Bring It On, Motherfucker!

The top five of the moment:

5) I have been fascinated with all the news going on with North Korea (I'm really in to the Cold War stuff). What's so amazing with especially North Korea is that unlike other Communist states like China, Vietnam, or even Cuba, we know very little to nothing about about South Korea's isolated relative. So, I've been looking up documentaries to learn a little more about this reclusive state.

And I've found a really awesome one here. Note that the documentary has fourteen parts to it (Don't worry, they are not that long.).

What was so crazy about all the documentaries is that:

a) They all had to film and take pictures in secret. If they find out that you have smuggled video cameras into North Korea, they will kick you out or even arrest you (NOT a good thing, especially since the US and North Korea have no formal diplomatic relations.).

b) They were always followed by "guides" and there is a set "tour" that displays the best things about North Korea and the how terrible the US "Imperialists" are. You are NOT allowed to go off and explore any other parts of the country.

After watching a few documentaries, I am curious to go. However, not really. (It's hard to get a visa into North Korea; it is especially harder if you are an American trying to "tour" North Korea).

There was another documentary that had a rare visit to a Catholic Mass in Pyongyang to demonstrate their "freedom of religion". You must be thinking, "Wait, I thought there was no freedom of religion in North Korea?" Well what made this Mass different was that it was 20 min., no communion was given, and the person presiding was a member of North Korea's Communist Party because there are no ordained priests in North Korea.

I don't consider the United States to be the most perfect country in the world (Perhaps that title should go to Sweden?). However, in contrast, I can only feel empathy to those that are still oppressed, even though they may not feel oppressed.

(EDIT: Here's the link to the other video I mentioned in this point. Unlike the other video, this documentary is told by someone posing as a French tourist. The tours and activities given to European nationals are very different compared to the tour given to Americans. He's also not as obnoxious as Shane Smith was on the Vice Guide. REGARDLESS of who's telling the story though, it's still pretty obvious that there's something awfully odd about North Korea.)

4) Though it has been a while since the season finale of The Office, all I will say is this...

I can't wait till next season! I think season 5 is the best season so far. Before then, I thought season 3 was superb.

3) This has been the most exciting NBA Playoffs that I have seen in a while. Most of the games have been close. There have been massive disappointments. There have been awesome miracles. If you don't watch basketball, perhaps NOW is the right time to watch it, regardless of whether or not you are a fan of any of the four remaining teams.

If only I still lived in SoCal to breathe in all the excitement of the playoffs...

2) One of my biggest pet-peeves are people who apparently can decide who is Catholic or not Catholic (or Christian or not Christian). The big reason as to why I did not become an Evangelical Christian (Did you take my Facebook quiz yet?) was that I did feel that the people I was with was able to decide who was a Christian or not and therefore who will be saved and go to heaven or not. I felt that Catholicism was rather more "cooperative" to a degree as to not passing such judgment among the masses, especially toward fellow Catholics.

That was 2004. We are now in 2009, and the tone has drastically changed. I believe that ever since we now have a more liberal President (which in my opinion he has rather been very moderate, like most US Presidents), that tone has become much more louder. Perhaps it is because I have been used to the more humble tone within Interfaith, but I have found Catholicism being hyjacked by the blowhards of the faith. What gives them the right first of all to decide who is a true Catholic or not?

That's not to say that that we should be more accepting to big issues like abortion. That's not to also say that we have to be an all-inclusive community (As if any community is inclusive in the first place!). However, at the same time the solution to these big issues is NOT condemning or damning the people. What scares me in the future is that if I even admit to being a Catholic to other people, they may label me as being an arrogant, homophobic, judgemental, insensitive jerk (Which I believe people ALREADY label Catholics or Christians.). That's a shame because that is ultimately not how I describe myself or my good friends.

Perhaps in the future, we will again be able to show the more POSITIVE aspects of Catholicism in a much louder tone than we are right now. That's what makes this faith so much more beautiful. We don't follow Jesus Christ because of fear of damnation, but rather we follow Him because we not only believe in a better world, we also work and serve to make it happen through God.

1) Summer is approaching. While I still look for that illustrious job, I will be taking another class.

For those graduating this year, going in a new job, going into school, or moving up another year at school, I will share you my mentality right here...

Bring it on, Motherfucker!

Actually, I'm stuck on that phrase because I recently saw Dave Chappelle's "For What It's Worth" show on Youtube. If you have watched it, you know where this phrase comes from (The joke was actually MORE innappropriate than the phrase itself.).

When I also think about it, I get a lot of random phrases from Dave Chappelle.

That is all.