Hopefully I can do these more often. Also, at least with the blog, anything I forgot to say I can write it here. But if you didn’t catch my point, I’m recommending you see this immediately!

I’ll be honest and say I wasn’t expecting it to be as good as it was. In fact, I wasn’t even planning on seeing it in theaters. But I’m glad that I did. Summer has officially begun.

Around the 18:30 mark, Kevin and I pose a question about tweeting in all caps. Do you agree with him? Have any thoughts on that subject or anything else in the interview? Hit the comments.

See more Kevin Marc TV, like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter.

Old chart, but NBC is still in last place these days...

It’s that time of year again when networks begin to decide which shows you will or won’t be watching next year. Many shows’ fates have already been decided and it’s evident if you can’t find them on the schedule. Other shows, you might need to wait another month to be sure. But ultimately what keeps a show on the air, is how well it does in the ratings game. Despite how good or bad a show is doesn’t matter much to the networks unless it’s bringing in a certain amount of viewers.

Since I’ve accepted my role as being an entertainment enthusiast, I keep a close eye on the fate of many shows, whether I’m a fan of them or not. How can one tell if a show will survive another season, or in some cases, survive til the next episode? RATINGS! This is one of many sources I keep an eye on.

“So how do ratings work?” you ask.

I’m glad you asked. In order for me to explain why I feel the current TV rating system is flawed, I need for you to understand how they currently work. Honestly, as many times as it’s been explained to me, I still get confused. But to at least set a baseline understanding of what the Nielsen ratings are and how they’re calculated, check out this nifty little video I found.

Never mind the jargon sometime after the 3:30 mark in the video about points, pie charts and percentages. While they are very important to factor, that’s not entirely what I have issues with (partially because that’s where I get lost). The Nielsen ratings aren’t as accurate as they think they, or at least that’s my opinion.

Here’s my main problem with the current ratings system. As of 2012, they don’t take into account the throngs of people who watch TV shows online. Whether that’s through a network’s website or sites like Hulu. I haven’t done a study or looked for one that has a rounded number of how many people choose streaming TV over broadcast, but I know I’m in that number, and I know hordes of others who prefer watching their favorite shows on their own time by the glow of their computer screens.

Let’s remember one thing: the ratings are all about advertising. Why do you think so many companies pay so much money for Super Bowl ads? Millions of people are watching, so that ad time is incredibly precious and ridiculously expensive. This gets a little bit into marketing and other business talk I try to avoid, but it’s business nonetheless. You can’t get something for nothing, so you can’t see your favorite show if there aren’t sponsors to pay for it.

Enter the Upfronts. Late in the month of May is when networks meet with advertisers (and the press) to show them what shows they’ll be showing in the fall (or the following spring). The advertisers then can buy the times they want to air their ads, since certain shows are marketed towards certain audiences (this was explained in the video more or less). But this event occurs around the same time the previous TV season is ending with season (or series) finales. If a show is barely being watched, the network will cancel the show because it’s not making them any money. And of course, the way to measure how many people are watching is by using the Nielsen ratings.

Savvy ratings watchers start to panic when their beloved shows are in danger and make efforts to keep their program from being cancelled OR being brought back from cancellation, including (but not limited to) signing petitions, writing letters to the network execs, or going as far as to send in tons peanuts (see Jericho) or DVD sales (Family Guy). It’s extremely rare for a series to come back, or even for a series to be saved. While millions might catch on to the show during the save-the-show campaign, if none of those millions are Nielsen families, it means nothing… unless the networks have faith in the show and recognize an audience exists for those shows “on the bubble” of being cancelled.

All blame can’t go to Nielsen though, sometimes it’s the network’s fault for bad scheduling. Again, Family Guy was a victim of this, and especially cult favorite Arrested Development, which is happily returning to Netflix next year. I think the only other show left that people are still protesting about is Firefly. Interestingly enough, all these shows were on FOX… but now isn’t the time to get network specific.

“But perhaps the problem with online viewing is the difference in commercials,” a savvy thinker thinks.  The advertisers might only be purchasing TV time, not internet time, which is something they should consider. You can show me the Lexus on TV, why not run the same ad on Hulu? One would think, or hope, that the networks would have a finger on this streaming pulse that is becoming more and more popular. Or the very least, Nielsen would grow an appendage to figure out a way to meter it. Your IP address can be your vote to keep a show on the air and keep advertisers aware of your online presence. Sorry paranoid folks, you’re always be watched.

I’d also think with most people having cable and digital cable boxes, the cable company could get a report on who’s watching what. I fear by having them do this, it would only raise my bill higher. But surely they can send reports to networks whenever anyone uses their OnDemand feature that’s also becoming incredibly popular. This is great for both consumers and broadcasters: consumers can watch their shows, broadcasters can still show them commercials that go with that particular show. Win-win!

There are alternative rating systems out there. Unfortunately, I can’t remember what or who they are and I’ve searched for it for the better part of an hour. But this alternative system is apparently more accurate than the Nielsen system. I suppose the jury is out on that one until I can find it (and the jury). If you know who I’m talking about, post it in the comments and I’ll revise this paragraph with their information so no one thinks I’m making it up.

Simple, right?

But since we are in a world run by social media and smartphones, there’s been a growing number of people who use apps to “check in” to shows they’re watching. For the past year, I’ve noticed more and more people using Get Glue, an app that rewards viewers with stickers for whatever show they are tuned in to. (I’m short-selling Get Glue because I prefer the newer kid on the block, Viggle.) With Viggle, checking into a show will grant you points that equal rewards like gift cards and movie tickets. Viggle has another interesting spin on watching TV–some shows reward you with more points than others. I can either get 300 points for watching a new show I’m not familiar with, let’s say Awake (I’m a big fan actually), or get 50 points for watching a rerun of I Love Lucy. If I’m trying to win a Kindle Fire that’s redeemable after 375,000 points, then I guess I’ll be watching Awake. I don’t want to buy one, but if all I have to do is watch TV to get one, then sign me up! Not only am I discovering a new favorite show, but I’m being rewarded for it. Win-win again.

My point here is that results from these apps could be factored into an improved ratings system. Let’s not forget the almighty Twitter and Facebook. (For the record, you’re able to update and tweet using Get Glue and Viggle.) I don’t know how many times Twitter has been the reason I may tune into a show because it was a trending topic. Surely this would get a network’s attention. Fringe has lately made use of hashtag phrases relating to particular episodes, most of which become trending topics on Friday night. It also must be noted that Community has at least once made it on the trending board when it wasn’t even on the air! And of course, there are shows that aren’t “ratings challenged” but still make it to Twitter, maybe by way of a character’s name, action, or phrase that was said.

To sum up my main argument and my main issue for writing this: networks shouldn’t make certain actions based on one single report. Yes, it’s been around for a very long time and they might tell me “It ain’t broke.” I’m say it is, times have changed and there are better ways to gather data. The Nielsen system doesn’t necessarily have to be done away with, just modified or perhaps combined to get a more accurate rating of what is being watched, by whom, when and where. Once this information is calculated, advertisers might have more options and/or an easier time selling us things we never knew we needed, like a Kindle Fire.

UPDATE

Thanks to my friend and fellow blogger/podcaster/entertainment enthusiast Ariel (who has more aliases than I can keep track of), I’m now aware of another TV check in app called IntoNow brought to you by the fine people at Yahoo. I’ve only been using it a couple days but I find it to have some interesting information, including how many check-ins for a show within the last 24 hours, week, 30 days or all time. Again, I don’t use Get Glue, so I don’t know how similar that app is. But just like Viggle and Get Glue, IntoNow allows you to tweet or post on Facebook whatever show you just checked into, along with the show’s Twitter address if applicable. Overall, another tool that could be used to influence a better viewership rating.

I eventually dragged myself out of bed and down to the kitchen for what I purposely prepared the night before: a of cup iced coffee, sans ice, made with French vanilla flavored coffee grinds and ice cream flavored cream. It’s the perfect drink to put you in a happier mood that hopefully will chemically perk you up in the process.

An odd thing happens during springtime. While it’s pleasantly warm, naturally heated by the sun and whatever breezes brought on by southern jet streams and the planet tilted in such a way that make up outside weather, in my house it feels 15 degrees colder thus making me search high and low for my beloved sweatshirt to find warmth and comfort. Instead, I decided to take my chilled wake up beverage outdoors.

Evidence of squirrelly activity

In my backyard rests a tattered and weathered but still very much used wooden picnic table, frequented often by squirrels that I have a fascination with. I would have chosen this spot to sip my coffee and admire nature, but considering I lacked the energy and will power to look for my sweatshirt, I felt even less compelled to trek back to my room to retrieve my shoes and I don’t like being barefoot in my yard.

I had left a number of items up there, actually, including my laptop and my phone. Most times I’m never found with out either or both. But at that moment, if I get a phone call, text, or email, it can wait until I return. There’s no need to tell the social networks I plan on being anti-social for a while.

So I retreated to the front porch steps as I still steadily shook off the feeling of sleep. Immediately, I took in the blue sky, which was 99% cloudless. There were a few wisps here and there, but nothing that would constitute a legit cloud or produce shade. However, the sky did seem to have a haze, but nothing to depreciate the value of beauty God’s nature was giving me.

There was a breeze ever so gentle. Enough to make the pine needles and very small naked branches move, but not enough to move a dislocated leaf left over from last autumn from one spot, to another. At least not very far.

Early spring suburbia

I listened to the sounds that I feel I may have taken for granted all these years as a product of suburbia. Or perhaps it’s just a sound I never noticed consciously. While city folk may proclaim the majority of the ambiance to be silence, giving an effort to listen I heard so much more. Some of which could become a nuisance if complete and utter silence is what you desire.

Half the sounds aren’t natural, but are normal to the suburbs such as the occasional car or more obtrusive motorcycle. And if you live within a mile of a small private airport, you’ll altogether tune out the occasional low flying planes. But normally, at any given time, you’ll hear the hum of human activity either getting louder or quieter. If you’re lucky, you’ll be awakened by constructive neighbors incessantly hammering a roof or some other outdoor home improvement project you wish they saved for a rainy day. And as it gets warmer, especially later in the day, the lawnmowers will be added to the subtle hum.

But before lunchtime, bird chirping is a constant, ongoing song. The original twitter. I know very little about birds, so I couldn’t tell you what is responsible for what squawk. I’d assume robins, crows, blue jays and sparrows, but again, I’m not a bird watcher. Yet, I was watching the birds among many other things. Interesting note: I saw more birds hopping and walking than I saw flying.
Mostly the squirrels, which I interrupted my extended morning coffee break to retrieve a few walnuts for what I’d hope to be a squirrel feeding. For reasons that would probably make for a separate essay, I’d just like to make know my fascination with squirrels. I also have a strange fascination with cell phone towers, watching slugs eat mushrooms, and people watching. Observation is a craft. Anyway, my focus was on the squirrels at this point as they scurried all over my yard, digging randomly and finding what appear to be nuts and acorns or something delicious according to them and their furious nibbling. One squirrel I’m especially curious about I’m wondering had an accident or is just very young or deformed: it appears to be missing half it’s tail.

Considering spring is still springing to life, I felt I’d help out my neighborly critters and toss a few walnuts. I did this a few days ago on the opposite side of the yard but have yet to investigate if my gifts were received. I also wonder if there would be adverse actions to my kindheartedness other than finding walnut shells left on the picnic table. I’m amused they use it as a setting to eat food, too. Perhaps I’m not seeing what their seeing due to our height difference. Not wearing any shoes prevented me from going out to the yard to get a squirrel POV. Plus, due to my stillness, a lot of the neighborhood animals were closer to me which made my observing experience more rewarding. Moving the slightest bit would frighten them off… as does walnuts bouncing and rolling within inches of them.

My mind drifted into thinking what daily life would consist of being a squirrel. I realize, or maybe it’s more of an assumption, that squirrels aren’t really self aware, so it’s possibly they probably aren’t really thinking at all, let alone caring that they are a squirrel. I know there are scientific and philosophical studies going on about the very nature of nature, but it’s more wonderment than analysis for me. To be a squirrel, or even a bird… not bound by the stressors of deadlines, debts, taxes, technology or anything of human life. Instead, I guess you’d just be tormented by larger creatures (cats, dogs, people) and machines (cars, lawnmowers, chainsaws).

Squirrel vision

My thoughts took a weird turn, thinking about these thoughts, wondering if people would think I was weird for thinking it. But then, almost immediately, I stopped caring about that. For all I know, people could be thinking the same thing given the same opportune chance and setting.

For a solid hour, I stopped caring about what I needed to get done or what I should be doing. I had no idea what time it was, nor did I care. I guessed what time it was based on the shadows from a bush next to the porch, which then led me to wonder where the best spot in my yard would be ideal for a sun dial. I left that thought alone and returned to thinking about near-nothing, and watching the squirrels and birds seemingly ignoring each other.

The other sounds heard at this time in the suburbs are the occasional dogs barking, either some houses down, or maybe a block away. Similar to all the birds chirping, I’m wondering if these dogs are communicating to each other, or maybe barking at someone or something because they just like to do it. More musings I’m not looking for an explanation for.

The other thoughts I have, as I remember I left all my communication devices inside, which of my friends would be interested doing exactly what I’m doing with me, or at the very least, not mind my comfortable silence. The list of people is short, because the friends that come to mind are readers who enjoy being outside. It’s my personal opinion that some people feel compelled to speak to break up the silence, thinking it might be an awkward silence, when in actuality, there are some settings when speech isn’t required.

The sun bush says it's 1PM

Before long, the sun could clearly see the shrub that was acting as my clock. The shadow from my house that hid the bush had shifted, and I noticed more insects crawling and flying than when I first emerged. I knew within time, their annoyance would  bring me back to reality and I chose to return indoors on my own terms.

My experience inspired me to write, even if many of my readers would find this particular event boring, since nothing really happened. But overall, it helped clear my mind of trouble and stress that started to creep, if not already present in my life. The things I planned to do and still need to do will get done eventually, but being unplugged for a while was definitely a necessity for me. Too often I get bogged down with so much  stuff that I can forget how to appreciate the simple things in life. I immensely enjoy a lot of the stuff I occupy my time with, but I know if I’m not careful I could easily burn out and become less of a husk of a soul. Letting go of my thoughts and cares outside has since rejuvenated me and enabled me to jump into whatever challenges or tasks that await me today and the rest of this week.

In short, it’s good to get out and enjoy nature once in a while. And wouldn’t you know it, my shoes were never in my room! Guess who’s going back outside?

I’ve heard Hugo is Martin Scorsese’s love letter to the movies. And if you know anything about Scorsese, besides just his films, you know that he’s all about the classics and keeping them preserved for future generations to cherish and enjoy. With that said, there’s a serious nod to the wonderful world of books. I couldn’t help but think of a few of my friends who have a passion for reading. This movie marries the two perfectly. Kids, keep reading and you can throw out big words on the fly too!

It’s not lost on me that Hugo is based on a book. Not only that, but loosely based on the true story of pioneer filmmaker Georges Méliès, who was responsible for this:

I think finding out how much of the story was actually true really made me appreciate the film even more. But I’ll back up to talk a little about the movie itself, which I admit I really didn’t know much about prior to watching.

Automaton... still creepy

Hugo is an orphan living and working at the train station. His father was a clock maker, and from him he learned a lot about how to fix things. His father found a creepy looking robot looking thing (called a automaton, but it really looks creepy) and was attempting to repair it. After his death, Hugo continued trying to repairing it, stealing what he needed to try to fix it from toy shop owner Georges, played by the brilliant Ben Kingsley. He later befriends Georges’ goddaughter and the two go on a series of adventures trying to unlock the mystery of the automaton and what secrets Georges is hiding. They attempt all of this while staying one step ahead of the station inspector, played by Borat himself, Sacha Baron Cohen.

Scorsese shot this in 3D, and I wish I saw it that way. I think there’s something that should be said when an expert filmmaker takes on a new style. Watching the film in 2D, I could only imagine where and how things would be brought to life. I’ve seen enough bad or misused 3D films to make me biased against them, but then I’ll see a movie like Hugo and see how it should’ve been used. So I can see why it won a lot of the technical awards it won such as sound and special effects (I was pulling for Transformers).

It’s a great family film that adults can easily enjoy too, just as long as they don’t get too bored. I’m not calling it a boring movie, I just happened to be watching it with my father and I gauge a movie’s boring level based on if he falls asleep on it. He was close, but he made it through and said he liked it even though his guess as to what the movie’s plot was way off.

As for me, I would watch this again and I wouldn’t mind adding it to my collection as an avid cinephile and lover of films new and old. I recently told a friend that this film is a great companion piece to the other much talked about movie this past year, The Artist. They both take place in the same time period and both deal with silent films and filmmaking. This would make for a great double feature, and I’d start with Hugo and slice in The Artist while the kids are at the theater. Perfect cinema at it’s best.

As for the film, marvelous homage to early cinema! I knew all the hype behind the movie, but as usual, I needed to see it for myself to see if it was legit hype.

True, the major selling point is that it’s a silent movie. The black & white aspect isn’t all that spectacular even though it’s employed nicely, a lot of modern movies still do that brilliantly. In fact, Sin City might be my favorite modern B+W film, even though it’s not a true B+W. But as for silent pictures? I think maybe the last “modern” silent pic would be the first chunk of WALL-E or Mel Brooks’ Silent Movie. There are probably more out there I’m not aware of, but my point is this was a film made to look like those early pictures of almost a century ago, and they nailed it.

While watching this film, I wondered if I’d be able to let go of analyzing it and allow myself to get wrapped into the story. I didn’t have to wonder for too long. In fact, there was a scene early in the film that zapped me back to “reality” before fully emerging me into The Artist‘s world. When George has a terrifying realization about how sound can take over and leave him in the dust, I was hooked. Put it another way, while this is a film dedicated to the age of silent films, it’s still very much a modern film. This is most evident much later in the film when our hero realizes how his star has fallen.

Backing up a bit, the story is about a famous silent movie star enjoying his celebrity. We start his story just on the brink of next innovation of film making: sound! George scoffs at this idea, thinking it’s just a fad that’ll never catch on and he refuses to have any part of it. I’ll also throw in that George is as prideful as he is rich. This is important to the overall theme of the story.

The story is also about rising star Peppy Miller, whom has a chance encounter with George, an actor she’s inspired by and infatuated with. George is kinda smitten with her too, and more or less boosts her career with some advice and a beauty mark. It helps, and ultimately her star outshines him, which he ultimately becomes bitter about. Jean Dujardin earned his Oscar for this role.

Let’s also not forget about Uggie the dog. I don’t know what his name is in the movie, but he’s awesome and I can see why they’d want to give him an award too.

I’m glad I got to catch this while it was still in theaters. In fact, my friend demanded that I do so, and they were right. Seeing this in a theater is how, I believe, this film is best viewed. Cinematography stands out more, the music is heard the way it’s supposed to be, and like most films should be, it’s no longer viewed, it’s experienced. With that said, there are some naysayers out there (cough-LD co-host Wendy* and other media critics and blogs-cough) that feel this movie is gimmicky and trying to be original when it’s really a copycat. Or maybe they just think the idea of a silent film is lame or overall boring. We can have that debate after you watch it, and I’ll explain the difference between copycats and homages.

If you love film, classic or modern, and want to see something new and different, check this one out. I would consider it a crowd please and very deserved of the awards it’s won this past year. The only other won I feel I really need to see now is Hugo, but that in itself is another story, another movie, and another review for another time. But The Artist is a film I’d probably buy on DVD later. It’s worth repeating.

*In Wendy’s defense, she usually just likes to argue with me just for the sake of debate and to see if she can make me mad.

However, I will state here that I personally didn’t find the show as boring as it can be. I really don’t understand why so many people are so critical. It’s a 3 hour (and some change) show, I’m not expecting non-stop excitement. I paid $15 to watch Pirates of the Caribbean  and they couldn’t provide that either, so my expectations are lower since this is network TV (meaning I deal with commercials). Speaking of commercials, did anyone else love those JCPenney commercials? I love you, Ellen. Anyway, I’m more interested in who wins so I can brag to friends how awesome I am at predicting the Oscars, so they need to make it an entertaining show by filling it with humorous fluff or dazzling acrobatics. As I tweeted earlier, I gave it a B.

As for my predictions? D-… 9 out of 24. And I had my mother watching the show with me and I broke down how I came up with my predictions. What she was most impressed by is the Sound Editing and Sound Mixing categories. Usually the same movie wins both. I predicted (and hoped) Transformers would take those much needed trophies, but alas, Hugo was the upset of the night. She was surprised I predicted A Separation would win too.

And perhaps that’s where some of my predictions failed… I was voting who should win vs who will win. But it’s a gamble and it’s meant to be fun, so I’m not going to beat myself up too much about it. Better luck next year, right?

On an interesting note, my sister told me I should be an Academy member so I can vote. The idea intrigued me so I looked into it. Sadly I need an invite and/or to be nominated (if I read correctly). And on a stretch of a relation of notes, I think I no longer qualify ever getting the chance at being a Nielsen Family because either of the Dial or 3S:FX. No one told me this, I just feel I’d be a conflict of interest since I’d be influencing media since I work in media. With that said, watch FRINGE, Community, and Cougar Town!

There might be too many puns available for NBC’s newest 10PM drama Awake. But rest assured, this is not a show to sleep on. Hopefully NBC’s ratings dreams might come true with this one. Okay, I’m done for now.

Seriously, from the pilot episode alone, I’m hooked onto this show. I’ve been waiting for this show to air since I saw trailers last summer but having seen an episode, it makes it all that much more official. Maybe I’m still going through an Inception thing, but dream studies have always been an interest of mine.

Before I get into ratings jargon or what it means for NBC, I’ll explain what the show’s about and why I think you should watch it. First of all, I’m bored with cop shows in general. I would want to assume most of the world is too, yet they keep being made over and over again. Sometimes, spin-offs/reboots/remakes/CSI/Hawaii Five-0, etc. But whenever there’s an interesting spin on one, I’ll give it the benefit of doubt and see if it’s worth sticking around, like Person of Interest. Although, is it fair to call that a cop show? I digress.

Awake is about a family man detective who, after a fatal car crash, wakes up to learn that he lives in two realities. In one reality, his wife survives the car crash but his son dies. In the other reality, his son survives and his wife is dead. Every time he goes to sleep in one reality, he immediately wakes up in the other as if he had been dreaming. That is essentially the main premise of the show. To help him tell the difference, he wears a colored rubber band so he knows where/when he’s “awake.”

But as I started out saying, he’s detective, so he has cases to work each episode. Yes, plural. Both cases are seemingly unrelated, but our hero finds clues from both realities to solve both cases. He also has different partners. What’s interesting is how this is a cop drama, but there’s so much more going on.

The major piece of the puzzle that really helps ground this guy, the show, and us as an audience are the shrinks he’s required to talk to in both realities. Both are different, and have different methods. Both also try to convince him that the other reality is a dream. It’s pretty trippy, to say the least. And it’s a vast understatement to say how emotional this story can get when a family man is torn between two people that he truly loves. Folks, heartstrings were plucked. I wasn’t expecting that. No tears were shed, but I felt for this man.

Probably the most nerve wracking scene, and it was actually something I was wondering about, was what would happen if he woke up and didn’t have either red or green rubber band? Another thing to notice are the colors, when he’s in his wife’s reality, there are lots of reds, warm and earthy colors. When he’s with his son, it’s green/blue, colder colors. This scene I’m referring to is neutral and is mostly white.

There are a bunch of theories I’m entertaining about what’s the deal with this man and how this series can end some day (hopefully not anytime soon). There are lots of places this show can go but I’m signing on for the ride and to see these characters develop.

Jason Isaacs is Det. Michael Britton. He reminds me of Jon Hamm’s Don Draper, but as a cop. Laura Allen plays his wife Hannah, she’s quite beautiful and I’d be quite upset too if I woke up and she wasn’t there. His son Rex is played by Dylan Minnette, the same dude who played Jack Shepherd’s son in the last season of LOST. In fact, he kinda acts like him too. Cherry Jones and BD Wong play his shrinks and Steve Harris and Wilmer Valderrama play his partners. Creator Kyle Killen is most known for his other critically acclaimed but early cancelled show Lone Star. I didn’t watch it either.

The show doesn’t start until March, but you can see it now on Hulu. Fortunately, NBC picked Thursday night for this show, which works for me because that’s what my DVR is recording all night anyway. They also seem to be having a hard time finding a show to fit the comedy block before it, so hopefully this is a keeper. See you all March 1st!

As unexpected as being let go was, it was emancipating. I went back to school, started a radio show/podcast with a growing fan base, worked on a movie set, and started my own business. Creatively I’m in a better place.

Financially, it’s a struggle. I don’t like settling on the idea that I’m part of millions of Americans that are going through the same strife. It’s a crutch of sympathy. Don’t get me wrong, I sympathize with the unemployed due to these hard economic hard times (which is a phrase I’m sick of hearing, by the way). But I refuse to let the economy determine my destiny. My fate rests in my hands, and my hands are in God’s hands.

Say what you will about religion or spirituality, but my faith is what got me thus far, so I’m not going to turn away from it now. On occasion, I forget to rely on that in my harshest times of struggle. But I remind myself of obstacles I’ve overcome with God’s help and promises I’ve made myself and (as outlandish as it might sound to some) prophecies to be fulfilled.

An evangelist once visited my church and asked if there were any millionaires in the congregation. No one raised their hand. He replied that someday there will be, and he will continue to ask that question until there is one. I want to be that person.

Since I was young and first noticed my parents struggling with bills or to keep the lights on (and on occasion get them turned back on), I had made it one of my goals in life to never see them struggle like that again. Better yet, to never worry again. As I get older, it seems that we as a family have been surviving vs living. It was a surprise to my parents that there was such a thing as “lower middle class”, where I feel we fall under. Once in a while, we seem to be just making it, but then life strikes and we are back in the hole we just dug ourselves out of.

Over the past year, I’ve watched the Occupy movement from Wall Street to Oakland and I honestly haven’t seen much change happen yet. For a while, I kinda forgot what they were protesting about. Perhaps they thought the rest of the middle class, the working class, which is the majority of the nation, would rise up and make this movement a revolution? I was hopeful for them, but I’m relying on my own talents to change my own circumstances. And if all goes according to plan, I’ll make the switch from the 99% to the evil 1%. I don’t know how, but once I get over there, I’d like to bring enough people with me to make that a 2%.

I know that’s pretty ambitious, but I’m not comfortable with seeing my family struggling and I’ve always wanted to offer a helping hand to those that need it. I’ve always wanted to take care of my own–my family, my church, my friends. When times were good for me (working at the office), I even started sponsoring a child. I’m at the point now I’m struggling to keep that up.

While this has also been a personal motto for me, I really need to stick to it: don’t just talk about it, but really be about it. Ideas are great to talk about, but it means nothing if there’s no action behind it. That’s what I really dislike about congress and the government: lots of talk. But rather than complain, I’m more interested in overcoming. I can’t wait for a handout that I may not ever get.

I have a few get-rich-quick schemes in play that are neither quick nor guaranteed to make me rich, but they are schemes nonetheless, and I only need one of them to work in order to win. And I’m not about to lose.