Long Overdue "The Tank" pictures

Here are the long overdue pictures from our THR final at The Tank.

I must admit, the trip to the city was a wonderful experience. Out of all the finals I had to take, this one was probably the best because I really miss the hustle and bustle of the city. I can't wait to go home already!

I really enjoyed THR class because it was a much smaller class than most of my other classes and therefore I got to connect with people on a more personal basis. My other classes are lecture classes with 300 or so people. >_<

After leaving the theater, Harrison, Alex, Chris, and I went out to eat and walked all over Times Square. It was a really great experience and probably the most fun I've had in a while. Chem class is never that much fun. Most of the time, we just sit in the Union Auditorium, listen to an old man talk for about an hour and a half, and try not to fall asleep.

I'm really going to miss you guys!

Eminem's content to racy?

In class the other day a few students had some opinions to share about Marshall Mathers. We all know him in the music world as Eminem. Some found his work to be garbage while others found a certain unique style about it. Granted, his lyrics are out there and highly explicit but can we solely criticize him for that. Music has progressively been explicit from the days of Elvis to current day. Society along with the FCC generally has allowed more and more content to be more sexual and explicit as time has progressed. Take for example Madonna during the 80's. She was criticized then just as Eminem is criticized now for his work. I feel it is unfair to criticize one artist and feel he is solely responsible for problems in society. He/She is one person sharing their own opinion. The mindset of the viewer can not be manipulated by the views of the singer or songwriter. I understand that the singers views are magnified in the media but it is our choice as the viewer to change the channel or station. It's totally fine to dislike someone else's "art". After all that's what art is. A piece of work portrayed through a viewer's eyes.

Harsh words

In class we discussed how common it is in society for people to use curse words so fragrantly. I would have to agree. It seems that we can't walk down the hallways of this campus without hearing someone curse at a friend over a cell phone conversation. On the Internet all the social networking sites are littered with F-bombs and blatant accusations of being gay. Now I'm not being naive I know we have talked to one another like this before the beginning of time but when did it become so acceptable in our every day conversations. That is the question. Language is a funny thing because it has so many different styles and subtleties. For instance, take how we speak to our grandmother to how we would speak to a best friend. Think of the words we whisper in our girlfriend/boyfriend's ear as opposed to what we would say to a judge while protesting a speeding ticket. Language not only is audible but highly expressive. Essentially we can have a full conversation without even saying a word. Body language is almost more expressive than spoken words. With that being said think of how great it would be if every word out of our mouth wasn't an F-bomb or any gesture wasn't intended to offend someone. I'll make an honest attempt to watch my language but I understand that there will be circumstances where a curse word will be used in anger.

Work, Work...LIVE

As of lately I feel like my days consist of strictly work. Every waking hour I feel like I'm going through the routine motions in the work place. Don't worry, Don't worry, this blog isn't meant to be a sob story but rather one that is aimed to resolve this conundrum. Whenever I find myself in this situation I do everything in my power to break the monotony. Sure we have to work, working is the task that allows us to live our lives the way we want to. It gives us the finances to eat, play, and live. That doesn't mean it has to be the only thing we do. When I find myself bored I like to do small things to re-assure myself that I'm still sharp and not "on the assembly line". I like to hit the gym for an hour, take a drive on the beach, and take the girlfriend out for a quick lunch. These things help break the monotony and allow you to essentially de-frag all the nonsense that builds up in our minds. Those thoughts can become negative and very retro-active. I've come to realize that in an adult life it is all about having a balance. You need to have a balance between your work life, social life, and your life as an individual. It's imperative that you have all of these factors incorporated in your day to day or you will find yourself unhappy. Keep at it folks. If you feel like I have felt at times then I'm sure this obvious reminder will be of some use to you. Take Care.

Oni Baba Film

After viewing Oni Baba I've come to the conclusion that in film, a woman, is usually the driving force to a mans demise. The men in the film who were returning from war were able to survive the worst circumstances but not capable of surviving the women's traps. The one man, who was portrayed as a cowardly warrior, fell because he relentlessly attempted to win the approval of the younger woman. The samarai general on the other hand failed to remain cunning and fell to his death after the old woman led him to accidentally falling in the hole. I think the theme behind both of these demises is the women's ability to make the men drop their shields. They felt comfortable around the women which allowed them to be vulnerable. In a Mario Puzo novel he say's, "Behind every great tragedy is a woman." It's true in my opinion. I feel a woman has an uncanning ability to make you feel comfortable and vulnerable. When a man feels this way he is susceptible to being hurt and as we saw in the movie tricked. While a male might have a strong physique and an ability to intimidate a counterpart a female has the ability to lull her opposition into a state of easiness which proves to be just as lethal. The film was great and it was interesting to see an older movie this compelling even though there was little dialogue. In my opinion it was highly expressive and well shot.

Video Game Ideas

I officially finished reading and watching the Hamlet play this afternoon. I generally enjoyed the play and was surprised to see how it all unravelled towards the end. A lot of the themes and ideas that we learned about in Aristotle's Poetics were infused in the play. Character's each had a hamartia for instance. Hamlet's hamartia was his inability to love due to the atrocities he experienced through his mother's relationship with his father. Ophelia's hamartia was her ability to move on from Hamlet's misleading. Her honesty and integrity led to her demise. The king, Hamlet's Uncle suffered from a complex of power. He wanted power and was willing to do anything, like kill his own brother, to attain it. Finally Hamlet's mother, Jocasta, suffered from her need to attain power through her power of sex. With all of these "tragic flaws" we have a great foundation for our video game. Each character in the game should be confronted with a situation where their tragic flaw is compromised. For example Jocasta should be in a scene where her power of sex influences a fight scene between Hamlet and her new husband. Another scene could have Ophelia and Hamlet fighting once Hamlet requests that she joins the nunnery. The final fight scene, and the climax of the video game, should be when Hamlet has a sword fight with Ophelia's brother. I honestly don't feel like to much of the plot needs to be changed because the story in itself has enough drama and kick to be both entertaining and educational. I plan to expand on these idea's through a re-enactment of a scene in the near future.

I'm participating in an bike ride for MS and I need your help

Hello all,

I am not submitting this as a blog entry for class but rather just as an outlet for my cause. I am participating in a bike ride in Manhattan on October 3rd and all donations received will go towards MS research. My cousin suffers from MS and I have been meaning to do something to show her my support. This ride is going to be great. 50 miles through Manhattan and for a great cause. I only need to raise another $100 in ten days in order to participate in the ride. I know times are tough but any donations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks guys...here is the link for my personal donation page. As the professor says, "You guys are my idols".

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/Meszaros

I've realized that in our professional careers we will hit plateau's and events like these help you surpass them. They give us an opportunity to go out and do something out of the ordinary while helping others. Take care my friends.

With thanks,
-Alexander Meszaros

Harrison and Alex reaction to Oedipus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiyNQijBSv8

I apologize for the quality of the video. A problem arose with our laptops and we had to make due with what we had. I will have the problem fixed for future vlog's

Mel Gibson plays Hamlet

I watched the first few scenes of Hamlet and have found it very intriguing thus far. Mel Gibson plays Hamlet and very well might I add. His acting, as we know now, comes from a very dark place and it is evident in his portrayal of Hamlet. Hamlet is torn by the sudden death of his father, the king, and even more distraught that his mother is marrying his uncle within the same month. Within 5 minutes of watching the film all the characters had been introduced and the foundation had been laid for what looked to be a typical dramatic tragedy. Ophelia is played by a young lady whom is sworn to promise that she'd avoid Lord Hamlet. But as we all know, there can be no tragedy without a love interest and no fall without a catalyst.

We find out that the King had been poisoned by Hamlets Uncle, the king's own brother. In doing so he stole the thrown from the king and married his sister in law, all in 2 weeks. I have gotten to the part where he had spoken to his father's ghost on the castle roof and vowed to avenge his father's demise. Mel Gibson's rage as Hamlet is scary because of his ability to look as if he's going to snap at any moment but has just enough strength to control himself. I anticipate on finishing the play by thursday but I advise anyone who hasn't seen the play like myself to check it out on youtube. It is posted on youtube and the tag lists Mel Gibson as Hamlet. The video provider is tagged as SweeneyToddKicksAss. I know it's misleading but this is the best version that I have come across via internet. Enjoy All

Hold of on the Hamlet game, Oedipus is where it's at

The fact that I haven't seen or read "Hamlet" and the video game idea still intrigues me is quite funny. After viewing Oedipus Rex and reading Aristotle Poetics I can venture to say that Hamlet will bring a lot of the same ideas to the stage. The drama involved in Oedipus however would make for a fantastic game. The thing in my opinion which makes a great video game is the drama. If a video game artist can paint a picture and make the player fully emerse themselves in the story then you have a great game. Here's how my Oedipus video game would start.

Act 1: Man slowly wakes up from his deep sleep in his room. As he walks towards the bedroom door we realize that he is wealthy and a king by the amount of luxurious things that surround him. As he walks down his hallway everything is gilded. He walks to the front window that overlooks his yard and he notices people stumbling and speaking incoherently in front of his castle. He walks outside and people fall to their knees as he walks by them. He only catches a word or two from the people in the city and it is the gamer's responsiblity to find out what is wrong. Each line that he is able to muster up from the people is stored and give hints to whom and where he must go next. For example a man says, "A prophecy will tell all if one is brave enough to ask" With a hint Oedipus will then find the prophecy and ask what has happened to his town.

Act 2: After a dramatic scene with the prophecy Oedipus retreats into his castle to confront Jocasta. Jocasta is tight lipped and reveals that he must back track before they have met. He stumbles across the patch and a re-enactment occurs for the gamer of the fight scene which results in Oedipus killing his father.

Act 3: In denial of his situation Oedipus then gets in a fight with his brother in law in front of his castle.

Act 4: The finale: Oedipus, walks into his castle to find Jocasta strung up and his daughters crying. For dramatic purposes his castle is being burned by the civilians and he has to escape into the mountains.

....Just some ideas. I feel Oedipus has some great characters that would make for an interesting game.

Technology woes

In class we are encouraged to become savvy with technology. In today's age everything is more accessible thanks to this technological outburst. A person can basically shoot a video, pay a bill, and conduct a face to face video meeting simultaneously thanks to the invention of a smart phone. These are all plusses and we as a society should be grateful for the strides that have been made in such a short time period, but is there a negative repercussion in such an age. How often when you have a conversation with someone do they simultaneously have a conversation via text message with someone else? Recently I saw two young teens, probably on a first date, spending more time on their phones than actually speaking to one another. It makes sense first dates are awkward and uncomfortable, I understand. Yet, I personally find it rude and admittedly I've caught myself doing it to someone else. It's upsetting and I personally can't remember a time where cell phones didn't play a part in society. They've become such a facet in our day to day actions that I can't remember how I micro-managed things in the past. I haven't written a hand letter or birthday card in years. The last time I paid a bill via pen and checkbook dates back to 2005. Now don’t get me wrong, I'm all for multi-tasking and aware of the conveniences that these devices bring but I am afraid of the impersonal effects of a technological age. You learn a lot about a person's hand shake and the eye contact that ensues. Please don't feel that I am an advocate for banning all these devices because that is not my goal. My goal is just to advise everyone to not solely converse via cell phones and social websites. In doing so you will miss out on a lot of valuable social lessons.

Photo: This is a picture I took at work. I work in a broadcasting facility and technology is an ever-changing factor in our day to day.

An Old Entry

"I am twenty three years old. I love hard. I get angry for foolish reasons. I like to make people happy. I curse under my breath when I don’t agree with something. I can be cynical when it comes to the opinions of others. I’m nothing out of the ordinary and I’m ok with that nowadays. I’m older now, still slightly protected, but aware of the truths of the world. Survival of the fittest is the actuality of life. Those who work, provide. Those who find shortcuts, beg. Imagine a world where there was no struggle. What would be the motivation to succeed? If everything was provided for us we would become an immobile component feasting on the parts of our provider. Accentually, we would be a machine whom relied on an engineer. But we don’t live that way. We still find a way talk to one another harshly though; we give dirty looks while passing on the road if someone cuts you off. It’s a competition. A race with no finish line. We get there and then we want to get somewhere else. A gentle smile is now an act of indecency and makes a mother pull a child away from the path of a stranger. One day we’ll get a hold of ourselves and make an honest attempt at chivalry. Optimism, after all is our best expression of hope."

- APRIL 6th 2010

***I wrote this a few month's ago after a rough day. I couldn't go to sleep and felt all these thoughts would be better on a piece of paper then just running through my head.

In Aristotle's poetics, dianoia or "thought" is used during the development of dramatic theory pieces. Every character in greek mythology is comprised of the author's dianoia. A story needs a hero and a villian. I also find that a woman usually plays the driving force in both characters. I plan to build on this post but for the time being I thought that my April entry could be of interest to you all.

The Manhattan Gig

I've seen a good amount of performers in Manhattan over the years. I've seen two men play the heck out of an aluminum garbage can and a water barrel. I've seen a guy do some amazing acrobatic flips across the sidewalk on 6th Avenue. There was the time my sister played her cello in the Philharmonic for her doctorate degree. Most recently I've seen comedian Bill Burr do a killer set in a comedy club in midtown. Which leads me to my next thought. What am I going to bring to the table come the end of semester. I hope that I find some inspiration in one of the plays that we discuss in class. I've never had a problem talking in front of strangers or in a public setting but I am concerned about the material. I feel like I can grasp the themes of a lot of our plays but how can I stand apart from everyone else? When I right these blogs I try to leave the reader and myself with a message. I like to motivate other's because in doing so I feel that I am motivating myself. I know I'm all over the place in this one but I am here to propose something to everyone. What would you like to see? What do you think would be creative? As much as I want to leave people intrigued I know that it will be a savy crowd. So here's my question. What would entertain and motivate you? A poem? How about a dramatic re-enactment between Oedipus and his wife/mother Jocasta? These I think I could make happen with another brave student. As much as I would like to attempt the acrobatic stunts of that street dancer I can't help but worry that I'll jeapordize the safety of my classmates.... :) Take Care all.

Late Nite Hamartia

I work late evenings in a broadcasting facility. The topics that come up in discussion vary a great deal from night to night. On an average night we talk about sports, women, future endeavours in the field, and then women again. However tonight we spoke about something completely different. I sat at my work station thinking of a topic to blog about when I rememberd our discussion on Hamartia. I shared with the class that my hamartia was my inability to live in the now. I constantly think about the future and where I want to be and in doing so I fail to appreciate how far I've come and what I've accomplished thus far. Perhaps that started when I was young and all I thought about was being old enough to drive and work. I badly wanted to be a teenager when I was in grade school. When I reached high school I dreamt of living on my own and playing college sports. As I go through college and partake in my full time job I envision myself older working elsewhere and owning a home. Although I feel this is a normal cognitive state I can't help but feel like I do it too often. I know how to let loose but I wish I didn't have to force myself to do so.

I stood up from my workstation and asked a select few what their hamartia was. I got three blank faces followed by a "huhh". I explained that their hamartia is their own personal flaw. A characteristic that hinders you. I explained that in greek mythology every figure suffered from a hamartia. Each person shared their hamartia with me. I asked if I could share their responses with you all and they said that that wouldn't bother them. One friend/co-worker said he fears failing as a parent, while another said that he can't enjoy fully being careless. After we disected our hamartia's further our manager walked in and I couldn't help but ask. He said that his hamartia was socializing. I'd be lying if I said the discussion between all of us wasn't insightful and overall a positive one. We all laughed, respected and learned a lot about one another. I suppose a person's hamartia is best shared with others so that one can fully be aware of his/her flaws. The more we know about a problem or disability the better we can attempt to solve it.

Friend's dog = Alpha Male complex

Today I had the pleasure of looking after my friend's dog for a few hours. My friend went on a road trip with a few other's to West Virgina for a weekend of beers and football. I unfortunately am the square that has to work all weekend. My friend asked if I would stop by to let him run around in the backyard for a little while, give him some water, and if possible a walk. The two year old dog is a Rhodesian Ridgeback.

Needless to say, this little guy is a monster. He is strong, fast, and the epitome of a man's-man's dog. As soon as I let him out of his cage he jetted for the backdoor. Once I managed to move him from blocking the door I opened it. You think Usain Bolt is fast? This dog ran laps around a large backyard as if he had been locked up for days. He had perfect form and I'll admit it I was envious of his endurance. As he trained for the puppy olympics I retrieved his water bowl from inside and found his tattered chew toy. After a half an hour of sprints, catch me if you can, and water breaks we both crashed to the ground for a rest. I remember saying to myself, "this is going well" and "I'd make a good dog owner". Then came the walk. As soon as the leash was on he was pulling me left and right almost to say, "we're going over here, is that a problem with you?" I brought him closer by giving him less slack on the leash and he still attempted to lead the way. As a truck passed full of lawn care workers he snarled and stood his ground. The worker who was sitting up high in the truck and passing at 20 MPH leaned away in his seat. This dog was the Alpha Male. He was athletic, strong, and intimidating. We sprinted on the block that led back to my friends house and I made sure he re-hydrated before I put him back in his cage. As I locked the cage he licked my forearm as to say, "thank you for hanging with me bud". On top of being the alpha male dog he was caring and appreciative. This dog. He's alright with me.

75 miles, You, and a Bicycle

On September 11th, this past Saturday, two co-workers and I participated in the Montauk We Hope Bike tour which consisted of a 75 mile bike ride from East Setauket to Montauk. The money raised through donations from the riders, families, and local businesses went to helping the homeless families of Long Island. The night before the ride I had a difficult time falling asleep. I was nervous of the physical task at hand. 75 miles on a bicycle going up hill, down hill, and without the assistance of a motorvehicle. Needless to say I hadn't experienced a long distance ride like this before and I was going into this a little wet behind the ears. I fell asleep around 3:30AM and awoke at 5:00AM to load my bike into my car and eat a full breakfast. Even though I was working on an 1 1/2 of sleep and a half a bowl of Cheerios I caught a second wind mixed with a rush of testosterone once I arrived at the starting line. It was just me and the bike and the task at hand. I ensured that my tire pressure was right and that my camelpack was filled and working correctly. A minute before the ride began I vowed to myself that no matter what I would reach the destination even if I caught a flat or my legs cramped up. I would finish what I started. I decided this because I thought to myself this day years back many unfortunate people didn't have the opportunity to finish what they started. Their lives were cut short through an act of pure violence. I cleared my mind and pedalled, and pedalled and pedalled. Every 10 miles we stopped at a rest stop for 5 minutes then continued. Once I reached the rest stop for the 55 mile mark my legs felt like tree trunks and my back became strained from the riding position. I pushed on and remembered that I vowed to myself to finish what I had started. The last ten miles were on an open road and each mile felt like an additional two. I rode on and saw the finish line in the distance. As I crossed it I realized that I no longer would place limitations on what I do. I realized that you have one body and one life to experience and that I had to strive to challenge myself. I recollected the discussion I had a few days before the ride with a friend. He said as he sat on the couch, "Your not gonna be able to do it!" Listen guys, whatever it is that makes you tick whatever it is that you find worthwhile go out and get it. Your only limitations are the ones that you believe in.

Mother's Approval

Have you ever dated a person for a period of time and refrained from introducing them to your mother/father? I know there were a few girls that I had been with that I never felt obligated to introduce to my parents. Perhaps it was because I was uncertain of my motives as well. Although you might find someone to be intriguing and enjoy their company you keep your relationship private because you fear the comments from a parent might upset you. The questions we've probably all heard before go a little like this, "Is she Italian?", "How old is she?","Is she in school?", and the dreaded ,"Do you think you love her"? For a young man just trying to make sense of his own feelings that last one can send you into a tyrade. Truth is beside the innocent middle school romance I was in many years ago I've only introduced my mother to one of my girlfriends. It was to my girlfriend of over 3 years now. My mother is a woman of the Roman Catholic church, Pre-K teacher, dark-haired and Italian. My girlfriend has mentioned that she wants to get married in a Roman Catholic church, is an aspiring K-6 teacher, and as Italian as a batch of anisette biscotti con chianti. In all honesty I did not plan this nor did I see it coming. One fall night I just saw a young lady who I thought had beautiful brown hair and mustered up the confidence to speak to her. Oedipus and I are similar in that we fell for a woman that had qualities that we find comforting and welcoming.

Oedipus and Goalkeeper's

I recently joined a outdoor soccer team after a 3 year hiatus. School, work, and social life took precedent I suppose. Yesterday, after I called out sick from work, we had a scrimmage against a Lindenhurst club. It was a battle from the moment the referee put his mouth on the whistle to the opposing players car's leaving the parking lot. It wasn't until I returned home that I made a connection between the outcome of the game and to Oedipus. In both the soccer match and in Oedipus there was the need to expose weaknesses.
The Lindenhurst team while very fast and fresh legged lack strength and a sturdy back line. We noticed this very early on when there sweeper struggled to settle a routine pass from a fellow defenseman. We continued to send long ball after long ball to our strikers in an attempt to beat them and test their nerves as well as their stamina. Sure enough they were being beaten and the chances were coming. What we failed to notice was that their goalkeeper may as well have been a brick wall between the goal posts. Time and time again our midfielders and strikers were testing the keeper with low shots, high shots, and chips. He snuffed out any through ball in the box and steamrolled any player attempting a fifty-fifty ball in the air. It was discouraging and frustrating but we never took our foot off the gas.
Just as Oedipus was the backbone of the city of thebes this keeper had kept his team's hopes alive. Yet, Oedipus and the relentless keeper are only human and an unceasing amount of pressure will break any man. The coach made the call to bring a third striker up. After a series of passes in the defensive third the newly appointed striker sprang for a cross from a through ball from a defenseman. The striker took a touch outside the eighteen and ripped a shot low and to the far post. The keeper with his out stretched glove got a hand on it, but not enough of it, it trickled by him and settled in the back of the net. Final, 1-0.
Oedipus was a man, there was no divine intervention that had led him to lead his town. Although he had done honorable things and protected his town he would have met his breaking point sooner or later.

..Now I'm going to go ice my left calf...3 years is a long hiatus.

A take on a line from Oedipus

I decided to tackle the Oedipus play this morning. After an honest 3 or 4 pages I realized that I wasn't getting the full effect of the characters and their words. I found a BBC production that was uploaded on Youtube.com and gave it a go. Wow! I found the acting amusing and the play took a whole new life. The characters demanded attention and their gestures and facial expressions helped me in the translation of old english. In this blog entry I decided to share a line which was said by the blind man that had the ability to forsee the future. I believe they called him a prophecy. After a heated battle of words with Oedipus he said while kneeling down, "You snear at my blindness. You have eyes but you can not see your own corruption" It might of been how the actor said it but I found this to be one of the best lines in the scene. I felt it held a powerful underlying meaning. It's unfortunate but how often in society do we look at another person and point out a flaw or pass judgement? In society people fail to think before they speak and in doing so say harmful and crude things about one another. Perhaps we say negative things about one another because in turn we feel we have the right to pass judgement on someone because we dont suffer from their handicap or misfortune. It just struck a chord with me. I'd be naive to say I will never pass judgment on someone in the future but hopefully I will be more aware of when I am doing so. Bob Marley once said in a song, "So while you point your fingers someone else is judging you" Take care everyone see you in class.