The older I get, the more I realize and feel the evils of this world. Infested by a money worshipping, racist, apathetic, hypocritical, lying, ridiculous, unhelpful, and arrogant bunch. Proud followers of all of the above. Yes, the world is beautiful when you ignore or mentally subtract the negative forces that weigh down on the rest of us every waking day. The rest of us who would like to find each other, and who wish there was a way to turn it all around, but feeling helpless because one person alone can't make a difference. Unwillingly being taken by a wave of greed and destruction. Feeding it with our own defeatism.

From the know-it-all atheist who believes a science centralized only on the material dimension is the answer to all existence and resists any explanation or evidence that there's more to it than this material world, to the religious psychopath who fears God, and believes in Jesus' teachings, yet teaches his children that not everyone deserves to be treated with love and respect—we've got much to learn. I'm far from perfect. However, as an observer, a person who truly wants to do good in this lifetime, and learn as much as life can teach me, I must say, I'm highly disappointed in humanity. As much as I try not to think about the negative things that society has shown me exist, it's really become hard to avoid. Especially with the over saturation of people's opinions and thoughts on the internet. Everyone's real-time thoughts via Twitter, Facebook, and Myspace. It becomes evident how distracted we all are with work, events that occur in popular culture, and unimportant material things. The more time goes by, the more distracted we become. When does the distraction stop progressing?

Another thing that concerns me is how everyone is so quick to apply to themselves the thoughts, styles and preferences of the current rich and famous superstars. It's a phenomenon I don't understand. It's fine to enjoy their music. Music is a powerful thing that should be enjoyed, but I believe we should take into consideration what these artists are selling us.

I grew up and live in an urban area where Hip-Hop and R&B are dominant genres people listen to, and follow. I myself grew up with this music, but as I matured, I became turned off by it for various reasons. I suppose you can say it just didn't resonate with me as much anymore, because I grew to really understand the lyrics in rap songs and the superficial and limited nature of the lyrics in most current R&B songs (not to say this only occurs in R&B ). Rappers walk around with their flamboyant jewelry of ridiculous size. Photographed next to fancy cars, and pockets full of cash. Next thing you know, kids in my neighborhood are doing all they can to get big ridiculous jewelry (real and not-so-real) to appeal to this Hip-Hop image or standard. Using disgusting vocabulary they learned from the lyrics of their favorite song by their favorite rapper. It came to a point where aspiring rappers or Hip-Hop artists feel they have to have bulky jewelry and lyrics about drug-dealing, "hoes and bitches", guns and gunshots, etc. to be any kind of relevant. What happened to just being talented, better yet being genuine? Apparently, sometimes that's not even needed.

"People–'specially 'round here, worship the negative. They like that villainous story. They love that drug dealer. They champion the loudmouths. They idolize the aggressive. They feel it's power." -Teddy Forthewin of Asteroid Belt

Couldn't have said it better myself.

How about the female superstars who are made to sell us sex? The more time passes, the more naked and lustful these artists are marketed. Artists on the spotlight make a luxurious living selling us sex, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol (specific brands sometimes) and the rich life most of us will never live because we're not meant to – and that's probably for the better. Things like this... the media, the television programs we watch, pop culture; it's a powerful tool for changing the perspective, opinions and preferences of the masses, and it does just that. We follow oh so obediently. Most of the key periods in time were brought upon by popular opinion. Remember the holocaust?

We need to look up to different people. We need to set different examples. Better ones. Positive ones. Why aren't we doing that? I don't want to discredit the people out there who are indeed trying to steer things the right direction, but we tend not to pay them as much attention as we should. Not even the television shows made for our children are satisfactory. We all know Disney sells sex like crazy, shows like SpongeBob SquarePants teaches stupidity, and cartoons were always filled with violence. There are also those problematic commercials that follow. Repeatedly advertising junk food to our childrens' vulnerable and spongey minds and getting them hooked with their featured promotional toys. I'm pretty sure every child the age of 3 and up (maybe even younger) in North America knows what McDonald's is. Just listen to this conversation I had with my 4 year old nephew:

Are we hopeless? Have we reached a point where the media, pop culture, and the ever-changing technologies have jaded us completely? I will remain positive and wish for the best. I think we can still turn it all around once we all realize how unforgivingly ridiculous we've let everything become. Or perhaps the Earth has to turn upside down before we can get some sense knocked into the collective consciousness.

"Change doesn't happen the way you say it's gonna' happen, without dramatic events that accelerate thinking. I wrote this thing. It might take decades or longer to create a reaction before it anchors into consciousness... " -Vick in Lady In The Water

-Jean Goode

Wow, it seems I've really neglected this here blog through my life transitions.
New blogs on the way! I didn't forget about this here. I've just been more in my brain than out. Preparing to get out. I must say though, I'm so glad the Summertime is almost over. It's always difficult for me to be my normal self in the Summer. I feel myself coming back to life with the cool air. Mmmmmm.

-Jean Goode

Oh wait. It's the 22nd. Summer is OVER! Happy Autumn Equinox!

Episode 10 badabay! So, Episode 10 is the official ending of Season One of the Pedestrian License series. In the following episodes, Teddy and I will be having guests to join in w/ the tomfoolery. It will be fun and educational! If you want to be a guest, leave us a comment or email to us.

I know I haven't been posting non-PedLic blogs, but I will be doing that again very soon. Get some very interesting blogs ready for you. I'm inspired to write/research about subjects of interest. Also, this website will be updated soon. If not this month, then next. So, something to look forward to. By the way this episode ends without an outro. It appears the microtrack didn't have enough space to record the rest of it. So, no 1,000 shout outs from Ted! *Evil laugh with echo and delay*

Download Pedestrian License Episode 10

In This Episode:

• 1998 and how great music was that year, and around that year for that matter.

• Taxi Amarillo. Specifically my friend Chris Hierro who is the singer of this excellent band. Music is in Spanish, so if you're into Latin Pop music, you'd enjoy this. Their album is currently on iTunes.

• Twitter and Internet Etiquette. By the way you can find me and Teddy on twitter. Teddy's name on Twitter is AsteroidBelt and mine is JeanGoode. Not that hard to figure out, ah? You're welcome to follow us.

• "LOL" and the misuse of it.

• Michael Jackson! Check out young Ted tryna' be like him. Mmmhmm.

• US wanting to bomb the moon. Read about it HERE.

• Planet X and the possibility of it actually existing and approaching Earth.

• This Episode of South Park called Super Best Friends. Click to watch!

• Me breaking my vegetarianism for a day to eat Burger King chicken tenders. Here's the proof.

• Robert Pattinson — as if he needs an introduction.

On another note,
Teddy and I were having WAYYYyyy too much fun w/ Photobooth on my compy yesterday. We took boat loads of silly pics, snapshots from iChat video sessions and this video:

..and check out this fun snapshot of Vanessa of imsovane.com/YouTube Fame being shy with us on iChat.

Well, that's all there is...for now. Be safe, Be courteous!

-Jean Goode