The Bartmoss Blog

Updates

2008-04-28T17:26:00.004+02:00

I haven't updated my blog in ages.
It's not like any one would actually notice.

Last semester or so on was a rough time that's the nice way to put it but I'm back and better than ever. The old, the new, it's all good.
We got a new list of awesome videos for you whoever the hell "you" are.
I hope you enjoy that as well as the little story/poem I wrote. I am currently writing a short story based on a cargo cult incident and am doing lots of math and physics and loving it like never before. Hope to hear from every one soon.
-B

The Trees

2008-04-28T15:25:00.003+02:00

The trees had eyes and they were all watching. The puddles on the side walk full of persuasion and pretty in the unendless thoughts crashing around my head with precision sine and cosine properties.
These ideas could only be found in nature not in an environmental nuisance made out of neurons firing only nonsense. There was more there.

The trees could breath. I heard them sigh not in sadness on a morose trip but in strange macabre discontent. It was the destination of much loneliness that had them locked in their quandary. A simple quarry became a large complaint for complaisance can keep you moving but only in place. A place of conformity that no one can see.

But the tress had eyes. Confronted with such surrealities the trees could breath. My breath grew short as the day grew too long into night. But the night put up her unholy fight for her secession without secoming to the light. Day to night dark to light.
The trees remained but not the same. Born again in the depths of rain.

The trees had eyes
The trees could breath.
The trees were me.

Domocide: The Release

2007-07-15T22:31:00.000+02:00

IT dawned on me
that those backstabbing bastards
I dwell with in this Domicile
that is akin to an insane asylum
are exacerbating the situation
called the status-quo
which should be my mind
with mental masturbation
one could only label
as a hate crime

My fears are a wave sine
traveling through the telephone
into an ear unknowingly unused
and ignorantly sublime

ringing, ringing with uncertainty
a tone of 440Hz and 180˚
please, some one hear this plea
and pick up to release me

Hot Beats On A Cold Tin Roof

2007-06-02T13:09:00.001+02:00

It was raining cats and dogs so I took shelter in a Singapore grease trap slinging fast food and ordered the special out of Hong Kong. Something with pig and pineapple. The air filled with Asian spices, the people chattering away and some one slaving over a wok working on some noodles created an atmosphere denser than the rain soaked ozone outside.

The girl at the table next to mine flirted with my cigarette until it was stubbed out, its charmed smoke only a memory.

I almost got kicked out of class today, but that's another story.

I've been dandy. Playing guitar, working on the same old numbers, as always. Math, some Physics for fun. I'll be fine if I can just stay dry. Keeping out of the rain helps me accomplish that.

And Now, The Bartmoss News Hour

2007-05-20T22:36:00.000+02:00

I have been studying all week for a test which I have tomorrow. Hopefully I am ready for it. We'll see. Not much went on this week besides that. I am trying to be more social again. I used to be the popular guy and now I am more the anti-social crazy math freak. But I am slowly turning that around (for now). I might go insane, not shave or shower for a few days again when needed for the math. However if you wonder around on campus as an unwashed unshaven insane math guy you sort of blend in anyway.

Some time this week I will post new lyrics for a song I am working on that is about Heidelberg, the pubs and the piss heads that inhabit them. Speaking of that I did play a good amount of guitar this week and worked on some songs like "Virgina Farm" and "Wednesday" with something old and new I call "Love On Lay Away". Maybe one day I will be done with a certain six which I will record for that little project I have in my head. But then again, maybe not. Only time will tell and she ain't talking right now.

I am thinking about Berlin a lot again. I miss all of my friends there. I have been looking through the old pictures and wishing I was there even just for a day. I guess I didn't really think of the city as much as the people. Mostly Cat, Os & Lev with a sprinkling of Kai and a little bit of Lars for good measure.

I can't wait until tomorrow. Wish me luck.
Take care every one and tune in on Tuesday for a new Seven.
-Bartmoss

New Updates

2007-05-13T20:26:00.000+02:00

Hello everybody. I haven't been blogging, e mailing, calling, or simply keeping in contact with any one what so ever. I have been very busy with math. My studies are kicking in now and I have had no free time.

I am fine. Still alive. Like I said busy but happy. I love what I do very much. What have I been up to besides math? Not a whole lot. Playing guitar, I was sick for a week, didn't party much, wrote some new stuff. That's about it. I hope every one is ok. Don't be afraid to e mail or try to call. I love and miss you all. I will have some free time sooner or later, I'm sure. Dorm life is treating me pretty well, too. I don't see any one very much. I have been nick-named John Nash AKA that crazy mathematician from the film "A Beautiful Mind" for my lack of social skills and all around mathy-strangeness lately. That and my new hair cut. I don't really have any good pictures yet. When I do I will post them. I went back to the indie rock look. Away with the beard and back to the old days of indie rock.

Speaking of indie rock...

This Week's Seven

Indie Rock Part Two

Rock of The Nineties Till Now

I updated The Seven. From such a long leave of absence I have posted ten videos. That and I did cover two decades this time.

For the Nineties until now Seven I tried to keep it from being too mainstream. Thus, no Nirvana! However, at number one is Temple Of The Dog. A band formed between Pearl Jam and Soundgarden in 1990. If you like to listen to Bloc Party please compare their sound to Gang Of Four. A really wonderful band that Bloc Party ripped off so well.
I would like to take this opportunity to mention The Dirtbombs. They are not too well known but they are amazing. I couldn't find an actual music video for them besides a live show. Please check them out if only for their songs "Livin' For The City" and "Ode To A Black Man". Other great bands I would really love for every one to listen to are Pavement and The Beta Band. Two very good indie rock Bands. I hope you enjoy them and the others on this week's (yes really this weeks, there will be another next week, promise!) Seven.

I'd also like to take time in this post to bring up the Iraq war. I wrote something about it.

A World Made Out Of Glass

Wake up in a dream

A nightmare

What I feel

I don't care

When you said to me

Turn the desert into glass

They invented glass

You better watch your back

because you never know just where they're at

Oh, you better watch your back

Because you never know just when they'll attack

Killing fields are in my head

Killing fields I've heard it said

Killing fields you'll wind up dead

With the killing fields

They're in my head

All my buddies are a bloody mess

A widowed bride in a torn red dress

Teenage boys without regrets

Killing fields are in my head

Killing fields you'll wind up dead

Killing fields I've heard it said

That the killing fields are in my head

Each day I can see it clearer

Each day I can hear it nearer

That the killing fields are in my head

Killing fields you'll wind up dead

Each day I can see it clearer
Each day I can hear it nearer

Turn the desert into glass

Turn the whole world into glass

Each day I can see it clearer

Each day I can hear it nearer

Turn the whole world into glass

Killing fields

Mommy, Where Does Indie Rock Come From?

2007-03-18T15:03:00.000+01:00

News

Got the "what is Bartmoss listening to" feature up and running in real time. Been having an awesome time lately partying and even working a bit, too. I just wanted to thank every one for their support once again in the last couple of weeks. I couldn't have made it without my friends and family involved.

Came up with a name to the "Berlin Song". I've decided to call it "Busking For Beer". Believe it or not, that really helps the development of the song. now I feel able to capture the essence of my own personal Berlin in a title. I hope to finish it sooner or later (no deadlines, nor dates to bind me and kill the creativity)

The Seven

This week on The Seven we take a trip down memory lane using any brain cells that weren't collectively damaged from too much rock and roll to bring the beginnings of Indie Rock in a two part Seven series "Mommy, Where Does Indie Rock Come From?". This week the videos will explore the origins of Indie Rock. Sadly, many of the bands either had no videos or very poor quality ones from this particular genre especially in the beginning of this musical movement. It was some times difficult to find any video at all let alone of watchable quality.

Take Damaged Goods by Gang Of Four as an example. Damaged Goods is by far their most influential song. More contemporary bands like Bloc Party are obviously influenced by this "post-punk-indie-rock-disco-funk" sound. However, the video is practically unwatchable to be put into The Seven.

Due to commercial success determining a band's music video worth some times a music video comes along and is re-shot or reedited because the song becomes popular years later through a stroke of luck or a film (The Pixes on The Fight Club Soundtrack for example).

Enjoy and tune in next week to be brought up to the now of indie rock. (Because indie rock ain't dead bitches!)
-Bartmoss

Time & Lyrics For Berlin

2007-03-13T22:21:00.000+01:00

Time doesn't make you older it's what happens in between that does.

This is what I have been thinking about. Last weekend my Uncle died. That makes now two dead. Where my family comes from they have a saying. People always die in threes. They really believe it too. Maybe I do.

I heard about my Gram today. She has gotten even worse, if that was possible. She is now below 80 pounds. My Mom talked about work a lot, the deaths in the family and Gram. She told me once again how close she is to a nervous breakdown. I had to end the conversation. I just couldn't take anymore. She begged me not to go so she could talk but I just couldn't. Having to walk around here pretending that everything is fine doesn't help much either. They think that my Gram will die soon. Of course they have been saying that but it seems she has gotten worse and the whole three thing is possible. Some times life is hard.

I wanted to write some poetry but I didn't finish it. I have to wake up tomorrow at 7 am. Today was the first day that I got some real sleep. I slept for 12 hours. I want to see all of my friends from Berlin and collect hugs from them. I will see them within 3 weeks. That makes me happy. Oh well.. I want to put up what I wrote anyway and say this is for my friends in Berlin.

Os, Cat, Lev, Kai this is for you who fed me when I was poor, cheered me up when I was down, and always were good friends to me no matter what which can never be put into words any other way.

I know how much toothpaste
comes in a tube
I know how long a razor blade
can be used
And I know these things
They don't
Mean that much to you
But it's so hard
To stay human
When you got
Nothing to lose...

So I say
So much for so far away
So much for so far away

With the luck of the Irish
On my side
And that stupid jingoist
American Pride....

I don't have anything after that. However I want to keep going. Something about Leaving her (Berlin) and how I will be back one day. The second part is ironic by the way. I am not Irish and they aren't even lucky people at all and I am not a jingoistic American full of pride. The first part can be taken word-for-word if you want it to be. I'm bringing my guitar with me and will play that song for you. It's your song anyway. It might not be very good but it's for all of you.

Take care every one and don't forget to check out The Seven for this week if you're so inclined.
-Bartmoss

Bullshit Update

2007-03-11T17:32:00.000+01:00

This has been a very busy week. I went to a physics conference all week long which was amazing, only got about five to six hours of sleep, and rocked out pretty hard. I learned so much and got to meet such interesting people. Tonight I am going to a Killers concert in Frankfurt with Marion. It's gonna be awesome. I had no time to post this week, I was barely home at all (thanks for the repeated attempts to reach me though every one!). Next week shouldn't be so full and I should get more sleep.

Although it was all great and Spring is in the air, I did have a tough time this week, too. The funeral was on Friday and that was a hard day for me. But I hung out with friends and they took care of me. I feel a lot better from that now. Being around friends, talking to some of them about it and writing really helped me. Thank you all so much for your support!

After everything I will be writing a lot more rhymes without reason here soon, so watch for updates. Last week's The Seven was appreciated by many and I was really glad to hear such positive feed back about one of my favourite new forms of music, bastard pop. Still didn't have time to get that new music app working with my firewall. I'm sure it'll happen some time this week.

That's about it for now. Take care every one!
-Bartmoss

Svefn-g-englar & Copenhagen

2007-03-03T21:53:00.000+01:00

I wanted to write about what's going on in Copenhagen, the loss of an alternative culture center, and the riots. But, things went a bit differently today. I got a call before I truly started my day in which I found out that a close family member died late last night. I am actually a lot more upset than I thought I would be.

Today is Bulgaria's nation independence day and I have a few close friends who are Bulgarian. We went out and had a nice traditional dinner. With most of them none the wiser that I was feeling the way I did. I don't know why, but I just can't be sad like that around people, I'd rather fake it and tell every one I am terrific. Finally, I got back home and I just sat there listening to sad bastard music from Sigur Ros and cried. A really good one. This is real. The regrets, the sadness, the finality. This is really real. I just want to feel this way and not cover up how I feel and not try to make it better right now. Just let it lay.

That's what I hate about talking to people about loss. They try to make you feel better. It's bullshit. No advice will make you feel better because of a loss. It just takes time to feel better. The wise words spoken, cleaned up and canned in a cellar for later use. Pop the top when needed. ".....lived a long life... a good life... old... good person.... missed by many..... nothing can be done...... heals all wounds..... be alone... never be alone.... time to yourself..... around friends..... eat...."

My advice to all of you who have lost or will ever lose is none at all. Nothing. Fuck it. No kind words will ever help so stop trying and just ignore it when you get it.

I don't understand why we need to comfort people in times like these.
Just let it bleed, it will stop sooner or later.I suppose some times we just need to riot it all out of our system to feel better when we feel a loss.

Copenhagen, here I come. The stones have already been cast and the cars are already ablaze.

Just Another Post For Another Day

2007-03-01T00:21:00.000+01:00

News

Been working all day, think I'll go to sleep but just wanted to say that I am working on a new widget so people (what people, people who could actually care about my blog?) can see what I am listening to in winamp in real time. It's pretty much done however, my router/firewall doesn't like it so it could be a while before that's up. In other news I am happy to say that I haven't had a drop to drink in two days now and feel fine again. The response to "The Seven" section of my blog has been amazing. (no, it hasn't... I just wanted to say something that sounded self-important and cool) I will keep updating it once a week until I run out of cool music videos on dailymotion. (or at least until I get bored or find a real life)

Thank you for visiting (Am I actually thanking some one or is it one of those one hand clapping sort of things?) and please come again.

-Bartmoss

PS This is something a little old, a little new, something not finished, some lyrics and a poem just for you. (Is it bad form to introduce poetry with such a cliche rhyming scheme as that? I think so...)

Honest M

You keep on playin me
like that second fiddle
that's been a-broken
straight through the middle

I know there's no use
in being civil
when my love for you
seems so trivial

When I call you on the phone
and I know you're not alone
oh honest M
what will you say
what will we do
with all those lies
that became the truth...........

How To Stop Caring In Three Easy Steps

Oh honest M
with the honest eyes
looking right through
all them lies
that I saw
that you said
that we didn't say

With all those games
that you played
when I say
I wouldn't stay
dontcha have to pay
dontcha have to pay?

The blee -bla box is packed up
under your socks
with those stripes
that we stroked
and the killers that died
liberated libertines
that just can't fly............

I No Longer Hear The Music On Mojito Monday

2007-02-26T11:02:00.000+01:00

It was a cold, rainy, hung over Monday. Another words, it was plain shit all around. I woke up feeling terrible and had to wake up early to boot. A string of bad luck sprinkled out over the day, I couldn't focus, had no creativity and worried at twenty five I was all washed up. Reaching some sort of middle point of uninsanity and normality that was complete stability and boredom. If I thought that I was going down into some sort of happy middle I'd kill myself even if it was a mediocrity of my own standards.

I hope it's just some horribly cruel bi-polar faze. Or maybe, like some say it's just all the drinking. I feel hungry all the time, I always have a headache, I feel tired, and have absolutely no creative energy.

I feel as if I'll be stuck in this Mojito Monday forever. To be so wet with booze and yet so dried up at twenty five. I'm sure it can't last forever. Two weeks isn't that long. Nor would three be much longer. I miss my best friend in Berlin, Cat. She would fix everything by just making me a cup of tea and making me eat some sort of exotic homemade organic vegetarian soup of her own creation with some kind words as a side dish. That'd work.

While waiting for this to be over I'll just wonder around Mojito Monday until I get to Tequila Tuesday.

WG Blues

2007-02-24T13:00:00.000+01:00

Spending the day by drinking too much black coffee, maybe cleaning the bathroom & kitchen, and of course, working on math while listening to Bach in my room on a rainy Saturday sounded good to me.

It sounds also pretty nerdy. However, in the last two weeks all I did was party, meet new people, and have a helluva good time. It was time to sit down and go through some math.

I, as of late have become interested in certain things in number theory, the use of game theory (I'm only up to starting to learn about the Nash bargaining equilibrium and still working on it), and of course unsolvable problems (mostly unsolvable prime number conjectures & hypothesis... because I am a gluten for punishment)

However, it didn't really work out that way today. I was awoken by a hoard of medical students in my kitchen. Seeing as I practically live in the kitchen and they were having breakfast while listening to loud music and having even louder conversations I knew I was fucked.

We do share this flat. And nothing has been done wrong, however inconvenient it is. But I cannot do math when the kitchen is full of chatty medical students. More over, going out to get coffee becomes some sort of social experience. I don't want to say hello, I don't want to actually have to say hi just to take a leak (which, of course, my bathroom is right next to the kitchen so they are camping out on my doorstep, the kitchen and my personal bathroom all at the same time). Most days I am a hello-saying social guy. However when it is math time it's fuck-off for a nice how-do-you-do. That's just how I get down. I'd rather spit on some one than to make eye contact when I work. That is the art of mathematics. To not live in this world yet some how at the same time trying to tell every one that it is the science of describing everything in nature (and out of it of course). It is a means to hide from the world and people.

I'm still listening to the Goldberg Variations and could actually imagine calling up Goldberg to play just for the soothing calmness which was intended for the benefit of the sleepless Russian ambassador to Saxony. (Does that sound egotistical? I think it does)

Oh well, at least if an accident were to befall me I would be in good hands with this gaggle of Heidelberger medical students swarming in the adjacent room.

Investment Advice

2007-02-20T16:33:00.000+01:00

American Markets

GE is a good stock for the long term. I expect it's price to go down due to Democrats in congress voting to repel some of the large loopholes in corporate tax laws which GE has benefited in billions from. Their appliance division will also cool off in the foreseeable future from the real estate bubble bursting. However, I believe GE's long term viability is very secure. Their work with the AEP which also works with the Futuregen project for building cleaner coal burning gasification power plants, among other environmentally friendly policies will help its selling power. It is in my opinion that, environmentally friendly technologies, companies and products will be trendy in the next few years. It will be so trendy in fact that the marketing possibilities alone will make companies that are already at least trying to clean up their image sell better.

The Auto industry

The question of the automakers GM and Ford can be simply summed up with the following: unless they get on the band-wagon and improve emission standards and make cars that are more or less like the kind in the European and Asian markets they will be in for even larger losses than what they have already incurred. Like I said, it is going to be trendy to be environmentally friendly in the next few years and has already begun.

Real Estate & Bond Market

Raising interest rates over the next few years will slow down the housing market, furthermore, the raising interest rates will bury families that opted for a floating mortgage. The bond market will also go down from slowly raising interest rates. However, I believe that the real estate market is always a safe bet, as people always need a place to live and there are always more people. It can only go up in the end. And of course, local factors play a larger key role in real estate value, especially in developing, trendy locations. The only trick is to find out which areas will become trendy which are now very affordable.

Boots

2007-02-19T01:03:00.000+01:00

It's as clear to you
as muddy waters
that now I am a man
and these boots
you see
well they were made
for me
to go a wonderin'
round the world
for a while

The man who made them
was a trunking man
who build homes
made out of sand
he'd never see
that those castles
were you
and me
he'd just watch them
wash all away
into the sea

They say it's over
but it's not
we've all just forgot
on our way
to the next
whiskey shot

when it's all over
I'll say it's so
only then
can it be time
to go
and you'll see
that these boots
are me
and they'll walk
if they please

life tries its best
to trick you
and bring you down
but I ain't never seen that man
without a gun in his hand
while his heart
was in his grave
getting on

They say it's over
but it's not
we've all just forgot
on our way
to the next
whiskey shot

Insomnia

2007-02-16T02:41:00.000+01:00

I haven't posted in a while, I've been very sick. Two illnesses in a row. Just a hazard of dorm life, I suppose. I was hoping to write some sort of great political rant or something of value but it isn't happening right now. I am just glad I am able to eat, go out, or even shit normally again.

Cat read one of my rants. It is my hope to turn it and maybe other things I would like to write into some sort of op-ed pieces or something. I could learn a lot from her about formatting a piece among a myriad of many other things. I find her to be an inspirational journalist and am proud to call her one of my best friends from Berlin.

I can't sleep so I write

You know, what keeps me up at night.. The thoughts. There are always too many. Especially in the moment when you are trying not to think but to sleep. In the dark, they flash right in front of you.

I think about a lot when trying to sleep. Not all bad, mind you. I think mostly about (what I guess is) the normal things. Money, girls, studies, the future... However I think of other things, too.

I worry about my Gram and feel guilty for her being where she is and for my being where I am.

I worry about never feeling good enough with who I am no matter how hard I try, like some one unknown to me is always silently judging me, when that person is really just me.

It's not like it's that guy that left me when I was young and never wanted anything to do with me. He can't judge me, he doesn't even know me.

My mother? She can't judge me fairly because I will always be her son.

The strangers walking down the street? They know nothing of me and could care less (or more? I never understood that saying) about me.

No one can judge me and my actions but myself. And if I feel like I have been judged wanting and not living up to something I should be then those thoughts of persecution come from within and may never be beat. I will only beat myself.

Why should I feel guilty for my actions? Because I did what I could and had to do? For throwing some one some where, where I promised I wouldn't and will probably do that again one day because it's just the natural order of things and will probably end up there myself?

Nature doesn't seem that natural to me.

This is insomnia

Good day (no) Sunshine

2007-02-08T14:34:00.000+01:00

Well, it's raining. However, today so far, has been (almost) perfect.

It all started when I woke up. I logged on and checked everything from facebook and studiVZ to my e mail. I got an e mail from my brother Shawn today. That was very pleasant. We really don't know each other that well but I hope we will get to know each other better. He really is a great guy even if he does talk more than me which, is a lot. It's really hard to keep in contact with him living eleven time zones apart from me. It's either very early or late for some party involved. What more can I say... I suppose I could say that I am very proud of him for being such a good person and a self-made (young) man. Okay, so he is a bit right-wing however, that does not impact anything besides discussions about free education (university, too) and health insurance.
I can also say that we free leftist (wannabe) intellectual Europeans will corrupt him when he comes to visit. *insert evil laugh here*

Class went well. More over, I paid up everything for Uni and made sure I am signed up for everything next semester. They still didn't wisen up enough to kick me out.

Marion told me that she passed her last exam for law and I am very proud of the fact that she made it. Belief is a powerful thing. That's all you need combined with a little hard work. Cocktails served afterwards, please.

And I am still not poor! Business is going really well in addition to not being a (very) poor student.

Tonight some party some where with some one, I'm sure. Maybe I'll see you out there. I just hope every one is doing as well if not better even though it's still raining.

Putting The Pieces Together

2007-02-07T14:59:00.000+01:00

The Splinters...
Shinning brightly
In the Sunday morning sun

He stabbed his stomach
With the shards
Of a broken mirror...
Image of himself

He committed superego sepaku
Knowing no shared thoughts...
with himself

Suburban Sprawl, The Fifth Amendment & Zoning Laws

2007-02-06T14:24:00.000+01:00

"No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation."
- The Fifth Amendment from the United States of America's Constitution.

Every year more and more people move to the suburbs. These people want the convenience of being located near a city with the space of living outside of a city. The suburbs seem to be the perfect solution and compromise between town and country. But, are they really as good as they seem?
These suburbanites are creating what is referred to as "suburban sprawl". Suburban sprawl is the ever increasing landmass of these communities. The shopping malls, the parking lots, the perfect facade of a place in tune with nature through its' landscaping. Places that used to be called the country and farm land have been turned into yuppie-villes in a twisted form of irony that used to belong exclusively to Hooverville shanty towns created from joblessness. Now, instead of Hoovervilles we have the nuclear family creating sprawling self-contained communities as an off- shoot of corporate capitalism. It is hard to find any locally owned and operated stores in these communities. With rent too high and ever increasing in addition to most of its inhabitants supporting the "local" economy with jobs working in international corporations it isn't too hard to see that the stores holding together these self-contained communities are in fact large global corporations.
With more and more fleeing like refugees from the inter cities to these communities it leaves only those behind who cannot afford to move away. Namely, minorities. The great cities of the past are slowly becoming abandoned hulks with only the underprivileged remaining. With the middle and lower classes losing their manual labor jobs to outsourcing by the corporations closing factories and the upper and upper middle class leaving in a mass exodus to the 'burbs, it is destroying the inter cities.
Furthermore, these communities make the people living there rely on their cars even more since they are built and landscaped purely for cars. Their size and scale, their often times lack of even sidewalks and the mass parking lots leave little choice for people to use other means. They very often enough support no public transportation system what so ever which further exacerbates this situation. This of course leads to pollution of the environment, dependents and over use of natural resources along with a sedentary lifestyle which can lead to obesity.
This "American lifestyle" is a trend catching on all over the world. Predicting the long term ramifications of this trend is easy enough. These communities have been around for many years in their current form in the USA. The problems they cause and will continue causing in the future is apparent. However, the question remaining is; what can be done to stop the suburbs from taking over the world?
The only way to fight is with the law. The current laws in the USA are made for suburban development, not against it. Zoning laws were created to regulate property. In certain areas you can use your land however you see fit. However, in most areas it is restricted to a degree. Some are only for residential purposes, others only for industry. Zoning laws cannot be applied to buildings built before these laws were enacted. This level of organization in principal sounds good. However, it creates suburban sprawl. Having unmixed areas leads to areas only for strip malls and other unsightly corporate business areas, others only for large newly developed suburban neighborhoods that stretch on for miles with their own rules such as being able to pick between only a handful of architectual plans for your house. These rules create the symmetry that are suburban communities. These zoning laws are controlled by the local government and can be heavily influenced by companies wanting to build what is beneficial to them by throwing money at the local officials. These officials say that whatever they zone to be built will be beneficial to the community, take for example, its economy. Thus it will be approved by a board of local leaders that will most likely make money off of this project themselves.
How is this legal in the USA?
The ability to control what can be put where as far as property goes falls under the police power rights the government may exercise over real property. It was intended to protect existing residences or businesses from incompatibility problems, such as a toxic waste dump being put next to a school. Under the Fifth Amendment of the USA constitution it states that property can be seized if and only if just compensation is given and if it benefits the people in some justifiable way. Such as a small track of land which has been bought from local land owners to create a sidewalk.
The problem of this comes from what beneficial means. A business being build generates money and jobs so that is good for a local economy thus is a benefit to the people and land can be bought or zoned by the government for this purpose. But what about when this is more beneficial to the corporations and the people who voted for this than the people themselves. Is that what the Fifth Amendment intended?

The only way to stop suburban sprawl is for zoning laws to be overturned in court as unconstitutional because this development is not for public use and thus goes against the Fifth Amendment. To stop its spread to the rest of the world the people must simply see what the full impact is to a community.

There is a first time for everything and every one

2007-02-05T22:05:00.000+01:00

I thought this would be the most appropriate title for the first post.
But there is a deeper reason for such a title. I am thinking about the first time in life that I feel like I really have a future.
I can see it all laid out. It's not exactly all rosy but it ain't that bad. I have a lot of friends, old and new, I am trying to do the Uni thing, I am thinking about dating and relationships (that I might actually want a real one and not just a good time) and of course money. This really is a time of reflection.
Especially since my Grandmother who raised me is so sick that she won't be around much longer. It's very cliche but it really does make you think. Of course I am setting here typing this with a bottle of booze on my table listening to the Blues however, I think that just adds to the honesty. I'd like to write this without any bullshit what so ever. Especially since I doubt any one will read this.

I feel that I have a lot more to do than people think. I sorta have a part time job now taking care of some business. It's doing me well.
I am fully obsessed with mathematics and cannot get enough of it. All forms, not just the physics type. I know what you might be thinking. Math? What the hell?! But it offers a clear concisive way of thinking to figure things out. I want to know how and why and it can model these things. Even unreal things such as number theory. I mean, is a prime number a human concept or is it a universal? Stuff like that, sorta. I see it in everything and I can also see how it can make you go all Nash-ass-crazy.
I am also working on a number of other projects.

I sorta perpetuate a myth of being that lazy bastard. I like it like that. When no one ever sees the work. I know I am doing my best when people think I do jack shit. I guess I just don't like people to see the work, just the results and some times not even those. I like to snow board through life. Or at least have it appear that way.