Richard Maurer Random Blog 5: Virgin Mary Toast

So a piece of bread with Virgin Mary image went for about twenty-eight grand. Impressive… although personally I would never get into any such hype around a pseudo-religious object, it goes to show just how powerful religion is. A simple object that barely resembles a religious figure was not only bought with a fortune but has the hopes of somehow bringing further happiness to the buyer, as well as bringing them closer to the enlightenment they desire. The item also reveals the commercialism of religion as numerous spin offs (t-shirts, plates, etc) seem to have sprouted from this initial encounter with holy bread.

Richard Maurer Random Blog 4: Alcohol

Yes, it has it negatives but what other substance has brought so many young people together? I believe in the past two years I have met a good deal of my friends over wonderful inebriants. Inhibitions are lost and most people (after consuming reasonable amounts) feel comfortable and secure. The true self is revealed and generally easily accepted. It advances one’s ability to not only be more of their self (in a slightly exaggerated fashion) but to enjoy others at their worst … and yet their best! Truly, this is a substance that when in reasonable and controlled environments should be praised! In fact as I write this now, twenty people are expressing their love to one another over a big margarita.

Richard Maurer Random Blog 3: Adopted Sister

How can someone, who is not an infant, from the other side of the planet, from a completely different and unknown gene pool, integrate into a family as if she has always been a part of it? The key is what it means to be a part of that particular family.

In my case, my Vietnamese sister arrived from an orphanage with my mother at 3 and a half having spent her childhood up to that point in a primitive communal orphanage setting in the bowels of a third world country. Being one of us and holding a family position was something she could not possibly have learned or had any insight into - yet she became one of us, a part of our family and it happened almost immediately. Being a part of us means that she found her place alongside all of us and feeling that each of us was hers and knowing she was ours. It wasn't our house that did it, although the TV and SpongeBob helped a lot! It was something else. Something that transcends the physical and that was her knowing or sensing that we wanted her, to love her and to have her - and for the first time in her life, she was special and not just one of a crowded group of screaming small children who played with the dirt and used a bucket instead of a toilet. She immediately sensed that being a part of this new group meant she was strongly attached to each one and each one of us had a special job: one was being a brother, a sister, a mom and a dad. Most importantly, for the first time, she also had a special job: being a loved child who was little sister and part of a unit. All of this transpired with a language barrier and therefore proving that what it takes to become family is beyond physical, linguistic, racial, cultural or genetic barriers. Family - is man's transcendent experiment.

Richard Maurer Random Blog 2: SpongeBob Squarepants

SpongeBob has become a global phenomenon exciting and entertaining many children and even many adults. SpongeBob with its simplistic humor masking rather intelligent innuendos allows for many people to transcend their mundane lives after school or after work (because let me tell you, it is on nearly twenty four hours a day), and enter into what could be construed as being almost a religion of laughter. People are able to rise above their daily difficulties and just enjoy the antics of an innocent happy-go-lucky yellow sponge. Having to baby sit the adopted sister every so often, I have come to enjoy this program, as not only a way to keep her settled but also so that I won’t be forced to watch anything similar to Barney. I am also able to better relate with her… or at least I am sure I could if she spoke English.

Richard Maurer Random Blog 1: Disney World

This past Winter break I was dragged by a couple of friends on a road trip to Disney World. I have never been a big fan of theme parks… two hour lines for a two minute ride, overpriced food, and rude foreigners never quite came off as a fun experience. After arriving there, my expectations were more than confirmed! The lines were not as bad as this was the off season, but half the rides were down for maintenance. The food was just as expensive as ever, and the foreigners (mainly Brazilians) seemed quite eager to run over this gringo’s feet with their strollers (of course if you try to confront them they all of sudden forget how to speak English). Nevertheless, while I was suffering my friends enjoyed every minute reliving their childhood. To have not known better and experienced such a place as a child seems to be the only way one can truly “appreciate” theme parks. After that adventure, I now know how my parents must have felt when I dragged them through Busch Gardens as a child. Still, I did get a hug from Princess Jasmine, so I guess it wasn’t all bad.

Reading Blog 5: Martin the Warrior

I read this book when I was much younger. It deals with a stubborn mouse that is captured and enslaved by a stoat tyrant and his legion of sea rats. Most of the book I recall deals more with the various bands of characters coming across many adventures and eating… lots and lots of eating. However, Martin breaks free from the tyrant and eventually gains his revenge over his forced servitude and breaking the nearby land of the despot’s grasp. However, in the final battle his love is slain by the tyrant … the land, although free and now in harmony is tainted by the memories of his lost love. He can never know peace and must seek out new adventures in order not only help others who are “lost” or in peril but to refind himself.

Reading Blog 4: The Binding Chair

I am leaving for China shortly and wanted to read a tale that was placed in Shanghai in the late 1800. The Binding Chair by Katheryn Harrison was a book that fits this need. It centers on a young girl caught in the traditions of old China who endures foot binding to find a position in the society. Her adventures and emotional experiences reflect a kind of self loathing and tragic generational pathos peculiar to the females of her country. Just as I am about to pitch the book as a 'chick read' and find something else, the book discloses a character who is male and almost as tragic. Together, they form an unusual couple and endure further tragedies. My favorite was the scene in London where the main character, May, gets herself into a small riot because she needs a sedan chair carried by servants mistaken as 'slaves' by the outraged people of London. She is so crippled, she cannot walk otherwise. In the end it seems she actually embraces her imposed deformity and takes pride in it, but never her sad life. She is more macho than her husband and you wonder if it is the culture of women who could survive ancient China and it's regulations on them, or if May and her husband are simply by products of life under any rules anywhere. I think the book could have been better - but it did make old Shanghai a little more real for me.

Reading Blog 3: The Field

Written by a research journalist, it deals with the notion that functioning at the quantum level there is an area or field in which all action is recorded by 3 dimensional objects and entities. This book expands the notion of the 19th century spiritualist movement which insisted that there was “ether” in which spirits and events could move. Additionally, the ideas in this book correlate with the Akashic Record, which Edgar Cayce insisted existed and was a recording of all events seen and unseen. It is interesting to see how the author can use this idea to explain the faculties of psychics and intuitivists. Now, if I really understood quantum mechanics I could say if the book makes any real sense, but even the physicists are having a hard time explaining that away, so this is an interesting read and created on the lay level, but is well written and actually makes some sense.

Reading Blog 2: King Rat

King Rat revolves around Cpl. King, an American soldier in a Japanese prison camp who manages the black market operations amongst the incarcerated American and English POWs. His confident demeanor and bearing stand out because of his willingness to advance on the needs of others. It is clear that King takes pleasure in living on what would be considered an empowered existence, and always seeks ways to increase his organization by recruiting and controlling talented prisoners such as Peter Marlowe, an English soldier who speaks fluent Japanese. Marlowe refuses King’s offerings of money and goods for his services. Marlowe in contrast to King attempts to continue living by a code that transcends any financial gain despite the harsh conditions of the camp. He genuinely considers King a friend because of their shared experiences being interred together the cruel watch of the Japanese military. King Rat demonstrates humanity as it attempts to not only survive in an extreme environment but also maintain and reaffirm respect for its fellow man.

Reading Blog 1: The Hobbit

“Adventures… make one late for dinner!” is perhaps my favorite quote in the book. For quite some time I lived up to this quote. Rarely did I branch out beyond what I felt was comfortable. However, this complacency left me with a feeling of regret. I hated driving and leaving the comforts of home so I would make up excuses to get out of long road trips and other journeys with friends and family. If I had to go without being able to shower and wash up for longer than a day, it more than likely wouldn’t happen. I missed out on quite a bit that could’ve been at least great fun. In the past few years, I have left my comfort zone, and much like Bilbo Baggins, yearn to keep traveling and finding new experiences to savor and enjoy. This summer I will be traveling through Shanghai and possibly next Winter Break I may find myself helping to take care of baby baboons in South Africa (although this one is probably just a passing fancy).

Movie Blog 5: Chronicles of Ridick

Awesome movie! The character of Ridick is very ambiguous. He is initially viewed as self-serving and only interested in his own personal survival. However, his motivations are seemingly selfish but nonetheless they are for the good of all. Should the Necromongers win then Ridick would no doubt be hunted down for the stubborn individualist threat he poses to the swarming mentality of the necromongers. Ridick exemplifies existentialism as he combats the forced conversion of his opponents. He is his own man and refuses to become just a specimen of a larger whole.

Movie Blog 4: Alien 3

Set in gritty and dark border world industrial complex, the movie is dismal, but eventually hints at the religious tones of redemption and sacrifice. The “evil” of the movie is in the form of UGLY, really ugly, insect-like creatures. It is hard to get any uglier… and the evil that emanates from these creatures hits you at a visceral level. These aliens ooze saliva, cocoon victims, and ultimately use them as hosts for their equally repulsive spawn. These images are similar to descriptions of what one may find in hell… heck the entire backdrop for this movie is even in a fiery lead works. Ripley, the hero of the movie, shaves her head and becomes reminiscent of a warrior monk. This rather unfeminine image perhaps indicates a spiritual revival as she reveals more of herself to whatever powers that be. In the end, she even fights corporate greed as she falls backward into a pool of molten lead (symbolic of hell) in a Christ like position sacrificing herself for the good of mankind.

Movie Blog 3: Conan the Barbarian

This movie was almost my choice for the class’ research paper. Yes, I know… a young “Governator” beheading various evil minions with a giant sword doesn’t seem too profound, but this movie can truly hold its own to further academic analysis. The major theme of Conan the Barbarian is centered on the “Riddle of Steel.” The initial answer Conan is given is that you can not be confident of the flesh, only the steel in your hand will remain trustworthy. This argument is countered by the antagonist of the movie, James Earl Jones … err Thulsa Doom, who explains that flesh is stronger as he commands thousands of followers to worship him as an avatar of a god. In his final example, Doom commands a beautiful girl to leap of a cliff to her death out of faith. The desire of one’s heart is demonstrated to be far more powerful than the swing of any blade. After numerous battles and conflicts (with both mind and body) Conan realizes that the true answer to the riddle is that both the power of steel and flesh are derived from one’s own convictions.

Furthermore, Conan’s god Crom is a cruel one that ignores all pleas for help. Crom is ready to pass disapproving judgment all those who deems as unworthy. According to Conan and his people he gave them the will to survive and that should be enough. To beg for aid or salvation is seen as weakness. The only time Conan ever prays is right before his last major battle with Doom’s minions as he screams "Valour pleases you, Crom, so grant me one request: grant me revenge! And if you do not listen, then to hell with you!"

Movie Blog 2: Harvey

In the movie Harvey, the character of Elwood P. Dowd is a friendly and likeable drunk who just so happens to have a six foot three and a half inch invisible white rabbit named Harvey as a friend. I guess this movie was made back in an age when alcoholics could be considered likeable… unlike today where the man taking shots or sipping martinis beats his children, is a villainous mastermind, or is a hardened secret agent. Anyways, you never really know if Harvey is real or not. You know that his character Elwood thinks Harvey is real and you know that everyone else eventually thinks Elwood has gone mad. Still, after you see the genuine kind heartedness of Dowd, you won’t really care if Harvey is real. Dowd is real and it is his belief in Harvey and what Harvey represents to him that endows him with such warm charm. Harvey is his rejection of the world’s cruelty and harshness. Harvey enables his resolve to maintain a loveable and charitable demeanor toward anyone and everyone he is able to meet.

Movie Blog 1: The Fountain

Well, the first few times I saw this movie I was unimpressed and felt that it “insisted upon itself” to quote Family Guy. However, after becoming ill and bed ridden for a few days (and unable to find the remote), I was forced to watch this movie over and over on HBO. I must say, that after about the third viewing I truly appreciated the gorgeous imagery. The movie revolves around three stories - one each from the past, present, and future – paralleling men in hopeless pursuit of eternity with their love. A conquistador in searches for the tree of life in the Mayan / Aztec Empire to save his queen (some of the best visuals are in this storyline); a medical researcher works with various plants in hopes of a cure that will save his dying wife; a space traveler ascends with an aged tree encapsulated within a bubble toward a dying star (Xibalba) seeking to be reunited with his beloved. The Fountain demonstrates life and death across many scales, from the death of one’s self, to the death of a loved one, to the death of stars. All of these lives cycle through death, rebirth, and completion… transcendence to another form of being. However, it takes time to accept that death leads to life (although not necessarily as we know it), “that death is the road to awe,” and the lead character, in refusing to accept death as natural and necessary, fights against it seeking out a cure to its inevitability. However, in the end he comes to accept death, and in so doing is finally reunited with his lost love.