in a random search for a picture of the tiger known as Hobbes (made famous by Bill Watterson's comics), i came across a plethora of images, mainly fan-fic comics and art, that seemed to focus on a future Calvin: teenager, college, or even grown up with kids of his own. i came across one in particular that struck me. it led me to think of problems that we seem to have in raising our kids nowadays and where our focus lies as we get older. here's the comic below:

the loss of imagination is huge, but the real thing that stuck was why Calvin ignores Hobbes. "mom says the pills must be working"? the kid that i remember being so much like a no-holds-barred, adventurous youth that i could identify with, and yet, quite pensive and intelligent in the way that he viewed life around him has need for pills? i can only assume he was diagnosed as A.D.D. or something because he didn't have the drive to focus on the menial tasks of homework assigned to him by his teacher, Ms. Wormwood. sure, he always came up with excuses, did what ever he could to get out of doing the work, or did what he thought would be acceptable (like giving the honest answer, "i don't know," to an entire set of questions assigned), but his sense of what was important to him always appeared intact.
this comic, obviously trying to make a statement, got me thinking about all the people that i know, including me, that may have have had a drive for something when young that was put to the wayside because of the ambitions forced upon you by a system that seems to want to create us all in the same image.
so what happens to the Calvin in us? why have the vast majority of us decided to take the pills handed to us? better yet, why are we being handed pills in the first place? i feel that the last one is easiest to answer, but then someone will start spouting conspiracy theories (probably me!).
but in all seriousness, seeing a comic like this disturbs me. (well, maybe a little less because someone else out there notices this problem and is using Calvin to make a point. i see it as a negative, but i don't know the authors purpose so i might have jumped the gun on my little bit of congruency with someone out there :P ) either way you look at it, there is something inhibiting the normal function of humanity: to follow your innate dreams and desires. i can only recall Calvin hurting one person following his ambitions, and that is Suzie but usually he got his just deserts! (learning consequences through failure... no babying there!) regardless, kids should play and there are too many things out there trying to stop them. grownups need to play, too. i strongly believe that growing up is learning to play responsibly... mom and dad shouldn't have to be there to tell you when to come in for dinner/bedtime/homework. you're on your own, take responsibility, not a pill. until then---

thoughTs whIle StariNG at A WalL

first, i think that i love the way Elton John sings the word "funny." have a listen sometime.

second, Silversun Pickups (SSPU) rock my world. i just picked up Swoon, their second release and i'm entirely stoked to finally listen through. the first single was solid and is actually only the third single ever from an independent label (Dangerbird Records) to hit #1 on Billboard (a story on it here)
when we were in japan, glenn and i were toying with the idea of trying to court Dangerbird with our album once it gets finished. i think that they must be doing something right: SSPU isn't exactly the pop band that seems to be the norm to top billboard with solid songs that definitely breach the 4-5 minute mark that get radio play. please don't get me wrong. nothing can be taken away from SSPU's pure tenacity when it comes to doing their thing, but in a world where there are many great bands that will never see the stage the way SSPU does now simply because of how labels have generally ruined the music business, Dangerbird has managed to fly. until then---