On the Premises

Bane and Bruce/Batman's relationship is the best match I think I have ever scene in the hero/villain scenario. In the Dark Knight trilogy, all of the villains justify their acts in some shape or form in their own heads, and they are labeled as "terrorists." Bane's mission, is the same as Ra's Al Ghul's from the first film. Burn Gotham to the ground because it is too corrupt to be saved, so they can rebuild and start a new from the ash. Bruce trained under Ra's Al Ghul and was meant to be in the League of Shadows as well to lead them to Gotham. Bane and the Shadows view Bruce as a traitor, and is standing in the way of their goal, so their relationship is very strained.

Throughout the film, we see Bruce and Wayne pal around, have each other over for dinner. Just kidding.

Bruce's demise is the destruction of his home. Bane knows that, it is why he left the league to defend Gotham. In this scene, he breaks Bruce into a shattered, old, injured man, far away from his home, rather than killing him. "You do not fear death. Your punishment must be more severe." Bane decides to televise via news broadcast everything he and his team do in Gotham to destroy the city. As Bruce lies down, back broken, he can do nothing in Bane's mind.

Lyric Evaluation

Belief
John Mayer
Continuum (2006)

"Belief"

Is there anyone who

Ever remembers changing there mind from

The paint on a sign?

Is there anyone who really recalls

Ever breaking rank at all

For something someone yelled real loud one time

Everyone believes

In how they think it ought to be

Everyone believes

And they're not going easily

Belief is a beautiful armor

But makes for the heaviest sword

Like punching under water

You never can hit who you're trying for

Some need the exhibition

And some have to know they tried

It's the chemical weapon

For the war that's raging on inside

Everyone believes

From emptiness to everything

Everyone believes

And no ones going quietly

We're never gonna win the world

We're never gonna stop the war

We're never gonna beat this

If belief is what we're fighting for

What puts a hundred thousand children in the sand

Belief can

Belief can

What puts the folded flag inside his mother's hand

Belief can

Belief can

This song analyzes the positives and negatives of what belief is doing and has done to world.

Whether it be political or religious beliefs, all opposing sides fight for what they believe in. Does not matter if we think if it is right or wrong. Mayer quotes on when does a painted sign change someone's mind referring to the street preachers. I have never seen anyone "come to Christ" from the people of Godhatesfags.com or GodhatesAmerica.com. They decided that they are going to label God, who is what many to believe as an all-known being, as their own beliefs. Where in scripture people of westboro baptist church does God say "I hate fags."?

The same thoughts come to mind with what is happening in D.C. Two opposing parties, that will never agree on issues and topics that need to be addressed. Look what is happening with the new obamacare website. There has yet to be positive something to come out of it because of neither both sides fully not supporting or fully supporting it.

I love this song and I think it speaks timelessly on all issues.

Batman Fetish

Yes, I have a Batman Fetish. My friends think its weird, but I do not. He has been there since the day I was born, my childhood, though my teenage years and now my young adulthood. As Batman has changed, I have as well.

When I was born, the Batman I watched (Adam West) started out as a quirky, not so serious character that many children could relate. As I grew older, Batman became more adventurous (The Animated Series, Val Kilmer) and to be taken not as lightly. It was not until my middle school aged years that he was not there. It felt awkward, and as most know middle school is the most awkward age and I was awkward as well. Then, in my freshman year of high school, a sense of rebellion, danger, mystery and wonder came into my life.

Also came, Batman Begins which revolutionized the comic book movie genre as a whole and was a good perspective for me as well. I was beginning my young adulthood in my teenage years. I was reinventing myself, just as Batman had done through a younger Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale).  My senior year, Batman came to us again for the first time with no 'Batman' in the title in the film The Dark Knight. At the time I saw it, I thought it was the greatest film I had ever seen.

This mirrors into my senior year of high school, because it was the year that I have never my enjoyed education more. The experiences in my senior year as far as classes that were taken, starting on the football team, dating opening up, was all very knew and was an experience I wish I could play over and over again. This reflects why I saw The Dark Knight 13 times when it was in theaters and went to my senior homecoming as The Joker, and was The Joker for Halloween three years in a row.

Batman still plays a prominent role in my life and American culture with The Dark Knight Rises last year hitting the seventh biggest movie of all time in the box office. Ben Affleck will take the Cape and Cowl in another season of my life when graduating college. Cannot wait to see what life brings in mirroring Ben Affleck's season as Bruce Wayne.

Homecoming '08 as Heath Ledger's 'The Joker' with my date

Cosmogram

Like Conwell's story in the "The New Cakewalk," I have my own places I identify in my walk of life.  I mapped out some significant places in my hometown and connecting the dots it makes out to be a face with a big nose, much like Pinnochio's. I do not think his makes iamb, I think what it is it symbolizes my transformation from boyhood. In a sense, I am still in it, living here and in education and have yet to leave and put it behind me. Pinnochio knew that in order to become a real boy, he had to experience life. This is like what I am going through right now. Maybe I am destined to leave home and that is what will separate my manhood from my boyhood. Or maybe I have a lot to work on still after all of these years here in Cumming. The question will be answered in the next year before I graduate in July andI am looking forward to what is ahead and what will come after.

Mapping Home

I mapped out some of the most prominent places in my life. Starting with my home, up to where I spend many Thursday and Friday nights at Taco Mac. Next we head to Dawsonville at my mentor's lake house, one of my favorite places on the planet. Next is to where I spent every Wednesday night starting sophomore year in HS at a local dive called Roosters. Up North is my high school and middle school. Driving is where I played Rec-ball as a child. Down to the YMCA I spent many summers at. Then that puts us down to Fowler Park, where I like to go on runs. Right off Ronal Regan Blvd is the Cumming attraction and shopping center called "The Collection". We then end our journey where I started my education almost 17 years ago at Mashburn Elementary.

Vernacular Genres

 The Griswold family tradition for the Christmas tree is just like ours. 

Chevy Chase is not my dad. 

And Beverly D'Angelo is not my mom (that would suck, cause she is hot).

No we do not go and chop down our own tree.

But the process of taking the tree down and getting out all the decorations reminds me of all the chaos that this dysfunctional family goes through in the film Christmas Vacation.

I am excited Christmas is almost here.

Decorating the Christmas tree is one of my favorite traditions.

Decorating a Christmas tree takes place once a year.

Some of us overdo it. Some of us do not even help at all. 

Each year, the tree looks different because of that purpose.

But it is because of that, is why this is one of my favorite traditions.

Micro Scenes

I am at a college event at my church and the emcee asks us to introduce ourselves to someone we do not know. I was standing in the back and I saw her. Light was shining so brightly on her, it was like I was being probed to walk up to her. I ran up to the front of the room and knocked the dude out of the way that was walking towards her and I introduced myself, and she did the same.

We did not speak much with the music and the communicator following, but afterwards we broke into groups for discussion and she talked a lot. And so did I. We spoke to one another after group and I invited her out to coffee on the spot. Minutes later she gets into my car and we are heading to Caribou. This is too freaking good to be true. I turned on my favorite artist's brand new album that had just released that day and she asked how I already had it. I returned and said it released that day. I then took it out of the CD player in my car and gave it to her to rip to her computer. She asked when she could return it and I said at dinner and the Braves game next week. She smiled and said okay.

It was that easy and I had never been such a smooth operator in my life. How did I get a girl this gorgeous to go on two dates with me? In one night! Confidence, my friend. Fast forward a month later and we both were in different seasons of life. I know for the next go-around, I am going to play my hand the same way.