Apocalypto

It's a brutal story.

It is a tale of tyranny and Freedom.

The myth of the noble red man is blown, but a very human story of what's good and evil within us comes out.

The story centers on a young man, his pregnant wife and their son.

Their peaceful jungle life is destroyed by marauding slave traders who destroy his village, kill, rape the women and take the husband prisoner with several other villagers.

Keep in mind, these are all Indians, specifically Yucatec Mayans. As I said, it's not race, it's what lies in the heart. What's in the heart of the raiders is evil, decadent.

They arrive at the Mayan city and it is shown to be the depth of debauchery. Slavery is rampant complete with overindulgence in every sense of the word. This includes the ritualistic cutting out of hearts and beheadings of sacrifices to the gods.

Jaguar Paw, our husband etc, is finally led to escape and some of the baddies chase him. They are one by one offed by nature or Jaguar Paw who is now in his element.

He is triumphant and rescues his family.

They are at the coast when the view a seemingly miraculous sight. There are Spanish galleons anchored off the coast and rowboats are approaching with troops and a priest, bearing a large crucifix.

Jaguar Paw and his family retreat to the jungle to attempt a new life, but we know it will be futile with the advent of the white man.

All kinds of conclusions can be made regarding city vs country life and the beginning of Western European civilization encroaching.

The main theme to me is what is in the heart. It's that content of character thing.

I will leave that to each one who sees this thought provoking flick.

Please borrow from a library, rent or buy it.

It's worth your time.

Serpents

Symbolism is a marvelous thing. It can serve as a palette for a portrait to create images in the mind. However, it is still up to the individual to discern those images.

When we talk of serpents or snakes, it immediately conjures mind pics of satan , demons and Halloween spook shows. It could bring to mind the Christian snake dancing sects. Fear of poisoning, a slow painful death pop up as well.

On the other hand, snakes are symbols of wisdom. Stealth and sudden attack come into the picture too.

So symbolism is as always, a two way street.

Thus, we come to those who are duplicitous. They bite the hand that feeds them. Like the song where the lady nurses the sick snake back to health then it bites and kills her, so are those who feign patriotism then do all they can to destroy Freedom from within.

Of course, the snakes are easy to spot. It's the wolves in sheep's clothing you gotta discern and watch.

And the objet d'arte (hehehe) of this missive is just that. Be picky and stealthy and be a bigger snake than the others.

Swallow them whole. Bit by bit

Reconstruct the deconstruct.

Good luck.

Chickens

There are plenty of chickens to go around.

Whether you eat meat or not, chickens are everywhere.

They are dull birds, who are so stupid they look up at the rain and drown. The same behavior has been noted in domesticated turkeys. These animals have many individual traits bred out and are comfortable in their pecking order in the flock.

However, they can be aggressive and mean tempered if agitated, belying their seemingly docile nature. They just don't like to be challenged.

In spite of that, they go to great lengths to avoid conflict, except for certain ones who apparently are bred to fight for seemingly no reason except to maintain the brood.

You get my meaning and I won't insult your intelligence with explanation.

Real ones have definite behavior patterns, can be food or pets and a few have pecked themselves to death.

Running from a fight or fighting badly for no good reason get them led to the slaughter.

Conversely, symbolically, roosters are symbols of heroism and being resolute.

No comments but there is an erect one at the top of the St. Clair clan crest.

So, chickens are useful if they think for tehmselves and take a stand.

Cluck on that lol.

Vultures

Someone on Facebook doesn't like me. Boohoo.

They have intimated I am a vulture. Apparently that's someone who gets some kind of thrill or boost by dropping dead people's names. Hmmmmm.

There is more, but you get the picture. Character assassination.

I'm very bad at pretentiousness. I don't kiss ass well. I say what I mean and mean what I say etc.

Afraid I encountered a passel of wannabes who try to surround themselves with 'important' people. I was introduced to an 'exclusive group' replete with certain celebrities. It was supposed to be a place where folks could safely let down their hair and talk about scripts and apparently other aspects of the biz. I knew it was crap.

I stuck around for a short time, noting the efforts to get me and other inductees to give up story ideas and scripts etc. It was a scam but also the people who had set up the room were the most controlling self important characters i've met on the net. Well certainly they were among that number.

You might think this is fantastic. Why would people go to that kind of trouble just to milk ideas. There are predators at all levels in show business. Just like any other walk of life, there are those seeking to take advantage of others.

There are lots of aspiring writers, as well as actors all around the country, even the world. In Losangeles alone, there are tens of thousands who seek fame, fortune and/or a chance to tell their stories.

A lot of them have no clue what to do. It takes time and patience. It takes getting to know others who could help.

Many have been bilked of ideas and money. I've had experience early on with controlling money sucking charlatans. My good friends Pat McGoohan and Bob Wise cautioned me and schooled me what to look for and to do if I encountered such scum. They both helped me save my bacon in the past and their advice has survived.

In unravelling this sticky bunch, I made mention of said friends and hinted at other associations from the past and currently forming. I made short work of this pseudo elitist nest.

Twas then I was unceremoniously dumped after there were several refs to me being the aforementioned 'vulture'.

Sticks and stones etc is my only reply in absentia.

Typical of culprits. It's the old point the finger routine. Collectivists do it all the time. The mentally unbalanced blame others among other tactics.

Vultures. They live off carrion. Rot. Nothing fresh about them. It's the same old same old.

Nature takes its course.

Wonderful memories of old friends now gone are not dead. They live forever.

Love lives forever.

Nature will take its course and vultures will die or move on.

So keep on the move and stay alive -s-.

Turkeys

I feel like I've run a gauntlet.

Not the kind with tomahawks and warclubs. I feel like I've run between rows of people slapping me with big turkeys til I fall, then they gang up, pummeling me with those big wet birds.

Sheesh. There is so much to do these days in all facets of my life. Wonder not if I am still bent on helping in whatever way I can to Restore the Republic. I do what I can. Some is quieter and some will evolve to the forefront.

All the activity in my life has resulted in my feeling pulled this way and that. Well, I've taken a deep breath and gotten my bearings. I'm doing a pretty good job at budgeting time.

I've never been busier and it's increasing.

One side is serving the other and there are some things in store that I hope will benefit our quest for Freedom.

Far as the turkeys go, I'm not letting them get me down.

Etiquette

Mind your manners. Especially ala the Stooges dinnertime antics.

The Boys could always be relied upon to send up 'polite' society.

They were invariably out of their element and made up manners as they went along. Usually the etiquette was nonexistant and quickly devolved to a pie throwing and in one classic a creampuff tossing contest.

In one instance, the high society folks thought the Stooges were top shelf etiquette experts. They imitated their obviously skewed table manners.

There are always those who want to be different, better. That in and of itself is great. I like to stand out and certainly in my field of endeavor getting 'noticed' kinda helps you sell yourself.

Poking fun at pretentiousness was the Stooges name of the game. And thus lies the crux. There is nothing worse, said my Mom, than a thief and a liar. That behavior goes hand in hand. But what has that to do with the exaggerated characters in a Stooge short? Surely it was good natured fun poking at the foibles of the rich or the nouveau riche or those upper middle class who are seeking to 'make it big' and socially climb. I think it was.

In reality, there isn't anything wrong with that. Bettering oneself in whatever way one pleases is socially acceptable and more. It is American. Further, it is the way the world is supposed to be.

It's how we go about it. There is the 'rub'.

If your gain is built on lies and deceit, it's like a whited sepulchere. Not caring about who you hurt on any level is a crime especially morally, and I think spiritually. Legally? Well the courts have their own little world.

And I'm tired, incidentally, of people slamming the socalled rich. If you earn it or come by it honestly, more power to you. How you spend invest etc is your business. I would hope you would be responsible and if you decide to help others, it would be to help themselves. A lot of wealth could be lown and the hands would be grasping for more.

The Three Stooges will for a long time to come, lampoon certain behavioral trends, which, by the way, still exist. I'm going to always laugh at those whacked out guys.

As usual, I got to thinking about what was there and what was beyond, thus the missive I have just shared.

It's easier than some think to see through etiquette. I was taught manners and apply them as a matter of course.

Those who fake and have achieved through the expense of others cannot maintain the facade. They are often being called on the carpet now.

The unscrupulous try to hide behind the veil of civility. The sociopaths etc bank on society to do the right aka civil thing.

The time will come when civility will give way to justice.

Job To Job

Actors technically work for themselves.

I don't care if you are in a chorus line in NYC, bit player in LA, featured actor in a series segment, established star, or up and comer, you have a job, then you don't.

I kind of like it. The situation compels you to seek and search, with the help usually of others, to find the next gig.

If you are beyond a paycheck to paycheck life, I suggest you invest. How and what is up to you. But, if you want durability and longevity, you need 'fu' money. Get started with some dough that gives you an edge. I suggest a two year leeway.

Struggling is ok and most people need that dynamic, that competitiveness, or else life is boring. It's worse than boring it's deadly.

Often you truly get out what you put in.

That is the lesson for all of us. It takes teamwork to keep occupied. That means commitment to what you are doing. It's a two way street.

If you don't have something to get you out the door, you might as well curl up.

Then again, without getting existential, a lot can happen behind the door too.