Martin Scorsese

Martin Scorsese

No one is better than Martin Scorsese. His films are just wonderful. They are bliss. He has this ability of making you identify with the bad side of the hero. The undesirable, repulsive, murderous, greedy side of the hero. His films dive deep into human psychology, they challenge morality, they make you see the other side – they make you think, what if? You feel a Martin Scorsese film. It is in your senses. His camera shots are amazing. Remember the 360 view on “The Wolf of Wall Street”? It drove me crazy! I felt like I was in the offices of Stratton Oakmont. My mind couldn’t understand what was going on or how he had accomplished that. What was the thought process? That 360 view was an attempt to make the viewer experience the madness first hand, to get lost in the chaos. On “Goodfellas” he uses a continuous shot that illustrates the hero’s powers to seduce. Henry takes his girlfriend Karen on a date at this underground spot and the camera follows from behind. To get to this restaurant they navigate through a lot of chaos and make a lot of turns – turns that make Karen dizzy. Henry pays someone $20 just to open the door to Karen’s amazement and when they finally get in, a waiter organizes a table just for them. The place is a full house, filled to the brim with esteemed people. It makes Karen feel so important and she is induced with this euphoria that takes her to heaven. That scene is the ultimate definition of seduction. Martin Scorsese uses a lot of camera techniques in his movies to make them legendary. He uses a lot of freeze frame shots to illustrate the importance of a scene and slow motion to freeze time. He has that ability – to freeze time, imagine that! What about his insecure masculine heroes who always chase these beautiful, ungraspable blondes? The blondes have become a theme in his movies that the hero always projects on. We see the use of slow motion to communicate how time slows down when these heroes meet or see these blondes. These blondes are mystical and perfect. On the “Wolf of Wall Street” one of Jordon’s friends states “I’d let her give me AIDS” upon seeing the blonde who would go on to being Jordon’s wife for the first time. On “Casino”, Ace’s world slows down when she sees Ginger – the blonde she would later marry for the first time. The heroes have self-destructive tendencies that ruin the lives of these beautiful blondes and they always leave the hero alone and dejected. The heroes have jealous streaks, they are control freaks, they are violent and they are driven by their impulses. Martin Scorsese forces us to see the bad and evil in ourselves. The violence in his movies is so explicit, so real, and so horrendous. On “Casino” we see a man senselessly beaten with baseball bats before he is stripped off his clothes and buried alive. In his movies, he makes you feel like “the man” through the hero and then strips you off all that power, leaving you with nothing. On the “The Wolf of Wall Street” he perpetuates all the greed, the drug use and random sex of the hero before taking it away. Jordon Belfort, loses everything – the money, his estate and his hot blonde wife. He also goes to jail and is banned from his profession, Investing. On “Goodfellas” Henry loses the lifestyle, respect and acclaim that comes with being a gangster. He also gets arrested and lives out the rest of his life at a Police Protection detention system. “Cape Fear” is about a guy who has moral justifications for ruining the life of the lawyer who didn’t fight for him in court when he was trailed for rape. Max Cady, the convicted rapist goes on a psychopathic rampage – he targets, stalks, kidnaps and torments the lawyer’s family. It is Robert De Niro at his most frightening and sadistic, he is sick but you understand him. Your understanding comes from the experience of also being wronged. Just like how you understand Jordon Belfort’s greed. If you were granted everything you have ever wanted, wouldn’t you go a little overboard? Martin Scorsese explores the human condition. He challenges the viewer to really think. There are also these rich and authentic dialogues that his characters always engage in. The dialogues are so entertaining. The dialogues are always in “real time”, it doesn’t feel like they are exchanging cues – they feel natural and flow. And what would a Martin Scorsese movie be without the narrator, the voice over that propels the story to greater heights. I love it – the narrator is the hero and he always speaks in the first person, so you can understand his mind and thought patterns; so you can hear the heroes insecurities and dreams. It is so powerful. It links you to the hero whether you like it or not, it is done at a subconscious level. Now to hate the hero means to hate yourself and the ego won’t allow that. So you watch the movie with complete objectivity. Martin Scorsese bewitches your mind first and then strings it along. The soundtracks on a Martin Scorsese movie are just awesome. Those rock n roll songs, they are iconic and signal a change in the plot or a characters plan of action. I see a lot of technique in Martin Scorsese’s movies. I see his passion through his movies. I see the mathematic equations, he just takes me straight to movie heaven. I love that guy. I love his creativity. I love the subjects in his movies. I love his impartiality. I love how he explores human nature and flips the script of the hero. The best flip of the script of the hero can be seen on “Silence” where the hero is reduced to suffering until death. He is forced to abandon his belief system and values and he is indoctrinated into foreign systems. I appreciate Martin Scorsese’s’ vision. In my humble opinion he is the greatest film-maker of all time.

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Messi winning Copa America

Messi winning Copa America

Argentina winning Copa America is literally the greatest thing that has ever happened to me. I don’t want to live in a world where Messi doesn’t have a domestic title. That world is not fair, it doesn’t make sense. Lionel Messi is the greatest soccer player there ever lived and he has done everything he can to win. When he contemplated about quitting the national team in 2016, I felt his pain. He led them to the finals only to fail at the final hurdle. It wasn’t even his fault, he can’t assist and finish the move himself, that’s not possible. The final product was often bitterly disappointing. Higuain didn’t do justice to Messi and Aguero is an after thought at national level. The only player who attempted to match Messi’s level was Angel Di Maria, his performances were always good but never enough for the illusive trophy. Losing 4 finals and 3 back-to-back is heartbreaking, especially if you’re Messi because he was named the MVP for 3 out of those 4 tournaments. The Argentina in the 2014 World Cup was a great Argentina, the golden generation; it had Romero, Zabaleta, Macherano, Otamendi, Demichelis, Di Maria, Aguero, Higuain and the great man himself. Managed by Alejandro Sabella whose tactics were spot-on. They were excellent throughout the tournament. There was nothing Argentina could have done in that final against Germany though, the better team won. However the two finals lost on penalties against Chile were brutal. In fact, in the final in 2016, Messi made a mess of his penalty and sent the ball to the heavens. Another almost. I was overwhelmed with sadness, he deserved more and time was up for most of the players in the golden generation. Thank God he didn’t give up, an ordinary man would have but we are talking about the world’s greatest soccer player here. He is a natural born winner. He has a strong mentality. He is God’s gift to the world and God doesn’t make mistakes – the failures were a part of the process to greatness. Now with a brand spanking new team of hungry, young Argentines who are eager to deliver titles for Messi and for all of Argentina, the future is so good. World Cup triumph is next.

Messi winning Copa America is so great for me personally because I project a lot of emotions on Messi. When he wins, I win. When he loses, I lose. This holds true for both FC Barcelona & Argentina. He has the unique ability of making or breaking my day. It’s personal. It is subconscious even unconscious. In my mind Lionel Messi shouldn’t lose games. I have been with Messi ever since he was 18 years old scoring his first ever hatrick against Real Madrid at the Camp Nou. He has been the best player ever since. When that isn’t reflected on a national level, I feel a big injustice within the substructure of my being. I feel like God and the Universe are cheating me. I really can’t live in a world where Messi is number 2, because whose number 1 if not Messi? I have been with Lionel Messi throughout his whole career. I have been watching like Christof. He has brought me and billions around the world so much joy and happiness, it’s not even quantifiable. He is the most consistent player in the history of the game. He has won everything and he is impossible to stop. He deserves to be on top, it shouldn’t even be a debate. Don’t tell me about Pele, he won the World Cup when 8 teams participated, today we call that “The confederations cup”. Winning a tournament of 8 teams is not special. Messi is owed by the Universe and if Universal laws are scientific, precise, concrete and objective then he deserves to be World Champion, he deserves this based on causality.

Messi winning Copa America feels like a liberation. It’s so typical that I talk of myself but I referenced earlier in the text that I project a lot of myself onto Messi. I too have been working so hard on my entrepreneurial endovours and for my efforts usually I’ve gotten a silver medal. For so long I have been in sync with Messi. I know what it’s like to lose over and over again through no fault of your own. To lose having given it your absolute best. To build and prepare for a lose. To have people doubt your greatness. To endure the disrespect of fools. Messi winning Copa America feels like destiny, like nobody can stop me now. I feel stronger and strengthened. I am motivated and also lighter on my feet. My loses have made me better and my skin is thicker. I know what I want, I am focused and I am still getting better. Messi winning Copa America is God telling me to prepare myself. All I have ever wanted is already granted, the trials and tribulations were a part of my apprenticeship – just like Messi. He too suffered like you did but now good times are here. It’s time to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Messi winning Copa America reminds me of the fact that I am still the best, the greatest.

As a side note, I would like to take the opportunity to profusely thank God and the Universe for this gift. Well done to Lionel Scaloni for the great job. I extend my congratulations to Angel Di Maria, Otamendi & Sergio Aguero who like Messi have suffered immensely with a flurry of second place finishes. Also Emi Martinez for winning goalkeeper of the tournament, I feel his the best goalkeeper Argentina have had for a while. Truth be told I wrote this before the final because it felt right this time. I have a lot of faith in this team. I am impressed by Lutaro Martinez and the squad of young Argentines surrounding Messi. It also helps to have the wizardry of Di Maria & the deadly finishing instincts of Aguero as supporting cast members. They play with a lot of spirit and they really want this. When I saw the penalty shoot-out against Colombia, I cried. Emi Martinez (The goalkeeper) did exceptionally well saving three penalties. Argentina scored all their penalties, led by Messi. After the shoot-out and Argentina won, everyone celebrated with the goalkeeper. It was the greatest moment in the tournament. Messi went up to the Emi Martinez and hugged him. That’s when I leaked like a pipe. Finally, the Universe is helping the world’s greatest player. After that semi-final match against Columbia, I knew Argentina would win Copa America. It didn’t require a rocket scientist or a brain surgeon to figure out that every cosmic force was with Messi. Things are finally coming full circle.

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On top for as long as I like

On top for as long as I like.

I am the greatest of all time. The top of the mountain is mine until I decide I want to descend. You’ll get the glory when I am done. Everything you see here is mine, everything revolves around me. I am the pulse, I am the whole business. Acknowledge Me, I am not going anywhere! I am on God mode, no one is on my level. Everyone is an afterthought in my presence. I smash my competition so bad they become irrelevant in their future endeavors. I dare anyone to step-up and take these titles from me. No one can, it can’t be done. I have beaten them all, there is no one left. Acknowledge Me now, I am not going anywhere, I will remain on top for as long as I want.

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Haters III: New and better haters

Haters III: New and better haters

I need new haters, the ones I have now love me. WTF?! That is not in the contract but I didn’t check the fine print. What am I going to do? I can’t cope without my haters. I need haters, they are my reflection of the world and they help gauge my perceived greatness. They are usually the first people to see my flaws, they help me get better. I am honestly worried. Am I falling off? Don’t I make them insecure anymore? Aren’t they intimidated anymore? What happened to the passive aggressive behavior and narcissistic tendencies? What happened to the smear campaigns? What happened to the constant plotting of my downfall? Whose going to dissuade me from going after my dreams? Whose going to spread rumors and assassinate my character? Is this what it feels like to be on top? I can’t live like this. I need to expose myself to new people and broader horizons, that will help me get more haters. I have been too complacent. My current haters are too weak. Maybe time has diluted their spirit. Maybe they just can’t keep up anymore. Regardless, I am not impressed. I need haters of a better quality. Haters that will keep me awake at night. My current haters are bitterly disappointing, I’ve got nothing to write home about. They now praise and compliment me and it’s not even sly, it’s overt and sincere. I hear from the grapevine that I inspire them, that they admire me. They love me. What am I going to do with haters who love me? Mxm, what a shame. Maybe they loved me from the start. I don’t know what to believe anymore. How am I going to get better without proper haters? I am not doing enough and hence the quality and quantity of my haters. The Universe is sending me a message, I am not working hard enough. I am comfortable.

I need new haters, the ones I have now love me. WTF?! Truthfully speaking, I am disappointed.

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Perseverance

Perseverance

Perseverance is the ability to go through hell and make it to the other side. Perseverance is to keep going no matter what. It is the skill most necessary for success. This is because to succeed you need to be able to complete tasks. You need to be recurring and consistent. You need to be able to pick your battles and engage in those you are certain to win. Because we are aiming creatures and we are always aiming at what is better, perseverance helps us stay engaged with the goal we are aiming at. Perseverance is the process of the goal, it is what you do presently, it is being itself. Charles Darwin made the term “survival of the fittest” popular and it is exactly what perseverance is because you are always fighting metaphorically to survive in this jungle called earth. Death is always at the corner and Mothernature is always plotting – you persevere everyday, you are lucky to be alive with each day, the present is really a gift. To persevere is to have a long-term plan and see it through. To give everything to the process even though you might not be successful. Those who persevere force success. To persevere is to have a “why” and see it through no matter what.

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Beyonce

Beyonce

When Beyonce has you, you are not going anywhere. She has her claws deep in my spirit, she’s incredible, I love her. I was always a JAY-Z guy, sure Beyonce was there and doing great but I never really listened to her music. I am a boy and boys don’t listen to Beyonce, they listen to JAY-Z. I did listen to “Lemonade” when it was released though, I thought it was incredible, undoubtedly the best album when it came out. I loved it, it was raw, inspired, honest, revealing, vulnerable and emotional. It was a journey into Beyonces pysche, her soul was in it. It felt personal and heartfelt. I felt her personality, I felt the words and emotions, her content was grounded in reality. Still, I shyed away from it because I identified with JAY-Z. So when “4:44” dropped, I deleted “Lemonade” and went with JAY-Zs narrative. That “Lemonade” album is the most dangerous thing I have ever heard, worse than “Ether”, JAY-Z was in real danger, cheating on Beyonce is like cheating on the whole world. And so JAY-Z had to explain himself to the world and the album needed to be a classic. Going to No ID for the production of the album was a great idea. “4:44” diffused the situation, JAY-Z had to apologize, a lot could have gone wrong, he almost lost a great appreciating asset there, but praise God, he did the right thing, I was happy and satisfied with “4:44”. I always knew Beyonce was talented beyond words but I never really gave her an audience. This changed a couple of months ago when I finally got the “4” album. The “4” album had “Love on top” and I always loved that song but somehow I never got the album. I didn’t have the confidence to go the music store and purchase a Beyonce album. Years later I finally get the album and the first track of the album is “Love on top”, my brainwaves spiked, it was like I was overdosing on dopamine. The whole album was great and certainly worth the wait. I wanted some more so I got “Lemonade” again. Listening to “Lemonade” this time was like discovering Kanye West for the first time, in the sense that I fell in love again. I had this feeling that I couldn’t explain but I knew it was greatness. It was like a new reality was opening up to me. I felt renewed. My subconscious mind knew the lyrics to the songs so I was pretty much in free flow, I enjoyed my experience. After listening to “Lemonade” that day, I was pretty much hooked, I couldn’t believe a woman like Beyonce existed, I was smitten and hypnotized by her aura, artistry and energy. I got the self-titled album, also a classic, I’ve been in love and obsessed ever since. I love the subjects she covers in her songs, she is the embodiment of femininity, she empowers and she inspires. I saw the Super Bowl performance she did with Bruno Mars and Coldplay in 2016 and it’s the most epic performance ever. In the performance she battles Bruno Mars with the crowd cheering in the background. Bruno Mars is the only person in the world that could rival her greatness and he did it. She’s impossible to beat on an ordinary day with no stakes but this time around she had a point to prove, she was performing for her legacy. She had on an outfit that was inspired by Michael Jackson in the 1993 Super Bowl. While performing she misses a step and almost falls on her ass but she recovers so quickly that her mistake can’t even be seen and continues performing at a high level. The recovery is so quick that you can see it with the naked eye, but I saw it, and yet the narrative is that it was one of the greatest performances in Super Bowl history. She’s so professional and amazing. Damn, I was blown away by that performance, it was excellence, a master operating at the peak of her powers. Beyonce can make you go crazy.

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Outliers

Outliers

Outliers are the best people in the world because they are individuated in one particular skill. They are the masters of their crafts. They see things a bit different. They are passionate. They are enthusiastic about life and they have a lot of fun. People like Lionel Messi, considered the greatest soccer player of all time. 7 Ballon D’ors, 6 European Golden boots for his goalscoring exploits, 9 La Liga Golden boots, the only football player ever to win the Laureus best sportsman of the year award. The most goals scored in a calendar year 91. The most goals in a season 73. The most most goals in a league season 50. More national goals than Pele. The player with the most trophies, free-kick goalscoring records, assists and other countless and impossible records and achievements to break. Leo Messi, a great man. Thank God for Messi.

Outliers are people who work hard to perfect their crafts. They horn them and perfect them. They dedicate labor, love and a lot care for their crafts. They have attained mastery by dedicating more 10 000 hours of focus and dedication. Outliers engage in deliberate practice every day dedicating more than 4 hours to the crafts even when they don’t feel like it. They are disciplined and never make excuses. They are humanity’s best.

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