Help fight for the Truth!

A popular Japanese rock band Dir En Grey has made out a letter to the open public and has asked for help from people all around the world!
Please help and be apart of this!

http://www.facebook.com/notes/a-knot-army/dir-en-greys-fight-for-the-truth/256898164322036

If you cannot open the link, here it is...

Japanese rockers DIR EN GREY have released the following open letter expressing their feelings about this year's tragedy in their home country:

"The earthquake this March took the lives of many people, including many DIR EN GREY supporters. Now, in many places throughout the country, high radiation levels have been detected; everyone, including ourselves, has been exposed to the radiation and there are even some who say the contamination is so bad we are at risk to not be able to travel to the USA and other countries in the future.

"On March 11th, the band was in the studio in Tokyo working on the new album when the earthquake hit. Afterwards the power shortages and transportation chaos caused further complications, and our many thoughts crossed our mind: 'Will this album really be completed?'; 'Will we ourselves be able to continue working towards the completion?'; and 'Is it right to continue making this album?'

"August 3rd 2011 is the release date of our new album, 'Dum Spiro Spero'. This normally would have been a wonderful day where our work was to be released out into the world. However, there are still many people in Japan suffering from the disaster and so with the intention of self-restraint, we will to refrain from words of joy on this occasion. But we cannot stop moving forward due to this.

"We are currently in Japan; however, it is unclear to what extent the government's statements are correct, and to be honest, no one really knows what is going on in Japan right now. The safety regulations for safe level of radiation exposure keep getting increased higher and higher, yet the only official announcement is that 'there is no effect on health.'

"We can no longer tell whether we are a democratic nation. Unless you are careful with your words, you will be taken down with significant force. At this point, we do not have the ability to truly find out what is occurring in our own country. However, we want to know the truth. People are able to overcome huge obstacles and problems if they know the truth.

"In the album title 'While I Breath I Hope', and our music video 'Different Sense' that we released just prior to the album, our sense of wanting to take action that will lead to a breakthrough in the current situation is reflected.

"The beginnings of something as significant as the velvet revolution are said to have been in the 'Prague Spring' which was started by a rallying of people of culture.

"For all of you who have read this, we ask that you do what you can to support us in our search for the truth."


SPREAD THE WORD!!!! Put this on your FaceBook pages, Blogs, Twitters, e-mail this to your colleagues, friends, teachers, family, GET THE WORD OUT THERE!

Healthy dose of "point of view"

Hello Everyone,

Recently I've made a post on my facebook account about the incident in Norway and about Amy Winehouse's death. It was...and I quote

"First, my prayers and thoughts go out to those in Norway, such a horrible tragedy.... Second, Amy Whinehouse dead? Obvious OD...now up until now I had completely forgotten about her very existence as I'm sure many have, also...I'm not surprised about her OD, I AM surprised she lived as long as she did (sorry to those that liked her, I didn't lol)"

Instantly I was smacked in the face by multiple people claiming that I was laughing and "happy" about AW's death. And giving sympathy to those in Norway that I knew nothing about and "could have deserved what they got", for all I know...::rolls eyes::

First off, I understand VERY clearly that no one deserves to die, especially when its not a 'natural cause'. But understand me when I say that it doesn't mean that I can't have strong feelings against specific people and FEEL that they deserve whatever they get. Yes its true, I don't know AW's life story, nor do I care to know, and I don't know very much about her at all. What I do know is, when someone dies of a specific way as an over dose because they have an addiction to drugs or alcohol (or both), it is obvious they knew what they were doing to themselves and didn't care about their own lives to stop before the tragedy. AW was offered and even begged to get help on several occasions. She even made a very popular song about her refusal to get help. Now I'm no expert, but doesn't that make her responsible for her own death since she refused ANY hep???? She as an adult is responsible for herself anyway, right? So how can people feel so sad and sorry for someone whom obviously did not care about their own life. Yet people that feel disappointment or pity or even anger towards that same individual get ridiculed for it? We are told we are open to our own opinions, yet get shunned for that very thing. Just because we don't show sympathy....
My honest and full blown uncensored feelings and opinion about this particular situation is....She did not care about herself in any way shape or form. Yes she may have had mental or past issues that lead her down the path she did, but no one ever FORCED her on a daily basis to take the drugs, to drink the alcohol, to do whatever it was she constantly did. She knew exactly what she was doing to herself and did not care. She may not of had the clear state of mind the full consequences, but she knew on some level. Everyone does. Who knows, she may have thought that she was doing herself some good...All I can say though was that her death was NOT a shock at all. Did she deserve it? Probably not, I was not a fan of hers, I didn't like her at all, so I'm not of a place to say. Am I sad about her death? No, I don't know anything about her other than the weird make up and snookie hair, and that rehab song she had. How can I be sad about a celebrity figure that I had no feelings about? I don't believe in celebrities (more on that in another blog). I don't feel bad for them when they die in OD ways.

About the people in Norway, when people; children, teenagers, even adults, are killed in a brutal sick manner...Of course I'm going to send out my sympathy to them and their families. When your life is suddenly taken from you by another person in a quick and sick manner, of course its sad. I am a paranormal investigator, on a regular basis I have investigated (and have future investigations) about people that were murdered suddenly and taken from their loved ones in a sudden grotesque way. No one should ever play God with peoples lives...when it comes to their own life, no one can stop them but themselves, but when it comes to an innocent un-expecting soul...wth? Seriously? People like that should be put in an electric chair and fried ::coughcoughcaseyanthonycoughcough::....So I send my thoughts and prayers to those that lost loved ones during that whole thing, and I got criticized for giving them sympathy...Really? Yes...I get yelled at for showing NO sympathy to a celebrity drug addict that died of an over dose, and for SHOWING sympathy to a bunch of innocent people that were brutally murdered in Norway....does this make sense? Please tell me so I can understand if it does make sense to you...

This is my point of view on the two unique situations that happened on the same day. It is my opinion and freedom to feel and think the way I do. For ANYONE to feel and think the way they do. Yes I have been through a lot in my life to where I should understand AW's unique situation and that she was probably just hurting. Well here's what I have to say to THAT....I have friends that have been through WORSE than even what I went through and none of them are loaded on drugs, none of them get drunk on a daily/hourly basis, and they all have become respected and admirable human beings. While some people try to find excuses of why people take drugs, I find reasons why they should never take drugs. Its easy to take drugs and forget about your problems and drift into an altered mind state, but it takes a REAL human/adult/person to not take the drugs and deal with the issues that life has handed them and to learn and move on from it.


For now, I leave you with this...


“When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.” - Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Yin Yang Sakura

To forgive or be forgiven...that is the question

Hello everyone,

A lot of people wonder consistently whenever they get into some sort of fault with someone "Should I forgive them?" but one thing that not many people think is "Should they forgive me?" Yes it is a simple reverse psychology thing. However, you would be surprised how often it should happen. We, as humans, fight a lot. We argue, yell, scream, get angry, say things we shouldn't, make the situation worse, say other things that have nothing to do with the current argument, start yelling louder so you can be heard over the other person, say things you know will purposely make the other one more pissed than you, try to match being as pissed as the other person *GASP* shall I go on? Point is, its human nature to have conflict in your life. People like to tell me "I'm not a conflict person, I avoid it all the time." and my (honest) response is "Then you're not human. And you're obviously not being honest with yourself." We all have problems, whether its work, family, friends, or relationships. We all have problems that lead to conflict, and if you avoid it, then you're lying to yourself and making your own situation worse.

Truth is, there's nothing wrong with conflict. Yes it can end relationships, long term friendships, make you lose your job, or potential job, make you kicked out of your own family...but if it weren't for you or someone confronting their honest thoughts/problems/drama about something, then nothing will be accomplished, and you or they become a ticking time bomb. Believe me, I was there. I was afraid to speak up, hated the thought of getting into arguments since I grew up with it all around me, did whatever I could to avoid it. Guess where it got me? Got divorced, lost a couple of friends, and almost lost one of my best and most dearest friends. It bottles up and when you can't take the pressure any more (could be hours, days, even years), you blow up. And you could blow up for no reason; could be just because a woman isn't getting her baby to stop crying, teenagers talking in a movie theater, some guy cutting you off on the highway. Now blow ups are always bad because you want to get everything off your chest all at once and that's when the bad things happen. I've seen people kill themselves as a way of blowing up, people killing other people because of blowing up, people getting into stupid bar fights, slapping or physically hurting someone they love, abusing medications. All these things can be just from something as simple as bottling up thoughts, problems, emotions, concerns just because that person didn't want to confront their issues because of their fear of conflict.
However, because of this, some people do the reverse thing which isn't much better. They constantly confront their problems. And they tend to vent on one or a few of the same people over and over again. Whether it be as something as big as work issues that makes them want to quit on a daily basis, thinking their husband/wife is cheating on them, or their boss is sexually harassing them. To something as small as, someone making a snide comment about something else, teenagers acting stupid in a store, or a pet animal that won't stop making noises. It can become extremely annoying and frustrating on the other people that have to listen to it constantly on a repetitive cycle over and over again. To where when the person comes to them with a real problem (or another small problem) they blow up, something like "You always have something to bitch about, but never anything good to say!" or "All I hear all the time is bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch BITCH, but never do I hear you asking about me or how I feel, or whats going on in my life!" or "You wanna know why your life sucks so bad? Because you never have anything good to say about it! If you just grew up and stopped worrying about the small things in life, you'd realize that there's more to life than just the bad!" or even "I'm so sick and tired of this! Call me when you have something good to say about your pitiful life! You have no idea what it is to really be miserable! You don't care to see how good you have it! Get over it and stop complaining to me about the small crap!" Either way it goes, its never good.
So the simple explanation along with nearly everything in life....moderation...However, for those that don't know how to work out a moderation, and still get stuff off your chest and you happen to get into these situations....or you have someone who has done this and you're in the situation of not wanting to deal with them ever again...here's what I have to say...Think outside the box. Seriously, look outside of the situation, look at them from their point of view...
If they're venting way too much, see what it is that they're searching for...maybe they just want to know that someone is there for them? Maybe they're sick of the repetition in their lives that they need a small change? Maybe they're really having a real issue that they're not talking about, so they talk about other things to cover the main issue? Have you ever calmly told them in a nice manner that they complain too much? Have you given them advice to help them enjoy their days better? Have you tried to help the situation rather than not say anything at all?
Now if they blew up on you after all the times they sat there and listened to you...Think about it. How many times a week did you complain? Did you ever have anything good to say about your day or even about whatever problem or issue you're going through? Have you ever sat there, not said a word, to let them tell you their issues, and done it more than once? And have you ever met up with them or called them just to talk or hang out, not to complain or talk about your day? Did you ever call them just to see if they wanted to vent?
Say, a dear friend blew up on you out of the blue...Have they ever vented? Did they ever talk about their issues? Whether it be family, work, friends, relationships...did they ever talk about problems that go on? Have they ever opened up about any worries or concerns? Have they opened up at all? If you've ever tried to have them talk, did they just say "No it's ok, its not a big deal" or "its nothing to worry about." or "No I'm fine, seriously don't worry about me". Without having to sit them down and pry at them for them to open up, have they ever willingly talked about private issues, with anyone?

Sometimes while we think that we're waiting for the other person to ask for forgiveness or if you're waiting to hear if you're forgiven...Take a moment and think outside the box. Should you be making them apologize? Should you be asking for forgiveness as much as you have been? Its ok to apologize to anything you feel you may have done wrong, (we are only human) however, explain yourself if you feel you deserve an apology as well. Never demand an apology, but explain why you feel you deserve one.
But...just remember, its not the end of the world, if you don't get one. Just understand, they have their reasoning too...even if they just want to be a jerk, let them. It may not be from them, but you will eventually get an apology that you deserve to hear.

For now, I leave you with this...

"You will not be punished for your anger, you will be punished by your anger." -Buddha


Yin Yang Sakura

Always stay neutral...

Hello Everyone,

When you live with a big family, whether it be a large number of siblings (all step, half, and whole) or happen to live with aunts, uncles, and cousins. You tend to be into each others business's a lot. Sometimes it just happens because you're around each other so much you either catch ear of something or you can just sense it. However, one thing that most people do that don't even realize it half the time is they push their own opinions into your life choices. Whether its as simple as buying regular milk or soy milk, or its as serious as if you wish to get married to someone. They can become extremely paranoid about what you're doing in your life to where they FORCE you (sometimes without knowing) to do what THEY want you to do, and not what you SHOULD do for yourself.

How to get out of something like this? It's not easy. Not that the people will deny it (which will/can happen), but that they do it because they care so much about you, they want you to go the route they feel is best for you. Whether it could hurt you in the end or not. It helps their guilty conscience to make you do what they want you to do so they feel they did a good deed. Is this wrong? Very much so. However, we're all guilty of it at one time or another. It's just a matter of us catching ourselves doing this bad habit. To catch someone else doing it is a whole different story, because it is that they care. (Or their a control freak, which there is no way to win that one, sorry) So to tell them to stop, to them, its asking them to stop caring. How can you get them to understand?
Again, not easy. You can come up with scenarios that place them into your shoes so they can see what their doing wrong. Or you can just straight up and tell them, in a calm sit down, soft voice, manner...
"Look, I understand you care a lot about what I'm doing or not doing in my life. However, you have to let me make my own mistakes, allow me to live and learn. I'm not asking for you to not care, in fact, what I'm asking is for you to care more. Care for me in the way that you want me to grow up to be a well rounded citizen and I know from experience, what mistakes not to make. I care for you in the same way, I don't want to see you fall, but in order for you to learn to step over an object, you have to learn by tripping once or twice first. But I was still there for you for support, just like how I want you there for me."
If they can't understand any form of that, then they must be control freaks lol. Or they could simply be your parent. Parents do things like that because they simply love and care for their children. Nothing can stop that.

The best and easiest way to handle this sort of situation is to just ignore it. Go about your business as if they have no influence on you. Because while you think and feel they can manipulate you, it is and always will be YOUR ultimate choice to do whatever it is.


And for now I leave you with this.

"If it is to be, it is up to me." - Jack Schofield


YYS