in places you never thought possible. And, trust me, they almost always do. A good metaphorical kick in the groin might leave you metaphorically sterile for the rest of your life. When you start to think about things, they don't seem so simple anymore. Or maybe it's just me? Maybe I'm the only one who's obsessive enough to imagine all the negative possible outcomes. The trick I guess is just to ignore them. But once they've entered your mind it's impossible to get them out. It's like 'The Game' (I just lost it, by the way). The only objective of the game is to NOT think about the game. But once you do, it's really hard not to. It's built upon ironic processing, which states that "[...] attempts to avoid certain thoughts make those thoughts more persistent.". 


Then there is something called "existential choices". Choices that you know inevitably will change your entire life. But I never really accepted existential choices, because I believe there really isn't anything special about them. A choice is a choice, and it's consequence is definite. They always somehow define who you are. What you choose defines who you are, and who you are has a direct influence on your existence. Therefore I believe all choices are existential. We are all the gods of our own existence.


Over and out.

Freedom of speech

Freedom of speech. Is there a limit? Where should we draw the line?

I'm looking back to a specific blogpost by a swedish author (Carina Rydberg, afraid I can not find any information on her in english) that upset my quite a bit. The blogpost, which is in swedish, is essentially Carina writing about wanting to close down a swedish forum that considers itself being one of the last places on the web where there's absolute freedom of speech. She claims to have found links to pornography featuring children. Therefore she has filed complaints and wishes the site would be taken off the internet. Now, I've been active reader and poster on Flashback since 2008 and has never seen any links to child pornography. Of course, there are pedophiles on the forum but there is no trading links or videos being performed through the forum. They are all just regular people, like me, with the exception that they get sexually aroused by children. They can get aroused by whomever or whatever they want, as long as it doesn't affect anyone. Pedophiles do not necessarily kidnap and rape children. That's only a very, very small percentage of the total amount of pedophiles. Unfortunately they are the only ones that get any kind exposure in the media, since they will inevitably sell. The pedophiles who are really struggling with it, and feel really bad about it, only gets to hear shitstorm "regular" people send their way. Yet I digress... back to the blogpost and the matter at hand. Anyway, Carina ends with the sentence "Because there are limits to freedom of speech as well".

Now that specific sentence makes me think. Is there? Is it freedom if there is a limit to it? I would say we've got freedom under responsibility decided by our country's respective laws. If one country says it's illegal to spread pornography then you do not spread it. But if something doesn't clearly doesn't violate any laws, should we still let go unsaid if it may offend someone? Generally I'd say go for it. Speak your mind. That's what I'll be doing. If something annoys me I'll comment it and try to make a change. I don't really care who stands in my way. If I have to respect their opinion they have to respect mine, right?

Offending people is a grey area. Like the great australian comedian Steve Hughes says "Being offended is subjective and has everything to do with you as individual, or a collective, or a group, or a society, or a community, your moral conditioning, your religious beliefs, what offends me might not offend you." Link
So essentially whatever you say might offend someone. Steve Hughes saying that "what offends me might not offend you" might offend someone who, for some reason that fits my example, believes that what offends them offends everyone else. Is worrying about what will, and what will not, offend people really the correct use of our brain?

No! Who cares if someone gets offended?! And why do people spend so much time focusing on being offended? Why not do something constructive instead of just whining about being offended? Apparently Carina Rydberg  was offended by the whole idea of Flashback. I do not see what's so wrong with a place where you can freely discuss drugs, music, art, poetry, politics, philosophy, pornography, mathematics, science etc. etc without changing your website? You can find every kind of person on Flashback. Someone who is a professor in math might just enjoy discussing or reading about marijuana in his free time? Maybe he or she enjoys smoking it every now and then? Maybe he/she is very against all drugs? I personally believe that that kind of freedom, all in one place, is one of the greatest treasures. On Flashback I've got the right to express my opinion, share my knowledge and learn about whatever I may want at that time. And the mods at Flashback do try to keep the forum clean of childpornography, some I can vouch for. In my 2 years of daily use I've never even once encountered anything even remotely close to pornography depicting underaged people engaging in coitus, or posing in a "sexual way". Never. And I sincerely doubt that it will happen.

Over and out.

Global warming is out to get me

It's funny how, with all this talk of global warming, it seems to get colder here in Sweden every winter. As far as I've understood it's supposed to have something to with the gulf stream changing (I'm not quite sure about the specifics, or if it's even true) which makes for colder weather here in Sweden. Now that of course gives us all colder winters. Which makes us swedes purchase expensive clothing to cope with the cold. I've done my part. I bought my self gloves, special underwear etc. etc. But, apparently, I'd overlooked one thing. Proper shoes. Because of this I got a pair of shoes as a gift from a friend. Now I understand why. They are extremely slippery. Twice I slipped during the short period of time I spent outside. So, like I said, global warming is out to get me.

To be honest I never really cared about the environment. I consider myself being too busy to sort my garbage. "I haven't got time for that nonsense, I've got better things to do!" Maybe it's all cosmic payback? If I don't care about keeping the earth clean it'll eventually hit me back. Still, I do not think my small contribution to making the world a better would make any difference. Maybe if everyone would make the same small contribution, but let's be honest... Who does? Some probably say they do, but they really don't do all they can. Just a very small group of people do. And I've many times been curious as to why they do it. I don't think they all do it to save the environment. I honestly do not. I think they're just trying to better than everyone else. Who doesn't like feeling superior to the common man? We're all assholes.

Over and out!

Harry... something

Well now the latest Harry Potter movie has finally been released in theaters here in Sweden. One of the highest grossing movies of all time etc.etc. It's probably just as bad as the other movies. I might have to eat this up later, since I am yet to see the movie, but I've found all the Harry Potter movies to really disappointing. David Yates, director of the fifth and sixth Harry Potter movie, has also directed "[...] and the Deathly Hallows". Already there I am disappointed. I feel as though the fifth and sixth movies of the series are the very worst. But I guess I am just a typical swede (I refer to my first blogpost for more information on this subject), all I do is complain. There is no pleasing me. That's why I need this vent! Whenever I read something that annoys me, I'll just head on over here, post something provocative (or so I hope), get a few comments, get a good discussion going etc. etc. Mission accomplished.

...Shit! Look at the time! I've got to be off!

Over and out

Ps. Leave a comment, I'll get back to you asap. ds.

Interesting...

Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction (NY-Times article)
Wow... Fascinating. And amusingly enough, I'm reading that article when I should be asleep, to cope with my monday morning. Well, atleast it was interesting throughout the first page. Then I got distracted. Wanted to head over to facebook or youtube. But I kind of see the point. With all the information on the web so easy to just skip from page to page looking for new things to learn. Sometimes you might forget what you actually came for. It's like walking into a library, looking for a specific book but ending up never even searching for it among the shelves.

I guess it all comes down to choices. Some of us choose to stay on the web a little bit longer, some choose to sleep. Some choose to 8 hours of sleep, some choose not to. I'd probably choose the latter. Here I am at 01:42 (Stockholm time (+1 GMT)) writing in my blog about choices when I should be preparing for a long monday. I guess I'm a procrastinator. I keep procrastinating, and I think it's just getting worse. In one way I guess I'm just kind of tired. The weeks are the same. It's hard to see the point in getting up for something you've done countless times before. Maybe I need something new. Something to spice things up a bit. But that probably wont happen for another year or so. I'll be stuck in monotony. But aren't we all? That's what society is essentially built on. Monotonous jobs repeating monotonous tasks for the same pay every month. No wonder we're all bored with our day-to-day lives. Monday through friday, it's all just the same. Then, during the weekends, some of us get drunk. Some of us just sit around doing nothing 'cause the rest is out drinking.

Thinking about it I really start to understand why I spend so much time on the internet. And why a lot of other people do it to! Our day-to-day lives are boring and repetitive where as the internet is fresh every time you check facebook, or your favorite forum. Things happen. The online world is constantly changing in a way that your "normal", offline, life just isn't. And there is just countless amounts of sites to check, from pornography to facebook, containing loads of information.

But I guess, in some ways, you still have to live your regular life. Otherwise your just not part of the society and we can't have that! No, no, no, and god forbid you try to make something of yourself that's out of the ordinary. We're all supposed to be good little worker-ants, gathering food for the queen. And let's kill all creativity when our children are still in school. Why should they learn to make something new, when they can just read about what some guy did in the 18th century? That's it. Lets just all think about the lightbulb. Think long and hard about the lightbulb. Then do some subtraction, that'll fix whatever ails you.

Over and out.

It's just all too easy.

This is just all too easy. Sign up your email-adress, click a few buttons and it's done. No wonder there's so much shit out there, in the "bloguniverse". I chose to write this blog in english for obvious reasons. Now english people can read it to. Now I'm not english myself, I am swedish. That may result in some errors in spelling, grammar etc. etc. but I don't really care. I mean, have you seen some of the blogs out there? Even those that are written by people who has english as their first language. 

So what will be todays topic? I'm not quite sure yet myself, but time will tell. Maybe I'll just ramble on. You see, the reason I created this blog is essentially because I am so sick of all these pointless "look at what I bought today", "guess what I had for dinner tonight", "My new clothes are amazing"-blogs. Is there really any value in reading such a blog? I'd rather read something interesting. Wether it's political or erotic, I don't really care. It's just that I find alot of pointless blogs. Now, I can not guarantee this one will be any different. I'll probably just piss all over the things I find retarded.

Like this "tradition" we have here in Sweden. If there's something wrong we complain, amongst ourselves. If we're not happy with the food we get at a restaurant we only complain among our selves. Not to the waiter. Nobody does anything to change it. It pisses me off to no end. When you point this attitude out, like I did to my mother (who is a very typical swede in that sense), they get offended. Nothing is ever good enough. Someone said that we've had it too good, for way too long. I agree. We've not been in a war for I don't know how long. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be in a war. But it would show the swedish population that things are not really that bad here. Sure, we've got problems. Immigrants for example. But then again, the immigrants are not the problem, it's us. It's how we handle them. I want Sweden to be an open country, for everyone. Where people can come, because it's safe. But if we have people fleeing from a war-torn homeland, is it really right of us to just put them all in the same area, without trying to integrate them in our society? We want them to be swedish citizens, just like we are. But no. We create ghettos. Have you seen the brilliant sci-fi movie District 9? That's essentially what we're doing here. Not that bad, but the principle is the same. We just throw them all in together without trying to integrate them into the swedish society. That, of course, breeds hate among the "sweden-born". Because it can cause criminality among the immigrants, some of us only see the downside. They do not see how we could benefit from this. How they can enrich our country. I guess we're all close-minded idiots in one way or another. To get back to my point with this wall of text it bugs when people do nothing but complain. But look at what I'm doing right here? Complaining. A little bit more public, of course, but still. I think that'll be enough rambling for tonight.

Oh, and regarding "Words". I chose words, because that's what this blog (and all other blogs for that matter) will contain. Words. Plain and simple. 

Over and out.