Waking Life: Chapter 1 - Dream is Destiny

• October 21, 2005
• James Skemp

Description: Script of the movie Waking Life, based on Tara Carreon's transcription, but with revisions based upon a viewing of the DVD version of the movie, which was watched with subtitles. Notes: Special thanks to Andrew, Larry Redden, and Ed Sandberg for pointing out errors in Tara's transcription (numerous errors were fixed here, along with some scene information clarifications). Absolutely let me know if anything slipped by my look-over, especially in the quicker and the 'like, like, you know,' sections ;)

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Two views of 'space' from Tarthang Tulku

• October 19, 2005
• James Skemp

"When a single feather and a thousand worlds
Are equally this Space,
Who can say which contains which?
Who can find limits
To life's richness?"

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Are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Really Ninjas?

• September 4, 2005
• James Skemp

Description: Are the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles really ninjas, or are they something else?

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On Natalie Portman

• July 24, 2005
• James Skemp

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Why Should We Care About Strangers? Or Should We?

• July 6, 2005
• James Skemp

Back when I was in college, I can recall talking to one Ms. Tessa Gruszynski regarding how, basically, I was going to stop caring about, or being kind to, strangers. I believe the particular item was holding open doors for people who would make no gesture of thanks.

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Why I Don't Have 'Friends'

• June 10, 2005
• James Skemp

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Arthur Schopenhauer's Principle of Sufficient Reason

• June 1, 2005
• James Skemp

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The Man Born on the Day of God's Rest - Marciello Punto, Domingo

• May 19, 2005
• James Skemp

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Is Volunteering Equal to Donating, and Vice Versa?

• May 6, 2005
• James Skemp

While reading a past news item regarding the Young Lawyers Division of the State Bar of Wisconsin, I asked myself if donating was equal to volunteering. The Young Lawyers Division (YLD) collects business clothing from lawyers to give to lawyers who cannot afford business clothing. If lawyer X donates clothing to the YLD, is lawyer X volunteering? To get to the answer to this question, I have to proof that volunteering implies, or suggests, donating, and that donating implies volunteering. If either is not the case, or if both are not the case, then volunteering is not the same as donating.

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On the Saying 'Is it better to live a lie, or know the truth and cry?'

• April 27, 2005
• James Skemp

Back on the second of February 2002, I first, as far as I can recall or prove, wrote down the question “Is it better to live a lie, or know the truth and cry?” The item that this was written in was an item called Guide to One Philosophy of Life: Revision 1, and consisted of twelve pages of material from January 30, 2002 to September 29, 2002. While I kept saying that I was going to get back to it and revise it, I never did.

A recent item on a LiveJournal journal, along with something I had read earlier in the day on the same area, reminded me of this quote that I had written so long ago. After some searching, I found it in the item mentioned above.

My task here is to discuss this question that I have raised. Of course, it being April 27 2005, I should point out that I do not have an answer to this question as of yet. Perhaps that suggests that I am doing more of the former than the latter, or perhaps it is because the latter has gotten me no closer to the answer of this question.

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