Sunday, March 27, 2011

On Fighting and Being Human


Sergio De La Pava's A Day's Sail is one of the very rare writings I've found that comes close to doing justice to the beauty and potential for metaphor found in fighting. He is able to artfully weave Virginia Wolfe, Gatti v. Ward, Corrales v, Castill, and even a pinch of law to make this article seem like I commissioned it myself.

Thanks to the ability to embed video De La Pava doesn't have to explain the the exceptional feats and heart displayed in the ring to the reader, but can instead allow them to experience it themselves with just a click.

Beyond just succeeding in using boxing as a writer's tool it's also a nice look at what it means to fight, or struggle, and what kind of light you deserve to be seen in as someone willing to endure the fight. Borrowing the term “in a light most favorable to the People” from the realm of law De La Pava argues that "Certain people are entitled to this light. They are numerous and teem and their numbers include artists, fighters, nurses, damn almost anyone who does or worries about doing." Personally, I wouldn't have extended that last sentence to include anyone who "worries about doing," but it's not a big enough difference of opinion to sour me on his point.

I can't encourage you enough to READ THIS. It is worth every one of the very few minutes it will take.


Friday, March 11, 2011

Life Shards: Volume 4

In this ongoing series I'll post short comments that I say, type, or hear during everyday life that seem like a profound, and possibly incomplete and cryptic, description of how my life is going. Here is today's offering;

"I call it like I read it...and I'm usually, almost, sometimes, never wrong."
-Jamee Gordon

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Annoying Day

These are just a few of the things that make me very happy that I start 5 days a week with Muay Thai or Jiu-Jitsu class;

-Awkwardly timed traffic lights leaving me with tough decisions on whether to slam on the breaks or chance a possible camera enforced red light ticket.
-Web browsers with minute malfunctions leading me to have to use 3 different browsers to check my bank balance.
-Gas pumps that take a $73 deposit that doesn't clear for 3 days.
-Forgetting to charge my cell phone on one of the very few days I'll actually need to use it to call some people.
-Limited healthy eating options.

In the grand scheme of things none of these things are tragic and won't matter much at all. However when they seem to be clustered together, along with many other annoyances, in one day it's not enjoyable. This video was shared on my facebook today, I find that fact very appropriate (Language NSFW).



Things are looking up though, only 9 hours 15 minutes until Muay Thai Class.

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Life Shards: Volume 3

In this ongoing series I'll post short comments that I say, type, or hear during everyday life that seem like a profound, and possibly incomplete and cryptic, description of how my life is going. Here is today's offering;

"Man, it's like you have Popeye's forearms for calves. It's crazy."
-A coworker admiring my calves. No homo...I think.

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Life Shards: Volume 2

In this ongoing series I'll post short comments that I say, type, or hear during everyday life that seem like a profound, and possibly incomplete and cryptic, description of how my life is going. Here is today's offering;

"If only Congress had 1/1,000th of the charisma that Charlie Sheen has..."
-Adam Samons

I Want to Get (back) to There