Jacob’s Escalator

This is a post idea that I’ve been playing with since In the Thunderlight was first added as a category. Pokemon has always been one of my greater interests, and it’s been one of the very hardest to explain. On first glance everything Pokemon-related looks hopelessly complicated. In reality, it’s not too difficult to understand, when properly explained. The concept is rather strange, but once you’ve gotten used to it, it’s pretty easy to keep in mind.The problem is, entirely, the sheer amount of relevant information that needs to be taken in to understand the beginning concepts of what Pokemon are. Hopefully, through examples, I can make these concepts relatively clear and give an idea how the concept of Pokemon works. I won’t get into the card or video games in this particular post; that’s a subject for later. Read More »

Isn’t it strange how we take things and warp their original meaning or significance? I mean, look at Christmas if Thanksgiving isn’t enough proof - Christmas has ceased to be about ‘Christ’ in about 80% of all cases. Whether or not this is bad, of course, is entirely up to you.

Thanksgiving, I think, was originally intended to honor and celebrate the Native Americans’ kindness in helping us found this nation. Although I’m a little less inclined to like our country some than people think I should be, I’m certainly all for Thanksgiving’s patriotic little theme (if only because I’m there for the food, followin’ behind Dad over there). Either way, though, I think our current definition for Thanksgiving, while entirely unrelated to its original, is a little better, a little more realistic and more relevant; it’s a day to remind ourselves that we have so much, and that it can be reduced to so little in a heartbeat. So savor it, and be appreciative! Read More »

I would like to take this time to announce my mother’s blog, Defying Sunshine.

I’ve never had the privelege of hearing what my mother ’sounds like’ in text, in an extended format as a blog would present. I know that I’m considerably more articulate in this kind of medium, when I have time to consider and revise my words rather than having to write everything mentally on the fly and hope it means what I think it means. I’m sure Kris is no stranger to this feeling, and I’m excited to read what she has to say when given the time to say it in its full, appropriate construction.

In her introductory post Kris (Uh… mom) gives a bit of elaboration to the name Defying Sunshine, and specifically the idea that she doesn’t really know or particularly care what it means. It’s, somehow, very fitting for her; it seems difficult to pin any single meaning or metaphor onto it that really defines why it fits her. I think this is because there are so many different comparisons that can be made.

Sunlight, to us, is life. It’s energy, goodness, and light all in one great ball of searing-hot plasma. Qualities that are supposedly good and attractive to the less mature of us seem to be symbolized in that ball - we don’t look on the ‘dark side’ of the sun and its meanings. We might not be here without its light and heat, but perhaps it’s doing as much harm as it is good. Or maybe even more. Isn’t it killing us just as quickly, in radiation and in overheating?

Or perhaps we think metaphorically instead. The sun is happiness - do you ever see an angry sun? (Outside of the realm of video games, I should clarify.) We could compare this to ignorance easily, for we all know ignorance is bliss… but not for everyone around you. There are a good many times we’d rather not let the idiots around us control the majority of the world.

I think the most valid comparison is the simplest of all, and is embodied in her (brilliant) top header.  I think she is a calm, happy snowman that refuses to let a little sunshine ruin her day.

I love you, Mom. Sun be damned.