Saturday, April 6, 2013

The Price of Privilege: Rags to Riches/Riches to Rags >> Porcelain Utopia

Random Thought of the Day


The Price of Privilege:  Rags to Riches/Riches to Rags


Privilege: a right or immunity granted as a peculiar benefit, advantage, or favor, such a right or immunity attached specifically to a position or status.


And thus my thoughts: 



"A sense of responsibility comes as a direct result with a privileged, abundant, and grand life, even when it’s all become lost—rags to riches, then riches to rags, misfortune to fame, etc., and on all fronts, all occupations. People like myself, and others with any otherwise unbelievable amount of privilege, have a huge amount of responsibility. Living in a “free” society with extraordinary wealth. Even when it’s all gone away, we still deal with responsibility. When we have material or status, we then have the kind of responsibility, which others do not have, and this responsibility is at a minimum, to teach our own selves about such power, fame, success, and public status. Otherwise it becomes just a matter of whether we, and whether I, in my own situation, believe in morality, or not. And I do. I do find the more I might talk too much about it—whether it's about things in my possession or having been taken away; the more I mention it, the more I lose it, it seems. Go figure. And it does bring up some uncomfortable feelings—both the losses and the gains."


To quote H.L. Mencken, “It is hard to believe a man is telling you the truth when you know you would lie if you were in his place…"


I believe that it is better to tell the truth than a lie. I believe it is better to be free than to be a slave. And I believe it is better to know than to be ignorant.


Henry Mencken has been regarded as one of the most influential American writers of all time.


Jonathan Harnisch

Respecting Copyrighted Artistic Work

JH BANNER !


Random Thought of the Day


A fellow artist and friend of mine recently wrote me about accessing bootleg CDs and DVDs I own, which I received from certain record companies, and from the English rock band Duran Duran directly, and those with whom I used to work, when I was much more involved in the entertainment business while in New York and then Hollywood from the 1990s through 2008.


And thus my paraphrased [note-form] response on my beliefs in respecting copyright laws:



"I used to work in the business (Hollywood—Film/TV/owned recovery center (A&E’s “The Cleaner” that was me but didn’t take credit)—helping public figures, actors, political figures and musicians, and studio stuff. Worked a bit w/ Duran Duran [DD] (mainly John in Santa Monica & Venice) and @ Elias Studios, LA (from Big Thing [album]). Have over 1,200 Duran Duran tunes, films, and a 1,200 sq. ft. “museum,” a special building on property, but for personal enjoyment, w/ Duran Duran collectibles and nostalgia… some DD CD/DVDs are extremely rare and since I am still in showbiz (2 films/3 novels, and  a music album—under my own copyright—coming out this year—2013.) I now live more quietly and peacefully in NM (not NY/LA) w/ my lovely wife, on our farm (w/ 28 and counting animals, it’s fun!) Wish I could share/send some amazing art, but I pretty much adhere to copyright laws. So my apologies, good friend. It's out of respect and honor for the artist/s, whomever he/she/they might be. In this case Duran Duran, my inspiration. As for myself, I'm just not OK about sharing copyrighted material not owned by myself. I'm no longer w/ much of the old Hollywood & music industry crew these past few years, mostly keeping with some international film and literary distribution and publishing, especially in the UK & just fun art work since my health deteriorated around 2006. I don't usually talk much about some of my work, and I will, at times, credit myself under a pseudonym—on all fronts, film/lit/music, but rock on Duran Duran!"


Long live art!


Jonathan Harnisch

Friday, April 5, 2013

Sudden Blurry Vision >> Porcelain Utopia

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Sudden Blurry Vision: I’m voice posting this to avoid syntactical errors, and all is <a class="StrictlyAutoTagAnchor" href="http://www.jharnisch.com/tag/ok/" title="View all articles about OK here">OK, yet about 30 minutes ago my vision suddenly became extremely blurry with a following overlapping double vision effect. I was able to look at my eyes in the mirror (nothing like red/blood). Just odd. Recently I had my eyes checked again, and yet again I do not suffer from any eye disease. I have reversed my diabetes, and there have been no diet changes today. It’s just bizarre; looking around for any causes, I first notified my doctors who showed little concern, and while I have dyslexia with convergence insufficiency and extreme astigmatism since age two, I’m nearsighted, and also legally blind since 1988. As a writer, I am unable to read what I’ve written, only very brief text or enlarged text, or using text to speech software. I’ve always seen what I do while relying on common sense and judgment. My nearsightedness would rule out presbyopia, then cataracts, glaucoma, and macular degeneration being the cause? After all I’m only 37, not 60 or over which is when any degeneration is more likely to occur. And surely it’s not any sudden retinal detachment or temporary inflammation. Oh well, I’ll just wait and see. Surely it’ll pass. It’s just immensely strange. Nonetheless, it’s still a great day. I’m always keeping up with my own power of resiliency while keeping it all as ‘pozzie’ (positive) as ‘possie’ (possible)—word play—as I continue rolling along, having fun and happy overall, and all the while still stirring things up, in my own “J” way. Besides retinal detachment usually presents itself as a feeling that a curtain is being drawn over the affected eye. If both eyes are blurry, it is probably just exhaustion as I’ve been in quite the hypomanic productivity zone. It could also indicate a rather normal occurrence of temporary lower blood sugar, or simply something irritating my eyes.


A half hour later: Nevertheless, having just eaten a small healthy meal, this blurry vision experience is nothing I can’t challenge myself to deal with—the ‘what is’ and not the ‘what is not.’


—Jonathan Harnisch here">Jonathan Harnisch

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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Quote for the Soul

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Be quiet.


Learn to be silent more and more, and loving, because if your silence does not love it will make you insensitive. Then your silence is that of a cemetery—dull, dead. It will not be a silence that can celebrate, sing, dance and bloom in a thousand and one flowers. And love is only possible if you are fearless.


The man who is afraid cannot love.


—Jonathan Harnisch here">Jonathan Harnisch

 

Monday, April 1, 2013

April is Autism Awareness Month

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April is Autism Awareness Month


People with autism may possess the following characteristics in various combinations and in various degrees of severity: Inappropriate laughing or giggling, inappropriate attachments to objects, insistence of sameness, may echo words or phrases, no real fear of dangers, apparent insensitivity to pain, may not want to cuddle or be touched, may avoid eye contact, may prefer to be alone, may have difficulty expressing needs, and may spin objects or themselves. Often those with autism are amazingly gifted.


The puzzling pattern of the colorful autism awareness ribbon reflects the mystery and complexity of autism, or autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The colors and shapes represent the diversity of those living with the disorder of autism. The brightness of the ribbon (in the featured image above) is a signal of hope, through research and increasing awareness in people like us and people like you.


Please spread the word of awareness for autism.


As for myself, autism is my superpower!


Jonathan Harnisch

Happy April Fools Day! >> Porcelain Utopia

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Happy April Fool's Day!


Happy April Fools Day

Pulling any brilliant pranks or getting pranked yourself?


Please share!


Jonathan Harnisch

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