Jumping the Shark

     The television show that I found "jumped the shark" was Hannah Montana. I fell in love with the show as soon as it aired, but as time went on, the changes that were being made to the show put a bitter taste in my mouth. The first change was when Miley, Billy Ray, and Jackson moved out of the beach house to live on some rich ranch. After filming the whole show- misfortunes, challenges, and triumphs- in that house, to move it would ruin the whole foundation. The second change was when it was revealed that Miley was Hannah Montana. Even though it was on the series finale, it tainted the who aura that was "Hannah Montana."
     Despite the horrid acting, set, and circumstances, the show was gold. It brought to life every little girl's dream of leading a double life as a super star and a regular girl. Before the two main changes were made, the Malibu beach house and stringy blonde wig were huge parts to the picture. They were the foundation. To change the foundation would alter the chemistry of the show, which it did.

     The show went downhill after that point because A: everything the characters had been through had been erased, and B: the secret was revealed. No more double life. That crushed me. After the characters moved into a different house, it was almost like they completely grew up and started acting mature, and what's the fun in that? Almost the whole show was built on them and their crazy antics. Without that, it just got boring. When Miley took off her wig, and revealed that she was Hannah Montana, even though it was the series finale, it ruined the whole show. Where's the fun in the whole world knowing she's Hannah Montana? Knowing that it's not just you, the viewer, and Miley's secret? That's right, there is none.

A picture fit for Caesar/Soothsayer.

The cane, as you see above, reminded me of the soothsayer. This cane has been in my family for many years, and seeing it in all of its ancient-ness reminded me of the almighty prophet. Canes are used to help people maneuver through the world. They are designed to give you support and give the blind and the weak a sense of direction, as well. That's what the soothsayer was trying to do for Caesar, help him make his way, but also warn him of the danger. Caesar, who chose to ignore the soothsayer, ultimately sealed his own defeat. Just like when people refuse to use canes and other such items to make their way through the world. They fall, and it's ultimately their fault. They didn't take the necessary precautions or listen to the wise, just like Caesar.

Fable (Couldn't think of a title)

** This fable is about the dangers and the possible negative consequences of getting romantically invloved with a best friend. It depicts how friendships are forever changed when other feelings come into play. This is the story of Darcy the Dalmation and Gary the Great Dane and the struggles they face when they decide to become something more.  

Darcy and Gary had been best friends since they first caught the same frisby at the dog park three years earlier. Darcy, a beautiful, toned, fit Dalmation and the undeniably handsome Gary the Great Dane hit it off right away. They had the same interests and enjoyed the same things. They found it easy to connect with one another because of all of the similarities they shared. Although neither one of them would ever admit it, there were underlying feelings hidden beneath the veil of friendship. Neither one of them payed much attention to it though, and just carried on with the best friend life they shared together. But all of that started to change as months went by.

Darcy and Gary's friends all noticed the change. They noticed how playful their races had gotten, how flirtatious their growls had become, and how passionate their stares became.

"Darcy, it's so obvious that he likes you, and you like him" Darcy's friends would say to her. 

"You guys are crazy, he doesn't, and neither do I. We're just friends," Darcy would always say.

"Dude, you so want her. Just get at that, bro," Gary's friends always said to him.

"You guys are stupid. She's my best friend," Gary would say, defensively.

Neither one of them knew it, but all of that would change.

One day, Gary and Darcy took a long, leisurely walk down to the forest behind the dog park. They had taken walks before, but this was no ordinary walk. They walked especially close to each other, and their tales even touched a couple times. Both of them had felt the sparks, and it was was obvious because of the rosy blush that spread across both of their cheeks and their feathered out whiskers. Neither one of them could hold it in any longer, they were now fully aware of the feelings they both were facing, and it had suddenly become overwhelming. As time went on, and their trot slowed and continued to slow, Gary suddenly stopped and turned to Darcy.

"Darcy..." he sighed.

"Huh?" She asked.

"I like you... I've liked you for the longest time, and I had never fully admitted it to myself. But, it's just become so overwhelming, and you need to know. I love you, Darcy. And I can't stand just being friends with you..."

"Oh...wow. Gary, I...I feel the same way..." Darcy blushed.

"Really?" Gary smiled and took a couple steps toward her. 

She nodded her head, and stepped closer to Gary. Their heads tilted, their faces got closer, and their noses touched. Fireworks lit up the pale, blue, cloudless sky. This was the beginning of the end for Gary and Darcy.

Weeks had gone by, and Gary and Darcy's relationship hadn't really blossomed much. They kept their feelings secret from their friends, and never showed each other affection unless they were alone. This became a problem for Gary, he wanted everyone to know Darcy was his, but Darcy wasn't too fond of that idea. Darcy didn't want anyone to know that her and Gary had been having an affair. She didn't want to publicize the fact that she had fallen for her best friend. Gary was okay with that, but he still yearned to become exclusive with Darcy. Later, he would find out exactly why the couple had to be such a secret.

Weeks had gone by, and feelings started to change between Gary and Darcy. Darcy stopped showing up for their nightly walks in the forest, she had stopped returning his howls in the middle of the night. She had ceased almost all communication with Gary. He was puzzled, he didn't understand what had happened. Then he learned, Darcy's feelings had changed for the worse. She no longer wanted to be more with Gary, she had realized what a big mistake everything had been. When Gary found out, he was furious and devastated. How could she stomp on his heart like that? It was as if she had just stopped caring for Gary, and this weighed down on the two like a boulder on a pile of feathers. 

Once they had regained communication, they started to fight. Constantly. It continually got worse and worse until Darcy had finally had enough. They came to blows one day, and both were left with bruises and scratches. Neither one of them had anticipated this. 

The time finally came when Darcy had enough for good this time, and decided to end all contact with Gary. They lost all touch, and never talked again. The friendship they once had was left in ruins, all because they decided to give in to their feelings. Looking back, both of them regretted it. But the past is the past, and neither one of them could change it. So each was left to pick up the pieces of their own lives.

And that was the end of Darcy the Dalmation and Gary the Great Dane.

John's Declaration From Society's Norms

The so called "Civilized" society has taught us that our lives revolve around three things: soma, sex, and consumption. There is no in between. Why is it so crucial that we live for only those three things? Why is it that there is no patience and time for anything other than taking a soma holiday? Why is it that sex makes our world go round? Why is it that when we are not doing any of those three things, we feel the need to escape? What is there to escape from? Why is it so bad to actually feel and know what it is like to have time on our hands? Does anyone know what it is like to feel anymore? To feel sad or lonely? To feel happy or utterly depressed? No, nobody does, because these feelings are so overwhelming that no one has either the time of patience to try and explore the emotions we all have hidden inside.

"Civilized" society is based on so many superficial entities. Where has the love gone? Where has knowledge gone? Where has life without the mandatory need for sex and drugs gone? What have they done? They have taught us that sex without love is the only way to go (oh, my poor darling Lenina.) They have taught us that it is okay to run from ourselves. They have taught us that consumption is the only way to go, that is stabilizes us. But what about the deeper things? Can't we enjoy the feeling of actually falling in love, and finishing a good, old fashioned book, and living life without the need to take a gramme of soma every time we find that we have a chance to think? 

Living without soma and sex without love has taught me so many things. Oh, how I wish I could try to make them understand. Lenina, my love, my darling, she is too blind to see what real love is. She has been conditioned to feel nothing other than the pleasure of two bodies connecting. None of these people have. They no longer understand the difference between "love" and "lust." Their society no longer acknowledges that the bloody word even exists. Their only loves are soma and sex. There is no real, genuine love for anything else. They have been so restricted from it that even the thought of the word makes them sick.

Society has been so dumbed down that they can't even enjoy the pleasures of reading a good book. Othello, Romeo and Juliet, the Bible, the thought of these books confuses them to a point of no return.The lessons, the morals, the forces behind these books, you can't learn that in your sleep. The love between Romeo and Juliet, the emotions faced in Othello, the feeling behind those books no longer exists in society.

It's such a shame that this is what the "civilized" society has turned into. No real love, no real values, no real truth. It's a wonder society is still standing. Will these people ever experience real love? Will I ever get through to my beloved Lenina? Will I ever see the day when people are able to sit down and read a good book and not have to worry about facing their own emotions? Will I ever see the day when people actually make love, not just have sex? Will I ever see the day when the superficial aspects of life no longer matter? Will I ever see the day when the power that has been holding these people from becoming all they can be give way to how beautiful life can be? I hope the day comes soon, but until then, I declare myself from the norms of "civilized" society.