Parables of Monsters

I am in the mood today to discuss about monsters. I really like monsters. Not the everyday monsters we see walking the dogs or in the store, but the monsters which become an irrational fear. Take for instance a child eating giant with spikes covering his entire body. Or a half woman half snake creature which kills souls, not bodies.

What is a monster? A phantom which haunts and plagues the minds of children? A demon which sulks the shadows? Or rather a small innocuous-looking thing that can actually be vicious? A monster is not imaginary nor out of this world. A monster is an identity that people carry. The next door neighbor may in fact be
a monster. Children hide from monsters, however adults can too. And sometimes
the monster may never be unstoppable and others may not know a monster does
exist. It can be the fatal cut which infects your body and allows you your
torment and woe. A monster can also be a beautiful creature which despite
its deformities, a flawed and imperfect creation. A monster can be born with
a clean slate and naturally good tendencies, or with selfish ones.

Because it's monster time, I would suggest the following: Frankenstein, The Spirit of the Beehive, The Devil's Backbone, Monster, Where the Wild Things Are, and of course, the one with the fairy-chomping, eye-in-hands pale man, uh, Pan's Labyrinth.

The Crippling Ego

I have been reading Ayn Rand's The Fountainhead for a few weeks now. So far, it's been a completely interesting and engaging read. The characters are exceptional albeit sometimes symbols rather than people. The book however got me questioning the ideals of the human ego and individualism. Ayn Rand's quote that man's ego is the fountainhead of human progress pretty much sums up the book and does sound nice on paper. Otherwise if you dare say that aloud and claim it as your basic code of life, well then, you'd be an arrogant dickhead.


The thing about man's ego and his pride is that, well how far can it stretch before you can break it. Observing that has always been an interesting hobby though I have neglected it for a bit too long. Sometimes it is nice to relax and observe others, however as of late I am not observing others, rather more often than not berating group members for not contributing their share into a project. I am not a very angry or irritable person, actually I find that if everyone works hard that there will be some harmony within a group. I truly want people who love their work. Well maybe not love it, but passionate about it. That way if they yell at me that it's usually about some creative idea rather than telling me about how unfair I am. Listen people, listen up! Wouldn't it be great if everyone was a Howard Roark and a Henry Cameron (well before he became a drunk)?




Now that I am done about talking about the breakable human ego, I would like to share some cupcake photos, because they are beautiful. However, they remind me of the feast and the Pale Man.


They are similiar in how you can't eat it so it's torture. And remember how Ofelia eats two grapes and almost suffers the wrath of the Pale Man? Well, lick the computer screen and get some electric charge or some weird diarrhea from the paper.