Amadeo Sogni

“Inside myself is a place where I live all alone and that’s where you renew your springs that never dry up.”
Pearl Buck (1892 - 1973)

So as it goes we all spend some time alone. Frankly I enjoy this. I’m the type of person that could spend an hour talking to myself and have a satisfying conversation. That said I also do things when I’m alone and here are some of my favorites currently.

Books:

I’ve been hooked on Richard Matheson, Phillip Dick and now Orson Scott Card. I’m going to run out and pick up the rest of the Ender series this weekend. Curse my ability to read quickly. It’s a terrible thing to be able to read and comprehend quickly while loving books. I keep going through them so quick when I run out of a particular author I’m left hanging til I find something I can dig again.

TV:

I am not one of those people who doesn’t watch TV, I am one of the people who thinks those people should get cable and at least have the History, Discovery and Bio channels. Good shit. However I do get healthy doses of Cartoon Network and movie channels.

Venture Bros. - Remember Johnny Quest? Add about 30 years, family dysfunction sexual innuendo, a million pop culture references and you get the Venture Bros. Not to mention Johnny Quest and Race Bannon are actually in an episode each. They also have the best use of David Bowies Space Oddity.

Entourage - For some reason I slept on this show for a while, but my roommate put me on and I fricking dig it. Ari Gold is the shit.

Robot Chicken - If you are within 3 - 5 years my age you should be watching Robot Chicken…it’s only 15 minutes but it’s well worth it. I highly recommend the Star Wars special.

Look I get it…some of you out there feel better having someone from a small town go to the white house. You’ve obviously never read a Stephen King book cause small towns have some of the most horrible secrets…I think Palin may a ghost her whole town having been wiped out by zombie moose and she’s going to lead us to the slaughter…but that’s just me. Anyhow I’ve worked out a compromise. You want someone from a small town, someone with an accent, someone who has taken charge?

I give you Marge Gunderson.

She’s proven under fire. She’s had people under her command. She knows how to use a gun. I know that some of you Palin supporters are feeling conflicted now. Marge has a child too. Her husband knows wildlife and enjoys ice fishing.

On the Issues:
3 A.M. phone call, Marge responds:
“Oh my. Where? Yeah? Aw geez. Okay, there in a jif. Real good, then.”

Marge on deregulation:
“For a little bit of money. There’s more to life than a little money, you know. Don’t you know that? And here ya are, and it’s a beautiful day.”

Marge on the Press:
“Oh, for pete’s sake. He’s fleein’ the interview. He’s fleein’ the interview!”

Marge on Sex ED:
“So, you were having sex with the little fella, then?”

Marge on red tape:
“Okey-dokey, thanks a bunch. I’ll let you get back to your paperwork, then.”

Marge on Hostile Negotiations:
“Sir, you have no call to get snippy with me, I’m just doing my job here. “

Marge on Family:
“That’s terrific. I’m so proud of ya, Norm. Heck, Norm, you know we’re doin’ pretty good.”

This Message has been paid for and approved by Mike Yanagita.

“She’s such a super lady!”

“Politics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.”
Ambrose Bierce (1842 - 1914), The Devil’s Dictionary

So I was watching clips of Bush addressing the Nation and I really realized something. The country deserves him. The more time I spend on the internet reading people’s comments and just listening to folks…this country probably deserves a moron in charge. They deserve someone who they’d drink beers with to make decisions that will have an effect on the lives of them and their children. As I listened to him he reminded me of all the strongly opinionated people with very few facts who try to make themselves sound more intelligent then they are. At the same time, as he stammered, “the market is interconnected”…I could see a legion of people at home going, “ohhhhh”. I’m no economist…but frankly when I hear Bush speak on the subject I start to feel like a genius. I realize what the American public truly wants is not to feel challenged. We are a nation of star quarterbacks who didn’t go to college. Prom queens who’ve gained weight and married someone who’s a loser. We’re a nation that hates Bill Gates success because he represents every geek and nerd that was looked down upon as a teenager and excluded and is now living the life we feel should be ours. While he was actually working we were screwing around and enjoying the fruits of fortune. Now we’re playing catch up. We work crappy ass jobs and the popularity of High School no longer applies. We’re not as in shape anymore. We were never very clever and since we were popular we didn’t have to have a personality. So now we are confronted with a President who is “folksy” (read: stupid and a poor speaker), a guy who shoots from the hip…he’s like the vengence on behalf of all of us. Well…maybe not us. I am really a Barack type of guy…I’ve never been homeless but I did watch my family work hard to provide. I didn’t fit…even amongst a bunch of kids of the same race. I’ve fought and worked hard to get where I am, but I understand that I’m still a subject of criticisim and hatred just because of other peoples preconceptions. Even more important…I’m at the point where I really don’t care. What does annoy me…is that a moron like Bush can be the peoples champion…and they deserve it…but it’s those same people that hate me for nothing and hinder the progress of the rest of us. So, Bush completes America and they deserve him and the nerds still have to suffer…along with the geeks and the people who don’t make up the majority. Whoa unto us all.

I haven’t seen alot of mention about it…well not as much as I should have, but Julius Carry died on the 19th. He played in several movies and several television shows. However, we will honor him mainly for one role….SHO’NUFF. Bow your heads and kiss some Converse in rememberance.

Sho’nuff: Get up, Leroy. I got somethin’ real fo’ yo’ ass in these hands.

Theater Patron: Why don’t you sit down and shut up? Sho’nuff: What? Why don’t I sit down and what?
Theater Patron: I said why don’t you sit down and shut up?
Sho’nuff: Why don’t anybody who wants me to sit down and shut up come down here and make me? Why don’t any fifty of you who want me to sit down and shut up come down here just for the fun of it?

Sho’nuff: I AM the Shogun of Harlem!

Good article about Mr. Carry and Sho’nuff.

“History shows again and again how nature points out the folly of men.”
Blue Oyster Cult

I have an idea that made me think to put this video up…the potential is still there so I won’t type the actual idea. I mean if one of you got paid from it I’d have to hunt you down, steal your money and make your life hell forever….and I kinda had other stuff I wanted to do.

Who the hell can front on Godzilla? Not to mention the fact that this song rocks. I’ve been playing air guitar to this all week long. My mother introduced me to Godzilla back in the day…I haven’t seen all of the movies, but I have seen alot of them. Sometimes I think the real world could use a Godzilla. A big monster that comes through and destroys on some…”Hey I’m the product of all your ignorance and pollution of the planet. I’m gonna start destroying things now.” The problem would be that people would break down along different lines. I’m sure a religion would spring up around him. Some people would want to destroy him. Some people would think he deserves to destroy us. PETA would protest the military. The army would call in Ceasar Milan to see if they could control him and use him as a weapon. Meat Eaters would want a Godzilla steak. Vegans would claim he is revenge for the animals we proclaimed are lower on the food chain than us. Politicans would use him as a wedge issue. “My opponent wants to sit down and reason with Godzilla!”

Godzilla actually is charming. Parent groups would want him destroyed for the sake of our children. PETA would counter by asking, “What about Godzuki?” It would be a whole mess. Plus there would be porn fetish sites set up for the twins and they’d be too busy to call Mothra.

Makes me think of the Watchmen…since the movie will come out soon I won’t get all into it. Look it up if you want…but you might ruin the plot for yourself.

“Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality.”
Jules de Gaultier

I feel like a Renaisance man because I get as excited at the thought of a 1969 Shelby Cobra GT as I do when I think about getting more memory for my new computer that already has 2 gigs…don’t get me started on slaving the old harddrive.

I never felt the threat of the Joker until I saw The Dark Knight Saturday…for those debating it…Jack’s version sucks in comparison.

I sometimes think I’d like to get into a sword fight.

I think my roommates cat always knows what I’m saying…but picks what to respond to.

Sometimes in my head I think like a Lolcat.

I haven’t looked…but I’m sure there is muppet porn out there.

Sometimes I wish I was from Scotland…so I could identify myself as a Highlander…not like the movie…the phrase just sounds cool.

In movies people get mad and start breaking things from anger…if I ever do that it’s because I’ve always wanted to and have been presented with the chance to get away with it.

I want to buy a boot knife.

I keep having thoughts of being disrespected and instead of punching or yelling…grabbing the person by the throat and talking to them like I’m explaining some paperwork.

Venture Bros. is the shit.

I’ll feel like a true success when I get to have a mini-bar in my office.

I don’t fawn over babies, I like kids that can talk. So when there are sibilings present, a baby and an older child, I talk to the older one so people don’t have to a chance to ask them what they think about the baby.

I’m never scared of peoples dogs…I worry if the person will get mad if I have to hurt their pet cause they didn’t have it under control.

I still want to learn to surf.

X-Games > Olympics.

When I think of being a movie character I don’t think of being the hero…I think of being the guy that goes to fight approaching enemy warriors to give the hero more time to do….whatever.

I wish saturday morning cartoons were better…I hope by the time I have kids they are, I don’t want to have to watch crap with my kids.

Baltimore’s main business is tourism…and I keep wondering what people are coming to see.

Roman Bellic: I don’t want to die, man! Not like this!
Niko Bellic: How would you like to die?
Roman Bellic: Having a threesome on my hundredth birthday?

So I got GTA IV this weekend. Ahhhh. This joint is beautiful. They cut out alot of the little extras from the last joint, but everything that is left is so much better. I also like the character background. I wonder though, if all the people (read: dumb white kids) who complained having a black dude would make it “gangsta” are complaining that there’s an illegal immigrant? Ah well. I can’t tell you how much I missed the random violence. There’s nothing like being able to go home at the end of a long day and start shooting (digital) people. Especially with the new aiming system. I’m getting off head shots like a mug. The death animation is great to. Ex: I was riding a motorcycle and ran into the back of a car on the bridge. I tried to get up and got hit again. As I tried to stand in the adjacent lane I got hit once more…with that death blow time slowed down and the screen went to black and white. I saw my characters body being propelled forward by the force of the car. I wanted to stand and yell “Khaaaaaaaaaaaaan!” like Captain Kirk cause it was a bitch way to die…but it did look cool. Not to mention the new cover system makes me feel like a big action star. Nothing like hopping a fence in enemy territory sliding across the floor to a wall and quickly popping up to get off a head shot, then hitting someone else in the knee and popping them from behind as they try to stand up…if I sound like I’m enjoying the violence too much just remember that it’s keeping me from kirking out in the real world. Of course I also enjoy having the police chase me in a vehicle. The only thing is it’s easier and harder to lose them now. One of the old methods won’t work if they see you, but if you just put some distance between you and them they give up. That’s good for when you’re playing the game as it’s set up…but it means I can’t play the game I invented - “The Fugitive”. “The Fugitive” is when you do something to get one star (wanted level) then you start running on foot. The point is to slowly build your stars while upgrading vehicles you win if you can travel the whole map and get back to where you started without dying or getting locked up. I love this fricking game. It’s also funny as hell that you can now get drunk and the cops will try to pull you over if they see you driving. All in all this game may save several peoples lives in Baltimore city. Consider yourselves lucky.

“The tyranny of an object. It doesn’t know I exist.”
Deckard
I’m not going all artsy on you, but I could. I’ll name this blog Kamehameha and won’t talk about the King or Dragon Ball Z. Don’t push me. Anyway, I’m talking about a book: Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick Better known to the populace as the film Blade Runner. The two share some things, but like many adaptations some things were left out that, while I like the movie, make the book so much better. The things and subsequent themes that were left out don’t break the movie…it is more of a cult classic anyway, but they are actually quite relevant to today. I keep thinking about the contrast of Mercerism to the Internet. The view of the ownership of animals and even the thought of owning an electric one to keep up the illusion remind me of several things around me. The biggest difference I could point out is that the book is just more complex than the movie. If you like the movie you would love the book. If you don’t like the movie you may still like the book. I especially love the exploration of the disregard of Chickenheads (Dude came up with that phrase a decade before I was born) while stressing empathy. Even the androids who aren’t considered as alive disregard the Chickenheads. I know my man D.P. is down with the movie. I hope ya’ll get down with the book. After the movie came out they changed some printings to “Blade Runner”, but unless it says it’s the movie novelization you’re good.

WWWD:
“I’m a creature of the wild. I hate cities… hate civilization with all its idiot rules. Gimme the free, open, elemental spaces of my mountains where a man holds his fate in his own hands. No lies there. No deception, no compromise. So why, I wonder, do I love this land, this city? It’s probably the most structured on Earth, laced tight with centuries of tradition and ritual, covering every conceivable aspect of public and private life. I was born to one world. But I choose to be part of the other.”
Wolverine

Captain America: Doesn’t matter what the press says. Doesn’t matter what the politicians or the mobs say. Doesn’t matter if the whole country decides that something wrong is something right. This nation was founded on one principle above all else: the requirement that we stand up for what we believe, no matter the odds or the consequences. When the mob and the press and the whole world tell you to move, your job is to plant yourself like a tree beside the river of truth, and tell the whole world - “No, you move.”
Spider-Man: (Pause) Can I, like, carry your books to school? For the rest of my life?
Captain America: Come on… time to get you back to the rest of the group.
Spider-Man: I mean it. I can give you my lunch. My aunt made tuna sandwiches. Again.

In keeping with the comic theme and since I posted this on a website as a response to why dudes like comic books. I figured I’d throw this up here. I’d also like to mention I’m considering becoming a pastor…anyone interested in joining The First Church of Wolverine give me a shout. Praise Logan!!! Snikt!!!

When I look around there is no other place to get better examples of decency, manhood and confrontation of social issues then comic books. I can name very few sources that I have learned more from (I knew what magistrate meant at 10 because of the X-Men) First I’ll say go watch an episode of the Old Adam West Batman tv show…then realize that it is to comics what Weird Al Yankovic is to music….no substance. Shout out to Stan Lee…he created or co-created all the titles below. Before him Superheroes were just powerful role models…he made them powerful role models with the problems that the rest of us have.

For some background first, here are some facts about comics:

Captain America was fighting the Nazis in comic pages before America ever got into WWII.

The Incredible Hulk is about mental illness, dealing with emotions and self control.

The best example of what comics really are (I think) is found in Spiderman (I recommend the first two movies). A boy who was basically a genius, yet an outcast amongst his peers gains power and because of his inaction the person who represented morals and decency in his life is killed, so he dedicates himself to using his power to help others (With great power comes great responsibilty). As powerful as Spiderman was…not much changed for his true self…Peter Parker…matter of fact they got worse. His relationships became strained, he couldn’t keep a job, he was perpetually broke. His main source of income was selling pictures of himself in costume to someone who painted him as a criminal. Despite not getting his wishes and constantly suffering…he still used his power for the good of others and not to elevate himself. He lost jobs, missed dates and his grades in college suffered because he was always shooting off to help someone. Worse he could never take credit for it because it would expose his loved ones to harm. Eventually his Aunt (who raised him) and his girl (who he married) found out and like most decent men that was where his praise came from. People knew Spiderman was a hero…but only those two knew how much Peter Parker sacrificed. I always use Spidey because he has the setup to explain it…few of us have an “Uncle Ben” in our lives so it was from Spiderman that we not only got the message, but got the example. In effect Peter Parker became our Uncle Ben. I can’t name another character in any form of fiction that is a better representation of honor, humility and morality.

I could teach a boy more about being a man then by using an example of a athelete, politician, business man or whoever. Also because people see them as being for kids it’s the only place where at a young age you can read something that will treat you like an intelligent person instead of dumbing things down for you and staying in “safe” places.

“Well, I love mysteries. No, really, I do. ‘Cause I can usually solve a mystery by beating the snot outta somebody.” Wolverine

Going with my new life motto. I’ve decied to take some scenarios to test it out. So now I ask you to submit your questions to the first installment of: What Would Wolverine Do?

EDIT:
In the spirit of WWWD while analyzing my situation at work…I moved myself and the literacy instructor out of our cubes and into an empty office. Closing your door is a beautiful thing.

While I wait for your queries…I’ll leave you with some quotes from the Killer Canuck.

“I’m the best there is at what I do. Thing is, what I do isn’t very nice.”

“You boys have guts … too bad they’re all over the floor!.”