The unofficial blog of Stan Faryna

A Tribute to Maya Angelou

5 Comments | Art and Literature, Poetry, Upfront and Personal | Tagged: America, Ferguson, John the Baptist, Jr., Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Moses Repent | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Robin Williams, #Demons, and a Dark Sign

August 17, 2014

Robin Williams, Demons and a Dark Sign

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Some have suggested that Williams’ inner demons will out soon enough. I could hope not. For that would be a disservice to our memory of a man that made us laugh and cry – regardless of how much money can be made by such idle entertainments. But what about the actual demons?

I understand that Mr. Williams was a Christian and a member of the Episcopal church. And if he was, I find it strange that no one seems to mention it or consider it worthwhile to reflect on. One reason to not mention it, of course, would be because it emphasizes the tragedy of his suicide and, perhaps, the consequence of the sin. Ultimately, suicide appears to be a rejection of God and His gifts. And among those gifts, rejected, are life, hope and faith.

Even Christians, however, will be unsure of the consequence of Williams’ suicide because God’s grace is beyond our own understanding.

There are also medical and supernatural considerations. Edelman got slutty and rushed to insert a foot into it’s mouth by using Williams’ tragedy as a springboard to talk about self promotion and marketing for the mental health industry.

As we mourn the loss of Robin Williams to depression, we must recognize it as an opportunity to engage in a national conversation.

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And the world told Edelman to STFU.

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What Dreams May Come

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The latter (supernatural things), however, must be ignored because not a few Christians presume themselves more educated and clever than God. It is completely understandable for the non-Christian to be so presumptuous. But more than presumptions, is the cunning of the Devil. It is phrased so perfectly in the movie, The Usual Suspects:

The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn’t exist.

Although I do sometimes have my doubts about my own commission as a Christian, I find it surreal that Christians are not inspired by Mr. William’s death to reflect deeply on the problem of demonization (demonization as opposed to possession). Of course, there would be a certain majority of Christians who would argue that the Christian is immune from demonization (because such admission is too frightening to consider), but obviously the evidence suggests that it does happen a little too often to be a coincidence.

On the other hand, a “theory” of demonization as advanced by the former evangelical Christian minister and writer, Derek Prince, provides the Christian with hope. Not only may a Christian find comfort in the opinion that God’s Grace and Mercy is more possible for crimes performed when one has acted under duress of an evil spirit, but also that the Christian can be delivered from the influence of evil spirits. Before it is too late!

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I feel that I have not written about this matter with enough sensitivity or the theological training required for me to speak with authority and illumination on this matter. But I must reflect on William’s death and I must also reflect on the problem of evil that acts through me. I seek deliverance of it. Before I have done something for which the consequences could be profound and epic.

Beyond this, I understand that it is unwelcome to speak to the dark consequence of William’s suicide. For it is profound and epic.

One consequence of Mr. Williams’ tragedy could be described in this way:

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An amazing man who has emotionally connected with millions (hundreds of millions or more) has given those same millions a dark sign by his suicide – he has unequivocally rejected life, you and me, and all the world. And I have to wonder why, if he had good reason, and if it is true that we (you and me) and the world are so terrible, incompetent or unworthwhile that Williams refused to journey with us further.

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Mr. Williams would not be alone in his violent rejection of us. The image of young buddhist monks dousing themselves in gasoline and lighting themselves on fire quickly comes to my mind. This can be a lonely planet, indeed. Sometimes, it seems like hell.

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I expect that I may have upset more than a few people by my words here. Know that I do not imagine I own the truth on this matter or anything related. In fact, I may be mistaken in part or completely and I apologize to you now if I have wounded you by my words.

Please forgive me.

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More words by Stan Faryna

The Wonder that is Woman

Flash Fiction: Say Something

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Stan Faryna
17 August 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/08/12/revel-resort-in-atlantic-city-already-abandoned-by-morgan-stanley-to-close/

3 Comments | Religion and Spirit, Social Web, Upfront and Personal | Tagged: demonization, demons, Derek Prince, Edelman, Robin Williams | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Thanks for breaking my car, #Revel Casino cc @RevelResorts @VisitAC

August 12, 2014

Please help me to speak to Revel

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by Stan Faryna

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Some weeks ago, I stayed at the Revel Casino in Atlantic City. I used the valet parking service. When they came out with my car, the tail light was busted and there were lots of scratches.

Here’s a few of the pics that I submitted to Revel’s Claims Adjuster, Donna Passarelli.

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Just an hour before I had handed my car over to Revel’s valet parking people, I had been to the dealership for new tires and they did a full damage assessment on the car. So we have an official third party report (dated documentation) that the damages Revel’s people did to my car was not pre-existing damage.

I took pictures of the damage, I filed the claim according to their rules, and the claims representative told me that they would take care of it. After many phone calls and some correspondence with the Donna Passarelli (Claims Adjuster for Revel Entertainment), I was told two weeks ago that Donna doesn’t work there. Then they gave me a phone number to someone else who doesn’t exist at Revel.

So I went to Revel to speak face to face and now they tell me they have no claims department. Really? I drove up from the Washington, DC area to Atlantic City to be told that?

An anonymous legal counsel that represents casinos in Atlantic City tells me that I could spend tens of thousands trying to make Revel pay up. Not to mention how I would have to come up here for trial dates where they will successfully postpone hearing after hearing for a year or more.

Awesome! But not really.
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The repairs cost me $2,500 (Donna had approved the estimate of a local body shop by phone). The additional week of stay was about another $1,000 as I had to stay in Atlantic City while the car was being repaired.

Dear reader and friend, I’d be grateful for your help if you tweeted this tweet.

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Dear @RevelResort Pay for the damages to @Faryna’s car. Thanks. cc @VisitAC #Revel

Plz RT #Fail Thanks for breaking @Faryna’s car, #Revel Casino cc @RevelResorts @VisitAC
https://stanfaryna.wordpress.com/2014/08/12/thanks-for-breaking-my-car-revel-casino-cc-revelresorts-visitac/

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And if you happen to be one of the countless people that have been wronged and cheated by Revel Entertainment, let me know below in the comments and maybe we can get your issue resolved too.

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As I reflect on today’s new stories of Revel’s upcoming closing and the angry rumors of how Morgan Stanley took a beating and then how Revel took tax payer money in a bail out that’s gone bad, I can’t but help to think that their lack of responsibility to customers (myself included) as “business as usual” is a clue into their mismanagement of the billions of dollars investment, business operations, and tax payer money.

Revel’s demise comes as no surprise. Sadly, such mismanagement also comes at the cost of thousands of people to be soon unemployed in Atlantic City. My heart goes out to the people living and working in AC and the surrounding cities. May God help them.

http://online.wsj.com/articles/atlantic-city-s-revel-casino-to-close-in-september-1407850347

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-08-11/caesars-ceo-loveman-says-no-qualified-bidders-for-revel.html

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More blogging by Stan Faryna

The Wonder that is Woman

A Tribute to Maya Angelou

Self-promotion, Value and Other Social Media Dohs

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Stan Faryna
12 August 2014
Atlantic City, New Jersey

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9 Comments | Leadership and Management, Travel and Cities, Upfront and Personal | Tagged: Atlantic City, Donna Passarelli, Revel Casino, Revel Entertainment | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

The Buffaloes are gone

August 1, 2014

The Buffaloes are gone

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by Stan Faryna

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Of Monsters and Men, Little Talks

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Theoretically, I write a blog post here when I have something to share. But it seems that I have been sharing less and less, here. And it is a little more than seems as it appears. As if the buffaloes had gone.

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As Sandburg tells it, so I have also noted of the traffic.

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Those who saw the buffaloes are gone.

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Those clouds of dust that used to be raised, the thunder upon the plains – sometimes I wondered if it was the buffaloes. Or those who saw the buffaloes. But let me not make Sandburg’s poem serve as a cheap metaphor for the better days of a C-list blogger, the poem deserves better.

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If you didn’t know, I’ve been writing a novel and working on art work for it. I’ve also been helping Yomar Lopez lay the foundations for his empire at Geeky Antics.

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Here’s an illustration of Anca, a character from my vision. It was made by the talented fashion illustrator, Ros Webb.
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Anca

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I am tempted to suggest that the buffaloes are not gone. That hooves shall thunder again and more loudly than before. That clouds shall rise higher and that hearts will tremble at their return.

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Can you hear the rumble in the far off distance?

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Buffalo Dusk
by Carl Sandburg
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The buffaloes are gone.

And those who saw the buffaloes are gone.

Those who saw the buffaloes by thousands and how they pawed the prairie sod into dust with their hoofs, their great heads down pawing on in a great pageant of dusk,

Those who saw the buffaloes are gone.

And the buffaloes are gone.

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Stan Faryna
28 July 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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2 Comments | Art and Literature, Upfront and Personal | Tagged: Anca, Buffalo Dusk, Carl Sandburg, Love and Fear, The Buffaloes are gone | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Prodigal Daughter: A Bedtime Story for Independence Day

July 4, 2014

The Prodigal Daughter

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by Stan Faryna

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Cold Play, Atlas

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Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons.

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Luke 21:10-12

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“What do you think of the novel I lent you? Exodus?”

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“It’s naive. To put it kindly,” answered the black bearded man.

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“I remember how it was before the walls came down. Before we came to America. Your mother, she never forgot what it was like to live under a dark spirit of lies, slander and accusation.

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She never forgot the fear, ambition and terror of the party members. Oh how our neighbors and colleagues proudly wore their red star. They wore the sign of their fallen master like a badge of courage! Yet they lacked any courage. They lacked chests.

Here, we are again.

We laugh at honor and are shocked to find traitors in our midst.

Now there is a good book!

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C.S. Lewis’ The Abolition of Man.

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Have you read it?”

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“What?”

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Sarah unhappily sipped on her iced venti caramel latte. She glanced at her candy apple red iPad. 6 new email.

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She glanced at the first email.

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DHS Sector 3 Battalion 3 Nimrod Protocol

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Does he check out?

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As she reviewed email on her iPad, Sarah fidgeted with the key to her company car – a sleek BMW X6.

The key to her car was a source of decisive inspiration for her- especially her lucky key ring charm. A black cat of Swarovski crystals.

She so loved how it sparkled!

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Sarah was working things out in her head.

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How do I get him to understand, she wondered to herself.

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The Christians must be stopped before they start a civil war. They needed to be detained. The radicals. The Christians that believe Jesus is the Son of God, who was supposedly resurrected and who will supposedly come again.

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Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah noticed a tall, dark and handsome man nod to her from a nearby table. He looked like Apollo – the god of war. He was hot.

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“You’re hot”, he texted to her.

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She texted back.

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Me too! I think so too. Here’s my number. Call me, maybe. 😛

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“I’ll carry your world…” he texted back.

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Sarah rolled her eyes and winked at Mister Tall, Dark and Handsome.

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Then she slid a button forward on the side of her iPad and the monitor became a mirror. She checked her look and smiled. Her azure blue lip gloss was killer. Dangerous. Sexy. Forbidden Fruit.

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I am that hot… she replied with a grin.

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The black bearded man lit a hand-rolled cigarette. The smoke was fragrant. Notes of anise and chocolate reminded her of childhood and Sundays. Sarah played with a lock of her black hair and impatiently turned her attention back to the suspect.

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“But don’t you see – it’s prophetic. Christians can’t be trusted. They’re the problem. They’re standing in the way of progress. The Christian threat to our nation’s peace and security can not be ignored.

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The Christians – they want to swallow us up and force our culture to fit their vision. They have no right to protest against the will of the State. The will of progress!

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They must be rounded up,” she blurted out.

The facts and, obviously, the final solution was incontrovertible. He’d get it, she hoped.

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She sucked on her latte and savored the sweet caramel.

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“Prophecy belongs to the Lord. False prophecy, on the other hand is the territory of demons and ruthless ambition,” the man replied – interrupting Sarah’s thoughts.

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“Who is trying to swallow who? Who is trying to force who’s culture to fit who’s vision?

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Why are the intellectuals being rounded up? Why men and women of conscience and moral character?

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You know; they did that in the old country. But the Communists could not contain the human heart.

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Because the human heart longs for eternity and deliverance!

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The human spirit hungers for the beautiful, the good and the true. It cries out for deliverance from evil. It cries out to God – who is the only one that can save us…”

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Sarah rolled her eyes.

There he goes again, she thought to herself.

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Yet another speech to the invisible but presumably doting Noble Prize committee.

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The black bearded man paused and took a gulp of hot espresso. Then he continued.

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“If I am the problem. If we are the problem…

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Or if Christians are the problem and the problem is not the compromised wealth, dignity and welfare of the nation, then the so-called problem will be resolved in reconciliation, dialogue and love.

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Your detention camps are not a solution.

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They are the factories of evil, houses of horrors and, ultimately, a curse upon the nation!

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Wars, unjust laws, and prolonged detentions – these are never the instruments of peace but our self-defeat. A defeat of our humanity. All of us.

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These instruments of evil must be protested.”

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Sarah expected a grand quote about now. It was a burden she had long ago become accustomed to suffer.

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“I remember the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. It was during his mountain top speech when he had spoke these words.

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Somewhere I read that the greatness of America is the right to protest for rights.”

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“No!” Sarah replied.

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“America is great, because we make it great. Because we’re taking out the trash!”

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She was shocked and stunned by his outrageous, dissident and dangerous reply.

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Professor Celan was a lost cause, she thought to herself.

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“Don’t tell me you’ve converted to Christianity!?” she exclaimed.

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In her pocket, she secretly texted her office. It was automatic, practiced, unapologetic, and professional.

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Pick up the dissident.

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The GPS location and street address for the Starbucks was included with her text message. A white van was dispatched and would arrive at the destination in five minutes.

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“No, no. I remain a Jew but I will stand by my Christian brother and sister,” he replied with a gentle, warm smile.

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“We are, all of us, members of the same human family. One family.

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Remember these words – of all the words I have asked you to reflect upon.

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Because these words may unlock your heart. Not today but someday. These words will help deliver you from hate.

Chaplin spoke them in his film, The Great Dictator.

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Only the unloved hate; the unloved and the unnatural.”

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Tears welled up in the blue eyes of the black bearded, Russian American immigrant. But through the salty tears, a light shone bright in the eyes of Paul Celan, Harry Tuchman Levin Professor of Literature and Professor of Poetry at Harvard’s School of Literature and History.

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“Daddy?”
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“I forgive you, Sarah. And before your friends come to detain me without reasonable cause or by due process of law, I need to bless you, my dear princess.

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There’s not much time, is there?”

The black bearded man stood up, raised his open hand and blessed his daughter with an ancient Jewish blessing.

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace…”

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What’s up with the Jesus freak? Want me to take care of that… texted Mr. Tall Dark and Handsome.

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Stan Faryna
4 July 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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Leave a Comment » | Art and Literature, God Bless America, Writing | Tagged: flash fiction, Jesus Freak, Jewish Blessing, Prodigal Daughter, The Lord bless you and keep you | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Can we be true?

June 16, 2014

Can we be true?

by Stan Faryna

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One Republic, Counting Stars

How shall we be true to others if we cannot be true to ourselves?

My thoughts turn to Shakespeare’s Hamlet which suggests that we can’t be true to our own self. Hamlet is torn by self-fragmenting experiences of human desire – often contradictory and, sometimes, violent and self-destructive desires. Hamlet goes mad. Hamlet is lost and consumed in darkness. Hamlet is lost even to himself.

The Gospels suggest that we can be true to our own self but only when we are true to God and, secondly, in our being a gift to our neighbor and those in need of help. Truth, Love and Hope shines from Jesus’ naked and beaten body nailed upon the cross. Jesus dies, but he is resurrected. The darkness that would feed upon him is defeated and Jesus is glorified.

Can we be true to ourselves? Is there a self which is true, truly ours and unsullied?

Stan Faryna
16 June 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

Leave a Comment » | Blogosphere and Internet, Upfront and Personal, Writing | Tagged: Gospels, Hamlet, Shakespeare, true self | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Why blogging is so 2010

June 7, 2014

Why blogging is so 2010

by Stan Faryna

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Awolnation, Sail

This is how Jack does it

Jack, TheJackB, also known as Jack Steiner throws the click bait out there like a pro. Actually, I think he is a pro. He’s a problogger. More important than that – he’s a fine writer. His most recent pitch – what is your blog about?

I like to imagine that Jack is going to be a 12 week New York Times Best Selling author. Of course, he’ll help me get a fair and awesome contract for my pending novel – just as soon as he hits that homerun.

Meanwhile, I have to explain why blogging is not dead per se, but the sharp edge is gone. It has a bite as serious as a spoon. That’s not your fault. But your chances of making it big as a blogger (if you had sticky rice to throw and awesome sauce on the side) are as good as scratching off a $1000 cash prize on a lottery ticket. For those who don’t like the math, let’s just put it at not very good. It was highly unlikely in 2010. But if that was then, it’s worse now.

Blame it on the geeks.

I reflected on what a geek is here. I plunder the mojo of the new geek. And geeks got really, really mad.

This is how I show my love

It’s one way I do it. I deconstruct lies and delusions – especially those beasts by which I am, myself, self-deceived. Or was.

I plunder them like a pirate. If what I share here burns like salt on a raw wound – just imagine how I felt as I explored my own wounds with the imprecisions and derring-do of a 19th century surgeon.

Blame it on the ADD.

Even bloggers don’t read as many blogs as they did. If you don’t believe me, ask the invisible blogger. He can tell you all about them apples. Lesson number three from Bill’s long and successful career as an insurance salesman may apply to this post: Don’t look back.

If bloggers are not reading five to ten blogs per day, imagine how few blogs are read by ordinary people.

Moore’s Law

Moore’s law suggests that the processing power and speed of a computer doubles approximately every two years. I will suggest Moore’s Dilemma which implies that human attention, comprehension and knowledge decrease proportionately with the increasing use of computers in everyday life.

This is not sour grapes speaking. Nevermind that I miss the days when I had 100,000 people read one of my posts. And it didn’t happen just once. But those days are gone and I’m lucky if 20 people will read this post today.

We know this – people have less time, shorter attention spans and decreasing intellectual capacity as far as blogs or anything else goes. People think less and reading is a modern superpower. Have you seen the Will Wheaton Project?

TV, video and pics remain dominant communication formats regardless of the stylistic adaptations which reflect the accelerated and incoherent regressions of the internet. But, seriously, I never doubted that their sovereignty could be deeply challenged by text (or hyper text). Even the new Twitter format is a want to get out from under the deadweight of text.

People need it to pop. Who got time for the deeper thoughts?

he …

Himalayan Blue Poppy
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What’s the point of blogging?

I’m going to keep it simple.

1. Search position

2. Ad link landing site

3. Build up the credibility of your marketing message (or fraud)

4. Because you have something to say and no one in your offline to share your big ideas with

5. Because you have something to say and you don’t respect the opinion of those who give you offline feedback

6. Because no one in your offline respects your opinion

7. Because you don’t know about WOW or some other totally immersive, lifestyle MMORPG

Speaking in Tongues

That’s tongue in cheek, right? Maybe. And maybe is all I can honestly say about the subject.

Want audience?

Video is the shizzle. It is where it is. The audience. And I shall hope I’m very mistaken.

But the skills and equipment you need to rock the video isn’t as plug, play and fake as the blogging.

Just ask Yogizilla. Or check out Yomar Lopez, Fred Rojas (Gaming History 101), me and some other peeps hanging out uncensored one evening on TwitchTV.

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Stan Faryna
7 June 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

5 Comments | Blogosphere and Internet, Social Web, Upfront and Personal, Writing | Tagged: bloggers, blogging, Fred Rojas, Moore's Law, Twitch, Yomar Lopez | Permalink
Posted by Stan Faryna

Maya Angelou – Being a gift unto others #rise

May 29, 2014

I fed upon her words

by Stan Faryna

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Maya Angelou, Still I Rise

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She stood shoulders above

She was no god, priestess, queen, diplomat nor elected official, but Maya Angelou exercised the greatest of all powers in creation. She could speak a word and it was done. She was blessed from above like few others. I may be mistaken but I understood her power came by faith and grace.

I also understood that this gentle woman moved mountains with her words. She spoke to stones and they beat again as hearts – even if only for a moment.

Ordinarily, I would join the world in it’s gentle wish for rest for a beloved. But I can not say RIP Maya Angelou. Do not misunderstand me, I have the greatest respect for the woman. Instead, my heart shouts out in joy – RISE HIGHER. RISE UNTO THE GLORY! And I do not believe there is rest in the glory. But greater works. Like the works of stars. Works that never end. Because without their undying light, darkness would overcome.

Michael Jackson

I remember her eulogy for Michael Jackson, “We had him.” I remember how she perfectly captured the memory of the king of pop – that tragic, tortured, brave-hearted hero of our time.

“His hat, aslant over his brow, and took a pose on his toes for all of us.”

I do not know if poets will capture Maya Angelou as she captured Michael Jackson with words that memorialize a man like no stone or gold could ever have done.

How shall we rise?

I do not know if it can be said of her that we had her. Oh, please, please do not misunderstand me. She gave herself to us. She gave us fire, wind, water, air and earth. She told us to unfold our unseen wings. But only those who had ears to listen, heard her. Only those who had eyes to see, saw Maya Angelou. Only those who had ears, heard.

Though I am not a woman or African American. I rose upon her words. And still I rise. She spoke to us all.

Though I am not a woman, she reminded me that I am phenomenal, that my smile shines like the sun and, most of all, that my head, heart and spirit shall not be oppressed by demonic contempt and conceits.

Be a gift unto others

Maya Angelou was gift unto us. That is her greatest gift; it goes beyond the beating of words. She embodied a rare and precious wisdom.

Our gifts are not given for us to enjoy alone, recklessly or stupidly. We were created to be gifts unto each other. This is how we rise. We rise, together.

Stan Faryna
28 May 2014
Fairfax, Virginia

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