Reborn

Shit.

I just cant create under pressure. This last week I have put some much undue pressure on myself to relaunch my Blog and my new website that I think my head is going to crack open under all the stress. It would be interesting to see what falls out onto the floor if said event were to occur. I just wanted to do it for myself really. Its not like any ones been clamoring for me to start writing again. Sure we all get the occasionally kick in the ass from friends or family but why do we create stuff in the first place? Its really just for us. 2 years ago I said blogging was a form of therapy for me and it was and hopefully still will be. This time though it all has a higher purpose. Its all about reaching for those dreams most of us feel are so far out of reach we have given up and fell into the rat race called everyday life and started to wave the white flag. Its all about keeping those creative juices flowing. Flexing the muscles of our mind.

So I cant give up.

Not me.

Not yet anyway.

Since I was a child I wanted to be an author and a Movie Director. Movies were really my favorite of all. I cant write. Not good enough for mass consumption anyway and honestly I don't have the patience or the confidence in my work to pursue it much further than this. This is the second go here @ relaunching my Blog because I usually re-read it and hate it. But film. Well that's a different story. I haven't even began to cut my teeth on that animal.

But back to blogging. I wanted to try and have a theme this time. I enjoy politics and and love to riff on all the bullshit our politicians and talking heads spew @ us daily but honestly all you have to do is turn to Comedy Central to see it done to perfection. John Stewarts the Daily Show and The Colbert Report get it done right. The right mix of seriousness and comedy mixed up just right. Stewarts show is fucking genius and I couldn't wash his drawers. Just last night as I was writing about Rep. Mark Foleys recent folly's and how the republicans were running for cover and Fox news was spinning it out of control, finding anyway possible to throw it in the Democrats lap. Sean Hannity even had the gall to bring up some Democrat who actually "had sex with a young page back in 1982, and that wasn't that long ago" Unbelievable. The Daily Show did it justice. So tune in to John and Colbert and smile. They keep us laughing even as the current administration is violating every freedom and liberty we have left. We cant complain though. The majority spoke and we lost. All we can do now is form our own little pockets of resistance and create our own utopia. One without war and hate and right wing wacko's and bleeding heart liberals.

(Ok, so that sounded a little too crunchy for me.)

"911 changed every thing!" they bellow at us.

No, you and your cronies changed everything. Well you, your cronies and a few million religious fanatics who still take everything in the Bible literally. Well @ least the parts that work for them.

But lets not get started on that. Religious fanaticism is kind of like an itchy asshole on a long car ride. It annoys the shit out of you but no matter how much you itch it just wont go away until its ready too or you reach the next rest stop. By then the damage is done. They aren't ready to stop and there is no rest stop or shower in sight.

I bash a lot of organized religion here and sometimes I feel bad about it because I'm not ignorant to the fact that most people of faith are good people who live there lives as they see fit and leave the rest of us alone. Faith is a wonderful and powerful thing. I have faith, the guy that pumps gas down the street has faith, even Charlie Manson had faith. We just have our own versions of it. The sorry fact is too many religious folk feel the need to remind us @ how our faith is false and only their own will bring them salvation while the rest of us are damned to eternal suffering. The irony is I could point out so many prominent religious figures over the years that spent there life pointing the finger @ us "sinners" yet in the background they were bilking people out of millions and banging STD infected hookers on the side. Irony is so cliche these days.

I'm off on a rant again. See what happens? So where was I? Oh yeah, Movies. I have always wanted to make my own films and I lugged around a lot of Video Cameras as a youth, making half assed flicks and documentaries with my friends. Most were terrible and are lost unfortunately or fortunately maybe. Anyone that knows me knows my passion for the Motion Picture's has sometimes forced me to make sacrifices that were probably for the worse. Had to stay up and finish the Godfather trilogy for the tenth time then end up being late for work for the tenth time. Spent some bill money on that Special Edition of The Evil Dead even though I own 12 copies of it already. I was hooked on EBay for awhile and bought a lot of DVD's.

In the back of mind the whole time all i wanted to do was make my own. So here we are, the beginning of a new era for me. The Blog is back and the newly launched FORMERLIFEFILMS.COM will be up and running sooner than later I hope. I am trying to reteach myself HTML and the interface on the hosting company I chose sucks. Trust me though it will be up soon. I hope to be able to use it as a launching point and look forward to creating some interesting independent productions. See the Links section on this blog for a direct link.

Look, we all need those little dreams to hang onto. My cousin is a writer and a great one @ that. Anyone that knows me or followed my last Blog know all about Rick and JIGGLEBOX.COM His inspiration over the years has helped to bring me this point. I am not stupid, I know I have to work, pay my bills etc. but my free time will be spent putting as much time and effort into FLF as possible.

I have a camera.

I have a website.

And I have a dream.

I suggest you all do the same. Life is too short.

justin-Oct. 5th 10pm

The Burning Mind recommends:

Go rent or Buy: The Devil in Daniel Johnston on DVD (In depth review coming to formerlifefilms.com)

Be sure to Watch: The Daily Show with John Stewart

So the the Burning Mind Begins, i will randomly post randomly random randomnous on a random basis. FLF will be more movie oriented featuring film reviews, short videos, indie film tips and trips etc.

I love your comments. Please feel free to post away.