Bonds
No, not the awful Naruto movie. =P
As September rolls around, I'm sure you've noticed the changes that goes along with post-grad. Some may be good, and some you may think is bad. But nonetheless, it is inevitable.
It takes a great deal of effort to get on my bad side. In times of great need, just know I'm totally willing to be on the next bus over - even if distance has led to some ice building up. And I'm certain there are others who think the same way. In any case, you'd have to have done something really unconscionable for me to throw it all away.
I, too, remember the good old days like they were yesterday, but to move forward we musn't cling to them. It doesn't mean I up and forget all our history, however.
Even as life takes us to separate places, in this day and age of technology, you know where to find me. I hope I'm not naive in saying all this... but I'm sure it won't be difficult to break the ice that's built up and start where we left off.
Friends of the heart and friends of the road, good luck and Godspeed.
Independence
As America celebrates theirs, many other countries fight for theirs and some have no hope of achieving it. It's been three weeks since #IranElection made top trending topic on Twitter and it is still going strong. The grassroots movement has become an inspiration to me and to the world and the outcome will have a lasting impact. It seems the Iranian theocracy has failed to protect the rights and freedoms of its people and by allowing innocent blood to be spilt, it has lost its legitimacy.
As much as I'd like to remain in blissful ignorance and denial, I can't help but draw connections. Global security to oil prices, fundamentalism to democracy, the conflict over there is tied to a lot. As 29 innocents stand to be executed, the conflict is a reminder to us why we keep religion and the state separate.
Though, I believe the Green movement will win. It's only a matter of time. The younger generation wants change and as long as they resist being indoctrinated with the old ways, the older generation will fade away clinging to tradition. Even now, the current regime has lost a lot of support internally and on the world stage, which they cannot afford in this age of "post-globalization".
North Korea continues to fire missiles with no concern to others. Iran recently launched a satellite and continues to enrich uranium. Add those two technologies together and you eventually have the capability to nuke any location in the world.
Don't even get me started on "climate change". We've heard it all before. I just hope we don't resort to that drastic measure of pumping sulfur/water vapour into the atmosphere to cool Earth down in the event of severe global warming.
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I recently saw Watchmen again and despite being a comic book movie, it really does beg the question: is humanity really doomed to destroy itself?
I used to be quite the humanist, believing we have the capacity to basically take care of ourselves. But now, as I see more and more of the world, is Watchmen is right? We absolutely need to live in fear of God's wrath? Are we inherently flawed and destined to destroy ourselves? Do we need a "common enemy"? Too often we focus on our differences only to forget we are all human.
"Five minutes to midnight," they say. With a push of the wrong button or the turning of two keys, the world's institutions, governments, and infrastructure could all collapse as everything turns to dust. That degree hanging on my wall and the money in my wallet will all mean nothing in a land turned cold and lawless as everyone fends for themselves. What a bleak future.
I can draw many parallels of what I saw in the film to the world today. Giant squid monster aside (if you've read the graphic novel), perhaps it is true that a great calamity - depending on your beliefs, either by God or by our hands - is what will unite us and save us from a greater tragedy. The lives of millions to save billions. Or maybe, to be an optimist, that will never be necessary and we never were on the path to self-destruction.
I'll close with this thought though. As much as the media loves to instil fear by bombarding us with the above stories, I still keep hope alive that we will do better. The future looks gloomy but the future can change and I hope our world leaders never stop trying. I cherish every moment I have now and shared with others. For that, every day isn't so "emo" and pointless.
Once Science Fiction
"Space, the final frontier." - Dubbed "Spaceport America", the world's first spaceport breaks ground and begins construction in New Mexico. The above is a rendering of what it will look like. Next thing we know, we see spacedocks building the USS Enterprise. 
This kind of technology where a screen is powered wirelessly (radio frequency) makes us that much closer to a world looking a lot like Minority Report. Driver's licences and passports with animated pictures of yourself! Newspapers that update their stories right before your eyes!
I just realized, is that a Gattaca reference? "Specimen card". Maybe I'm mixing up movies again. I would be very sad if J.K. Rowling attempts to sue and hold back technological progress. Haha.
From Gizmodo,
"It looks like a nondescript battery, but this is actually the world's smallest GPS, GSM and RF tracking device.
The recently released CATS.i measures just 45mm x 35mm x 12mm, and makers say it can be used to track cars, pets and even people. Given that they also claim this is the "most covert" tracking device of its type and is "almost undetectable when being worn", I'm not sure I want to know who their normal customers are.
The device uses a built-in GSM sim chip to report back its GPS data, either constantly or at set intervals, which can then be tracked online. It is battery powered but can also be hardwired to vehicles, or even solar power—though the makers don't specify how. Quad band GSM, GSP and RF ensures you should be able to monitor the people you are stalking—sorry, tracking—wherever they go."
So, basically, someone could reverse pickpocket one of these on me and track me wherever I go with a cell phone. Wow. I'm going to be super paranoid now especially with old tricks like casually bumping into me or the "hot girl" distraction. Nah, I'm not that important.
