The Definition of Success: Blake Mycoskie v. Anthony Franchetti

Success is something we all strive for in life. We constantly yearn for self-validation much like Blake and his personal conquest. Blake sets out to make the world a better place though his own invention (meanwhile making some cash along the way). In no way am I saying that Blake is doing this purely for his own personal monetary gain; he is getting more from this endeavor than just a boatload of money.


Blake is bringing a valuable service to the world. He is reaching out far beyond the typical businessman turned philanthropist (for personal *cough* tax reason). Blake's idea of matching his sales, ie. One for One is a very prominent theme in the book and his business. I feel that we all are called to do this in our own way. It is hard to not notice the local charities and the good that they do with small amounts of money. Blake has taken this idea to a new level and made it a cornerstone of his business.


People who buy TOMs feel good about their purchase. Under Blake's model, the consumer is responsible for putting shoes on on some child’s feet. I think this is probably the most important part of TOMs. The act of buying shoes makes the consumer feel good about what they have just done; something charitable and worthwhile. Now the real question, will they come back for another pair? The answer: ABSOLUTELY. Look at the local population, have you seen the vast shades of pinks and off-greens that roam through the hallways on a warm spring day? TOMs is a statement; I care a lot, so I buy a couple pair. A win-win. Fashionable shoes and a warm and fuzzy feeling on the inside.


Blake’s last and most apparent theme really is the driving force behind the book. The idea that anyone can make a positive difference in the world is a powerful one. Blake business couldn’t have started anymore modestly. Though the right connections and perseverance, he grew an idea into something that could actually feed his family and change the world. Blake really seized an opportunity to change the world one pair of TOMs at a time.


Blake is what I would call successful. Our definitions of success may differ, but her is without a doubt making a difference in the world. My definition of success is still seeking a definition: I’m a senior in high school. My definition of success is getting an A and kicking butt whatever sporting event comes next.





Obviously, this will change over the course of the next few years. It will shift to graduating college, landing a job, and maybe even raising a family. However, I know that if I am happy with myself I will be successful. I just hope I can give back to this community half as much as it has given me. I have really been lucky to be brought up here, and I am grateful to all those who have got me to where I am today. The next few years are going to be interesting and a lot of fun. Who knows, I may even end up selling shoes from my apartment (under my landlord’s nose).

Ham-LIT

One of my biggest contributions to this project was the filming and editing of what D wrote and B acted out. I really enjoyed the process (I mean come on, there are few things I like more than editing film). We did run into a few problems though. The camera's white balance was off in some of the shots, so some of the scenes appeared spray tanned aka orange. However, we all agreed to keep the orange-ish hue, and alter the "regular" clips to look as if they too were shot from the inside of an orange. Next came sound. It was fairly simple to put Vivaldi's Four Seasons over the top of this. It seemed to fit in both subject matter and style. The Four Seasons was a very emotion pice albeit sublet at points, just like Hamlet.

I still need to go in tomorrow and fix some very minor things ( left out a scene :O ). Silly Anthony, tricks are for kids and you can't leave out part of a soliqac[oiaew[ovinwaoevwnvwonv! 

A Portrait Worth Painting

Ah.

Another free period. I'm sitting here in the food court and the table is stick with God-knows-what. Its grosses me out, so I spin the table  counter-clockwise to get to a clean patch of table. The rotation made an ungodly screeching noise; everyone shot a look in my direction (everyone being the operative word). The food court is empty aside from the usuals. There goes M walking to the cafe to get the usual bagel. There goes C. He hates his learning lab so he also goes to the cafe to get his home fries. 

Its eye opening. We are all such creatures of habit. Everyday. Ritual. This really becomes apparent when we are cold. As the temperatures drop we tend to spend more time inside hovering around a warm wood stove stuck in a looped existence of Netfix, bathroom breaks, and the occasional beeping of the oven. The pizza rolls are done.

At first this may seem like a vacation. However, as the weeks turn into months we realize that the nights are not getting any warmer. D eludes to this in his post. This trapped feeling really bites into our soul, and can easily put is in a funk like no other. The cold can wear us down (I think we are all very aware of this). 

There is hope though! We need to use the snow to our advantage. We need to break up the loop! Go for a ski, snowshoe, or perhaps even a night of winter camping? Whatever tickles your fancy... In short, winter can make us all feel trapped, but there is hope. We can escape our warm nest and venture out into the white yonder, ripe with adventure an a dash of beauty. 

Seriously though. Have you ever seen a tree with freshly fallen snow resting on its branches? It is amazing. 

A List of movies I watched over vacation

Starship Troopers - My favorite bad movie. (Writing sucks, plot sucks, but hilariously entertaining)

Starship Tropers 2 - Sequels sucks!

Starship Troopers 3 - Three-quels suck even more!

Starship Troopers: Invasion - Anime = Japanese as F

Who Framed Roger Rabbit - I actually love this movie. Brought me back to childhood even though there are plenty of adult themes thrown in here.

American Beauty - Didn't really care for it. Too long/too cynical for its own good.

Defiance - Kind of a stereotypical WWII movie, but I liked it.

Cashback - LOVED it. (No,not for the amount of female figures in the buff, but the idea was so well done)

Robot and Frank - Old (forgetful) cat burglar and robot team up to steal junk? Freakin' sweet.

Django Unchained - Favorite movie of all time. Love it. Seen it 3 times. Worth every minute.

Rapture-Palooza - The leading gal in this is from Maine! It was an okay movie, entertaining but a touch sophomoric.

Knights of Badassdom - It was a little funny, but it was too up in the air at points.


So in conclusion, I watched a lot of movies this vacation. Some were great. Some were terrible. Either way, I spent wayyyyyy to much time on netflix. Go outside. Go skiing. Go for a run. Cure the common cold. But please, for the love of pete, don't go down the rabbit hole whist on netflix.

A Week in Review

This week started off on the worst of foots; literally everything hit the fan all at the same time. I was knocked back with a sardonic smile and a impersonal slap to the face. I had no idea it was coming. It was a hard pill to swallow to say the least. I was stunned. 

Even now I still don't feel quite right. Mornings are tough; the ringing alarm bell often brings a sense of dread mixed with anxiety. There is relief from all this though, and it's down the hall and to the left. The sensation of warm water running down my body helps to relive the stress of another day at your expense. When I climb out and towel off, I look at the clock. I'm ahead of schedule... again. Maybe it was the thoughts that kept me from sound sleep, or perhaps the shower was cut short due to the lack of hot water. No. It was the thoughts of so many things that were the results of the tossed sheets.

I search for something to wear; nothing is appealing to the eye. I reach, tug, and pull over my head. Jeans are much the same, except I look for what pair is cleanest (least dirty).  Dressed, I look in the mirror; no BBQ stains... I'm good. Food hasn't tasted so great either. Lately it's been a means to an end. Just another chore everyone needs to do. I walk to my pantry and pull put a plain bad of pre-sliced bread, smother it with crunchy peanut butter and eat it on the run. Usually I'd sit down and eat filling bowl of oatmeal but somehow minuets were lost between now and then. I'm running late. I need to get to school. I can't be late.

I load the car and start the engine. Nothing. Frozen. I yell in frustration bit no one is listening; they were smarter than me and they left earlier. I try again. Nothing. Dammit! The second alarm goes off on my phone. It reads go to school now or you are f***ed. Those LED words have never been so right.  One last time... a last ditch effort. She won't start. She starts. She dies. She's cold. She won't start. Turn the key once more. She starts. She's alive. 

On the road I contemplate turning on the radio. Maybe it would warm this impersonal gray interior up a little bit. Maybe it would offer some sort of escape for a moment. I click the button and sound comes though the frozen speakers. It sounds as if I am inside a tin can. Nothing is on. Only adverts and wings about things I don't really wish to think about. I push the button again; nothing is appealing. 

As I pull into the parking lot I see people, but more importantly their relationships with those around them. Frankly, some don't care about anything more than their own personal sphere of influence while others would give you the coat off their back. Others are looking for a misfortune greater than their own so they can find some temporary solace at someone else's expense. It's hard to watch and even harder to see the victims turn into the predictors. You see, it's a cycle of dominance -or something akin to it anyway. Much like out cousins in the jungles, we are always looking for a way to get ahead. Sometimes that is by throwing our feces across rom full of our peers. Sometimes it is stealing a banana. 

You can really see this at the front door (This is the most informative part of my day). This is where you can really see the difference in the two animal kingdoms. Some days there will be older ladies/gentlemen with huge amounts of luggage in tow : they have their hands full. Some people open the door for them and maybe even hold it open for the people behind them. Some will open the door only just enough so that they can sneak though, turning their bodies sideways and walking as fast as possible. 

Once inside the day truly begins. Lately I've thrown myself into my studies. It's nice to be occupied; it brings a certain feeling of fulfillment. Good for the mind. I enjoy learning new things and pushing myself to new heights. It's nice to see your vocabulary expand and the math become easier. It's a good feeling. After school there is skiing; the best part of the day by far. This is where the metal meets the bone. I love the speed of the course and the pop of a properly loaded up ski. However, that's not the best part. There is a side effect to the speed; your mind is focused. Never have I had clearer thoughts in my life. Things are simple when traveling as fast as a car on route four. The clarity feels good and roomy. Personal troubles loose all meaning; there is only space.

The end of practice is sad. The gloom of the morning comes back to me as I load my skis back into my car. The drive home is silent. Once home I unload my equipment and eat with the family. Again, the food is good but I'm not hungry. My parents as I talk about our day and upcoming events. The topics of college and retiring to Florida are the most common. 

Time speeds up at around seven o'clock. I do my homework and spend a little time on Netflix watching some foreign french movie explains how gray everything is (yet it is gritty and no I am not that good at french), Thank God for subtitles. Sometimes I watch Dexter, a show that tries to justify itself and does a decent job of it. I'm on the third season right now. They're getting married and having a child. Anyway...

Before I know it I'm tired. Not the time-to-sleep tired but the I-can't-do-anything-useful-might-as-well-do-nothing kind of tired. So I retire to my bed and a pair of headphones. I start on my playlist entitled "Sadboi" and begin the trip though my guilty pleasures. While listening to the angst filled teens scream (semi-relevant) poetry over twinkly guitar solos I lay as still as possible. It's an odd feeling losing the sensation of the barrier between your skin and the blankets. Sometimes I feel as though I am apart of the bed I sleep in. I am the symbiotic parasite that gives the bed meaning (or maybe it is the other way around?).

When sleep finally overtakes me, I float into a world devoid of dreams. My thoughts are equally as empty but they contain a silence that speaks in volumes; another day is here and I must get ready. The alarm is ringing.
I can't be late for school.
Shower.
Get dressed.
 Eat.
Arrive.
Watch and learn.
Ski and relax.
Come home.
 Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat.  Repeat. 

5.10.25

5 Jobs You See Yourself doing in Your Lifetime (in no order) 

Captain of a ship cruise ship

3rd mate on a ship

Teacher

EMT

Priest

10 Places You Want to Go (in no order) 

Quebec City - go back to a city I once visited when I was young 

South Africa - to experience a different culture 

Sydney, Australia - Same as above

Montana - Ski the pow

Colorado - Ski the pow

Antartica - Been where no wo/man has been 

Japan - See the culture and History

Baveno Italy - See where my ancestors came from 

The Vatican City - Go to a mass the Pope is saying 

Alaska - Somewhere that is uninhabited 

25 Things You Want to do at Some Point in Your Life (in no order) 

Be happy 

Have a family

Restore industry in Wilton

Pilot a ship across international seas

Travel alone

Fly a plane 

Coach a team

Teach a class

Actually use the French I’ve learned

Help someone in their time of need

Make the most of a bad situation

Get married

Have children 

Flip a house 

Learn how to fix a motor 

Live in the woods alone for at least 4 months

Never let money become the only reason for my life

Stay close with my siblings 

Make a positive difference 

Graduate from high school & college 

See my children graduate from high school & college 

Hear my brother’s voice 

Give back to my parents & family 

Watch the sun come up from atop a mountain 

Find the meaning to life 

This was a list created for an economics class, but I thought it would work pretty well here. Thank to Mr. Condon for the prompt. Hopefully I'll accomplish what I have above, even though they are contradictory. I guess life is all about sacrifices, right? We wade through our decisions and live with what we have done no matter how heavy it bears on us. We toil; sweat and bleed to make a situation better, yet the world around you remains an unwavering shade of sardonic gray.

These days are the ones that define us and make us who we are; the product of ourselves. Ultimately there will be a point in life where we can't blame anyone else for who we are. We have to answer for what we have done. We have to take responsibility for who we are and what we have created. Good, bad, and indifferent we are still people; imperfect and flawed. 

The poetic part:

This is what makes us whole. Our shortcomings are what define who we are and what we can do. A complete life can't be had unless you have some unsavory experiences now and then. How else could we learn to clean up spilt milk, recover from injury, or mend a broken heart? We have to learn from experience. A human experience. A life experience. 

Hamlet 3X3

Power Corrupts Family

All Consuming  Revenge

Nobility Crumbles Together

You Will Be Forgotten... And That's OK

I had some time to kill today, so I decided to hunt around on the wonderful blog list to find some insightful posts. Lucky for me, I found M's post. She describes what it means to think and how our thoughts are often jumbled and not clear. I completely agree with this concept, and I often find myself thinking in fragments and jumping from one topic to another.

I had one of these sporadic thinking episodes today. I culled up a memory from way back in freshman year. I was asked to write what my biggest goal was in life on a wall. After some thought, I took the stick of chalk and pressed it to the wall. Much as everyone does,  I wanted to be remembered and well thought of after I was long gone (aka dead). I felt that if I did a certain amount of good in the world, my name would go down in the history books. Maybe they would even build a monument of me!

Looking back on this thought, I realize how frivolous it is. Although noble, it isn't an attainable goal. It is impossible (and somewhat vain) for me to think that I can get the story of my life into each and every person's mind in the world. Don't get me wrong, I still hope do a lot of good in the world and I hope to see that it makes a positive difference, but I can't expect that someone will remember me for it. When it comes down to it, would you rather have someone remember you for your good deeds or pay it forward and help others that need it? I think the answer is an easy one.

On a side note, Hank Green talk at great length on this subject. He really sinks his teeth into this topic, and I find him to be not only correct, but very entertaining. You can see the video below.

Now, off to find a new life goal...

Happy? Yeah, that's a good one.

Cheery Colors

Sorry Hamlet, you're color pallet isn't exactly what I'd call appealing. Hammy, I hate to say this, but you were going though a lot of emoticons/emojis during the time we spent together. Seriously dude, would it kill you to stop listening to all this shoegazey stuff? It might make you feel better. Any who, time to explain these colors.

First we start off with a nice yellow. The color of chivalry, no? Is there a more nobel and respected color in the world? I mean come on, people live to pull stuff from the earth with this color! We place it on the fingers of the ones we want to spend the rest of our lives with... This is how you're journey starts off Hamlet. It begins with a nobel quest given to you by ghost-dad. How bad could it go?

Next we have a faded red. The notion of the plan is getting to you. You think too much Hamlet! You let the questions fester and eat at you. You wait, pass up opportunities and miss the mark. The plan only makes you more upset though. Your passion is only growing stronger.

Although your passion is growing, you see the nobility in the plan fading away. Is revenge ever truly justified? (Bear with me here) Even though it may feel right and it may even justified, it never makes one feel any better does it? The effect of the warpath always hurts more than just the target, and Hamlet is figuring out this at this point in the play.

Next we have black. An utter blackness comes over the whole ensemble. Characters are picked off left and right, and the action is reaching a fever pitch. Nothing is right anymore. Hamlet actions can't be justified. He is consumed by revenge and in a fog of madness.

Finally we have bloodlust. This color represents more than just Hamlets actions. Laertes is consumed by his two losses, and vows to avenge them. The King kills Gertrude with a misplaced act of insurance. The world that revolves around Hamlet is crumbling and disintegrating. Everyone is dead and hot passion is splayed across floor.

Thanks Shakespeare. You always leave us with happy endings.

Today

Its a strange feeling, knowing that all the time you've spent was for not. Nothing you can say or do will change it. It doesn't matter how many times you try to fix it. It doesn't matter that you will it to be better. It simply won't change.

I guess you can equate it to smashing your face off of a piece of granite. No matter how many teeth you break, no matter how many times you crack your jaw, no matter how many times you split your skull open, the granite won't budge. You're earthly resolution simply cannot move the stone that lay before you. So you sit down (back to the white gold) and cry. The tears feel strange sliding down your face; jagged and sullen. You bring your hand up to the cuts, bumps and protrusions and feel the hot passion seep from you. The metallic smell clogs your nostrils; you're upset now. 

You stand up from your temporary mourning and attack the stone again, bashing your hands no fists in a fury of disillusioned disappointment. Hammering away. Smacking the stone, but the pain does not wound you. In fact, it does not phase you; you receive pain nor pleasure from the act. Alas, it takes away the feelings and thoughts of a time that has passed you by. Yet you savor the moments and memories as if they were home and you were away at sea for years. You savor them as if they were the lighthouse guiding you back home from a raging storm. You have seen the light it casts and used it as a compass. But that lighthouse has lost it's fire. Its gone, and you left stranded on the high sea; naked and helpless, however, you still have that big-ass-piece-of-granite-that-you-constantly-smash-your-face-off-of-because-it-makes-you-think-of-anything-but-the-lighthouse-you-so-desperately-wish-was-illuminated. 

So here you are. One hurt and helpless sum'bitch with a big 'ole chunk of rock. You sail around the sea for a while; it's a sucky journey to say the least. Everyday you smash your face on the rock until one day a thought occurs,

"This rock is actually worth something to someone" 

or what one would actually be thinking after months of constant concussions

"ROCK=$$$"

So you set sail for the nearest port and sell that damn rock. You count the cash it has brought you and go out to eat at the most expensive restaurant in the world and then proceed to the most expensive bathroom in the world only to deposit the most expensive human byproduct ever conceived! Upon sitting on the throne of great ideas, you realize that the lighthouse doesn't really matter to you anymore. Sure, you still miss it, but you no longer need it.You've got something new now. Something different. Nothing as cool as a freaking lighthouse, but an emotion more extreme and important; you are content with yourself. You're going to be a-okay. 

You climb back to the ship's helm, blow the horn, and set sail for something new.  Sure, it is a little bit difficult to feel a little bit disappointed and passed over, but you look right through it. Your eyes are on the obvious; the future (and apparently nothing). 

"Thinking Punctuation"

After reading and listening to K's post, I realized that so many thing are lost in interpretation. How many times have we said something and someone else took it the completely opposite way? For example,

"Wow, you look nice to today!"

Complement, right?

"Wow, you look nice today"

Thanks dude. I totally feel the feels...

"WOW! YOU LOOK NICE TODAY!"

Where do I get a restraining order?

Inflection and punctuation are so important. One can't see the periods, comma, italics, and bolds in spoken language. Yes, we can infer by using inflection, but it is incredibly hard to think the punctuation that someone is saying. Try next time you are having a conversation. Actually think out the sentence you just said, and the one you just heard. It could actually help you bight your tongue when you're about to say something that makes you look foolish!

I find this tactic really helpful when I find myself in a class that I'm having trouble keeping my focus in. Thinking the punctuation, and seeing the sentence in one's head keeps one engaged in the conversation (really helpful at boy's state... some of those old dudes won't stop talking) and work towards building a valuable next sentence. It is our duty to provide intelligent speech to the masses and become a more intelligent society!

Did you see that movie? Time travel? Average Joe? Gatorade fountains?

Yeah, lets stay away from all that.

Dearest Bub; An Open Letter

Let me tell you Bub, 

When it's cold out and the skiing is wicked, you suck it up. My feet may still be numb and the frostbite on my save is slowin fading away, but it was worth it dammit! Have you ever experienced four-let me repeate-FOUR feet of fresh unadulterated pow pow?! That's FOUR feet of pure unadulterated be pic bliss. It's should have been delclared a holy day in the realm of skiing. All should have left work- wait no.

 No you can't  leave work. The pow pow only stays fresh for so long... Nevermind. Don't heed what I said up there. It's not that great, I mean like it's definitely stiffeners skiing and my feet are still numb. I should probably do something about that too... Do you want your feet I be numb? No! Of course not! You want to feel the sand in between your toes when you go off to Jamacia. 

^ frostbite isn't worth it. Look like a toolbag instead. Wear your Neckie. 

Much love,

AF

Foster's Shakespeare

Foster gives us interesting insight to Shakespeare and what he brings to the world's table. Unknowingly, we live in world that is surrounded and thriving off of Shakespeare's works and ideas. Imagine if the Englishmen did what most white guys do now, and copywrited/trademarked his intellectual property (#whatevenisthat #chillbro). He would be one more absurdly rich dead white guy.

Either way, Foster sums up his passage by saying that Shakespeare is a revolving door; his stories and the mannerism of his stories constantly show up in popular culture. He is basically the fore-father of modern entertainment, and we owe much to him.

But seriously though. Who the hell can understand the OG Shakespeare?